The Washington times., 1924-02-14

helping to develop land they might
lease"
wasn't it really a gift. a pres.
eht?'
eyes," Shaffer. admitted. /.
"But after you made the Pioneer
contract you went ahead and tried
to get lease for yourself in the
Teapot?"
Eyes, but only asked for 200
acres, one section, and there were
5000 acres in the reserve"
Didn't you know the Pioneer
claims had been denied?"
Eyes"
He Saw Fall In Office.
'Your whole theory with Fall was
that you having owned adjacent
land you should be given preference
rights in Teapot Dome?"
"Not preference rights. just
wanted a lease to 200 acres"
do you think anyone else could
have gone to Fall and secured the
same advantage?"
Eyes, I think So"
where did you see Fall?"
"In his office here"
what was the discussion with
him?"
II just told him / wanted the 200
acres if the reserve was open to the
public"
What did he say?"
"That he was in negotiations with
Sinclair and would request him to
set aside 200 acres for me-"
"This conference was in the sum-
mer Of 1921 and the lease was made
in April, 1922"
~ must have my years wrong. I
haven't my records here"
Expects 20 Get $125,OOO.
when you went to Fall you knew
he was negotiating with Sinclair"
"Oh, yes"
'When did you see Sinclair?'
"A few weeks after that"
''If you got $500 for one-eighth
interest in Pioneer, what became Of
the other 100000? Eight times
$S2,5OO is $740,O00, and Pioneer got
$1,00O,000 from Sinclair"
''Oh. it hasn't all been paid yet.
I am to get $125,O00."
Finney Hears Evidence.
During Shaffer's testimony. Az.
sistant Secretary of Interior Finney
came into the room and took a
seat adjoining the committee table.
What was Sinclair wiling to do?
To develop 420 acres of land, with
out any contribution on your part,
and give you half Of the profits on
oil drilled and just because Of the
request Of Secretary Fall even
though you had no land or interest
in Teapot Dome?"
Precisely, that's it,"
"Mr. Bonfils Of the Denver Post
got $500,000 out Of Sinclair for
claims upon Teapot Dome. Hou
got only $125,O00 from the Pioneer
people. You own the Rocky Noun.
tain News in Denver. Now what
is the relative circulation of the
two papers?" asked Senator Dill
Denny of Washington.
"I'd rather not discuss his PAPER"
"It seems to me you got the
worst Of the DEAL" retorted Dill.
why do these men come tn you
with these gifts?"
Il tired to explain that I was to
put In my share"
Senator Walsh developed that
Shaffer's conference with Fall was
In March, 1921, a year before the
lease.
Started I'm 1921.
"Do you mean to convey to this
committee that Fail, as early as
March, 1921, intimated to you he
was arranging a lease to Sinclair?"
Those are matters of dates"
isn't 1t a fact that you had no
conference with Fall between
March, 1921, and April, 1927"
II went to Secretary Fall soon
after he was made Secretary and
told him II this land was opened to
the public, I wanted some.
"Mr. FAN made no pledge, but
said II this land were opened to
the public, I'd get some.
isn't 1t reasonable that you
talked to Fall before April, 1927"
II think so."
1T follows then that az early
as March, 1921 Fall had an ar.
rangemeht with Sinclair?"
Lets grant that then"
I'VE want facts. Wen draw
our own inferences." interjected
Walsh.
Assistant Secretary Of Interior
Nm