San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-24
Senate Adopts Probe Ac-
ton Citing Oil Man to
District Attorney.
ANOTHER WON'T TALK
c. c. Chase, Son-in-law ef
Albert Fall, Also Re-
fuses to Testify.

Washington. ID. C.. March a.
The law officers of the government
were asked by the Senate TO bring con-
tempt proceedings against Harry +.
Sinclair. whose lease of Teapot Dome
started the rolling SNOWFALL Of the oil
inquiry.
BY vote Of - TO /. the Senate
adopted resolution by its oil COM
mittec y ftifying Sinclair 10 the dis
trict Attorney on contempt charge
because of his refusal to testify fur
Their in the committee hearings. Sen-
ator Elkins cast the lone dissenting
vote.
An hour before. another witness. c.
e. Chase. customs collector at FL
Paso, and Son-in-law of Albert Is.
Fall. had refused 10 answer the com
mittcc's questions on the ground that
il might incriminatc him. His case
will be taken up later.
Government counsel in the oil cases
on returning today. announced presed-
tation of criminal evidence i'll the
ccses would be started about April
10. before special District of Colunl-
bia grand jury.
Attorneys pomerene and Owen J.
Roberts. submitted to President Cool
idge report on their trip TO Wyo-
ming and California. where they in
ycstigatcd civil proceedings in the Tea
POT Dome aud Fin Basin lease cases.
They will resume their study Of any
criminal phases, of the cases and soon
will present to the President re-
port on the offer OF Edward T.. Do
hcny to complete, at his own ex-
neuse. the Pearl Harbor project fo9
oil storage.
Refuses to Testify.
Another witness refused 10 testify
before the oil committee today.
&. &. Chase. customs collector at FL
Paso. and son-in-law of Albert Il.
Fall. declined TO answer any questions
prOpOunded TO him oil the ground that
it might tend to incriminate him. He
had been referred TO in previous testi-
mony as havling approached Price
Mckinney of Cleveland with re-
Guest that Mckinney represent him
self as having loaned SlO0,OC0 TO
Fall.
Chase's refusal came at the end Of
n committee meeting at which half
dozen witnesses were examined on
many subjects and just the case of
Sinclair was formally reported TO the
Senate with 4 committee recommends
ton that the facts be passed alorg TO
the district attorney. Committee
members were unable to say whether
the same course would be followed in
the case of Chase.
While the Senate was considering
the Sinclair resolution brought IN by
the committee. government counsel IN
the oil suits returned from the West,
conferred with President Coolidge and
announced that criminal proceedings
in the case will begin before grand
jury before April l.
Six Witnesses nStand.
As if the committeeman had deter
mined TO push their task of investlga-
ton to quick conclusion. witnesses
succeeded each other rapidly ut the
big committee table and most of them
were dismissed with only scant SEM
blance Of crOSs-cxamination.
Carmi \. Thompson Of Cleveland,
one of President Coolidge's campaign
managers and close friend of the
late President Harding. testified that
he had no knowledge of an "oil deal"
at the Republican national convention
of 1920.
Harold Vivian, 4 reporter for the
New York Times, told the committee
he he'd received confirmation from the
New York office Of Hill III. Hays that
HAYS would testify TO stock transac-
ton BIS which Sinclair helped wipe
out the Republican national commit
tee deficit after the 1920 campaign.
Vivian said such a story was told 10
him by Joseph y. O'Neill. Hays pub
Lefty director but ONeill i'll tele-
gram read to the committee, denied
it.
Philadelphia Denies Story.
The next witness, Martin J. Pow
ers of Philadelphia. denied Il story
that he was interested IN any way III
Teapot Dome and thea proceeded To !
brand as "ignominious lies.
various other stories he said had been
circulated about him.
He was succeeded on the witness
stand by Michael Circeli, also OF ,
Philadelphia, who in turn denied some |
of the testimony of Powers.
Powers told of being interested IN
a Philadelphia brewery, now near !
beer factory. He told of being ac-
qdainted with James G.. Darden,
whom he met in 1922.
I've been accused OF sending
brandy TO Mrs. Harding. the witness |
put in. land | want 10 say that's an
ignominious lie"
He said he did not know Attorney
General naugherty.
"You haven't any interest in Tea |
pot Dome them Senator Walsh
asked.
Not one farthing."
Senator Walsh then asked IL Pow
crs had not told certain rcoplc that |
he was Engaged in raising Sio,ooo for
lCnntinned on next rage.l