Evening star., 1924-01-29
Continued from First Page)


President Coolidge, asked direct
question by callers to his office today.
relative to the Robinson resolution
requesting the resignation Of Secre-
fary DENLY, replied that 1t was mat
ter he did not care to discuss.
The President considers the whole
bil-leasing investigation as having
sesoIved itself, into two major prob
Iembs for the executive branch of
the governmeDt-tirst, to determine
whether there was crimianl liability,
and second, TO ascertain whether the
leases are legal and to the best inter
ests of the government. All other
matters are of lesser Importance, in
his opinion.
No Additional Action Seen.
These two problems are to be
worked out by the special counsel to
be employed by the President, and
there is no indication that the Exec
utiye at this time is contemplating
any additional action. He discussed
the matter today at cabinet session
lasting nearly two hours.
Selection Of counsel to prosecute the
oil lease cases il was indicated today
ut the White House. is being held up
TO await action by the Senate on the
Walsh resolution. In event of adop-
tion OF this resolution the President
desires that the men selected be con-
flrmed by the Senate.
1t is Mr.. Coolidge's plan to have the
men selected proceed at once to court
action without reporting to the White
House. In this respect the case diff
ters from the employment of Charles
i. Hughes in the aircraft inquiry un-
der the Wilson administration. Mr..
Hughes in that instance was en-
ployed for the purpose of investigat-
ing and reporting the facts TO the Presi-
dent.
VII Hear Them Tomorrow.
Senator Walsh. democrat, Montana.
who has had the predominant role in
the whole Oil lease investigation. said
he disliked to intrude himself into
Mr.. Falls sick room and that he
would prefer first to hear from the
physicians as to when Mr.. Fall would
be likely to be able to come before
the committee.
II suggest" he said. that the ply
sIcians appear and tell us under oath
when he will be able to appear"
Chairman Lenroot suggested that
the doctors come before the commit
tee tomorrow. but Mr. Cooke urged
that they be heard some time during
today.
After further discussion the COM
mittee decided to hear the doctors to-
morrow morning. At the same time
il also will examine Director Balm of
the bureau of mines with respect to
the disposal of storage oil from naval
reserve No ! in California and of
royalty oil in the Salt Creek field.
piunges Into Debate.
Meeting an hour earlier than usual
the Senate today plunged at once into
It's debate over the naval oil leases.
with action in prospect during the
day on the resolution OF Senator
"a
institute annulnent proceedings.
It's passage before adjournment to-
night was generally predicted on both
sides of the chamber.
\ different situation, however, con-
fronted the resolution presented by
Senator Robinson, democrat, Ar
kansas, asking for the removal of
Secretary DENLY and any other Off
cial of the Navy Department whose
connection with the leases indicates
''misfeasanc or malfeasance.
The republican organization op-
posed the proposal. although they
conceded that il might attract enough
democratic and insurgent republican
votes for adoption.
Told President First.
NJ the outset of the debate Chair
man Lenroot of the oil investigating
committee revealed that the purport
Of Archie Roosevelt's sensational tes-
timony, relating to charges Of $685.
coo payment to the foreman of Secre-
tarv Falls ranch had been known to
President Coolidge in advance of Mr..
RoOsevelts appearance on the stand.
Senator Lenroot said Mr.. Roosevelt
and his brother Theodore had given
this information to himself and Sem
ator Walsh, democrat, Montana, on
the day before. / conceived it to be
my duty to acquaint the President of
the United States of the information
which came to u.s." said Senator Len
root. "and | did SO.
The President acted promptly and |
did everything from that time on tina
any President. democrat or republi- .
can, could be expected TO do, and
there cannot be any criticism or the
President of the United States for any !
failure to act.
Doesn't the senator know" asked ]
Senator Ashurst, democrat, Arizona, !
Presidents sincerity by the length of
time he keeps Edwin DENLY in his |
cabinet?"
THAT is another matter" respond |
ed Senator Lenroot. II am speaking |
now of the steps the President has /
taken to protect the country"
Sees Political Maneuvers.
The committee chairman went on |
to say it was but natural that demo-
cratic senators should make the most |
noltical capital possible out of the +
incident.
But when we come to rectifying
any wrong. if wrong there be-" he (
said, politics should stop. So I did |
resent and ] resent now the criti- |
csm of the President Of announcing |
his intention to do what they seek |
TO compel him to do by this resolu !
tton.
Every means rcssible is going to |
be taken by senators on the other |
side of the aisle to fasten on PreG-
dent Coolidge some culpability, sonM
responsibility. for this matter. | |
venture to say, however, that that |
effort will fail"
The senator declared that the first |
positive information of fraud" came /
before the committee a week ago yes |
terday in the testimony of Archie |
Roosevelt. 1t was on the basis of this
Information, he added, that the Pres
ident at once directed the Department
of Justice to observe the proceedings
before the committee. a duty for |
which the Department detailed AS
sistant Attorney General Holland.
Hits Daniels Regime.
II these leases are. in fact. legal
and valid, If there be no fraud or cor
ruption in connection with them, if
the courts shall finally sustain all of
these leases to the two great naval
reserves Senator Lenroot continued,
''it will be due to the unfortunate
language adopted at the instance of
the Navy Department under Secretary
Daniels"
The reference was to a proceeding
hy which Congress appropriated
100000 for storage construction and