New Britain herald., 1924-03-08
Assistant Republican
 Leader Again Brands Testimony As False Post Man Admits There Was Nothing Improper
Author of Easy Access to White House. Telegram Also Called Upon to Tes- tify in Teapot Investiga- ton.

Washington, March s-Senator Curtis of Kansas the assistant repub- lican leader, took the witness stand voluntarily before the oil committee today and denied under oath some of the statements made about him yes- terday in the testimony of Ira Ben- nett an editorial writer for the Wash ington Post.
 The Kansas senator declared that some of the conversations described by Bennett never took place. that ho had performed no services for Ed ward B. Mclean like those attributed to hlm by Bennett, and that there was absolutely no ground for attempting to link him with the mysterious ' principal" mentioned in one Of Ben netts telegrams to Mclean.
 Nothing Improper.
 Later Bennett again was called m. on to explain. He repeated one of ms previous statements and brought m some new ones which in turn im- mediately were denied by Senator Gurus. The editorial writer did not contend, however that there had been anything improper in the senator's at- titude toward the oil disclosures. The committee also heard F. s. Rochester Of tho department of ius- tiee who telegraphed Mclean that the committee was Investigating his | bank account and Francis T. Homer 1 og Baltimore, who was quoted i'm one Mclean telegram as saying the leased wire installed between Washington and the Mclean cottage in Palm bsaeh would give easy access't to the Whito House.
 Rochester said his message 10 the publisher here by whom he formerly was employed was personal one: that no one had told him to send it, and that he got the information from which it was based from n number of lnewspapermcn.
 The easy access message was ox- plalned by Homer as a misinterpre. tation Of what he had said 10 one of McLean's men over the telephone. He denied that he ever meant to refer to the White House.
 ihe Hcaring in Detail. Washington, March S.-sonator Curtis, after comforting a moment with Senator Walsh. took the stand as The first witness in the oil inquiry To- day He said he had read newspaper reports concerning Bennett's testi- fnony. He saw Bennett and John Ma Jor. he said. on January or 3. They told him Mclean desired to be re. lieved" from tostlfying before inc oil committee for reasons of health.
 Asked Him to See Walsh.
 They asked him to see Senator Walsh. Senator Curtis said he sue- gested to them. they had better see someone on the other side" mention- ing Senator's Underwood of Alabama and Robinson of Arkansas. Next day Senator said he he learned a sub poena had already been issued for Mclean.
 The next time he saw Bennett. Senator Curtis proceeded, it was be- cause Senator Norris had mentioned 'one of the members Of the Mclean family in senate speech and Ben- nett desired that this speech be with. drawn from the Congressional Record.
 Senator Curtis said that he and Senator Borah had already taken up successfully the matter of getting Sem ator Norris 10 withdraw fhe remarks. He had talked with Senator Walsh in the matter as well.
 Bennett tried 10 thank senator Curtis. the latter said. but he told him It would be better to have Mclean 4a
 Senator Walsh questioning. remark. cd that the Norris speech was made on January 90. the day after the principal" telegram was sent.
 No Talk On Oil Inquiry
 Asked 1T he remembered any dis cussion with Bennett as i6 political effects of the oil inquiry. Senator Cur tis replied.
 ''I do not
 No other committee members de- sired to question the senator and lie was e&cused.
 When Bennett toek Inc stand. ssn- ator Walsh asked if he desired 10 make any furt hcr statement 'fr view e the statement just made by s.na- tor Curtis"
 Tho witness said Senator Cnrtis had apparently forgotten one run- versation he had with ins. if not two"
 ''Whaj he says. SO far as he states our conversations. Bennett added. is entirely correct"
 Bennett ReucwS Statements.
 He had seen him a number Of times" Bennett continued. but added that ''it is not strange be has forgot ten the converss tions."a When Sena- tor Dill. democrat. Washington sur- gesf ed +'ft would be weIf" to relate fhs conversations. Bennett said:
 There are some parts of the con- 1ersation I'd rather mol discuss. I ton't want 10 spread any scandal. I won't do fl unless ] am compelled"