Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-24
CU|[F0RD COUPLE HELD
IN Staying OF INFANT
SAUCy S|NCLAIR'S DEFIANCE
DRIVES SENATE OIL PRObERS- !.
TO GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS

Washington, Mar. 23-The senate
Gil committee decided lode. to recon-
mend that the senate certify Harry
f. Sinclair to the district attorney Of
he District of Columbia for. grand
jury proceedings because he refused
to answer further questions put by
the committee investigators.
Some Of the members of the COM
mittee anticipated that an effort
would be made in the senate to have
the lessee Of Teapot Dome hauled be-
fore the bar Of the senate on con-
tempt charges, but they said that in
this case. the controversy undoubted-
ly would result in court proceedings
which would work out to the same
purpose as the committees recon-
mendation.
The decision to recommend that
the case be given to the local author
tiles came after the committee had
elaborated over two possible courses
that adopted, that an alternate
plan to commit him to the custody Of
the sergeant-at-arms of the senate
until he was ready to answer quo3-
tions. 1t was decided that IL the lat
ter plan were followed the oil opera
tor undoubtedly would rain his lib
erty on writ Of error.
Harold Vivian, q reporter on the
New York Times, will be called by
the committee tomorrow. He will be
questioned about story h1 wrote for
the Times stating that it was under
stood VIII II. Hays. former Republic
can National Chairman. would tell
the committee the report that $4,000
shares of Sinclair Oil stock figured
In the settlement of the committee
deficit was true. Hayes on the wit
ness sand yesterday denied that any
stock transaction had taken place but
said that Sinclair had agreed to con-
tribute 5000 to the campaign.
Carmi A. Thompson of Chic. one
OF the Coolidge managers, will be
heard by the committee this week In
an effort to clear up gossip that an
"oil deal figured in the deliberations
at the Chicago convention in 1920
which nominated Warren g. Harding
for president. Al Jennings, former
Oklahoma train robbcr and now an
evagelist also Is to be heard in con-
nection with his assertions that a
million dollar fund was used to nomi-
nate President Harding. Jennings
who was subpoenaed In California. is
expected to arrive In Washington
Tuesday and probably will be put on
the stand at once.
The time of TIE arrival here of
Fred w. Upham. Republican National
treasurer to testify in regard to the
Sinclair political contributions Is I'M
certain. Mr.. Upham is II the We {
but the committee expects to get his
Testimony out of the way some time
during the week. He was structed
to bring to Washington all records
bearing on funds received from the
OH operator.
Martin J. Power. attorney. and
Charles F. Ooelschlager, architect. both
Of Philadelphia. will be called before
the committee this week for question
ing about charges by Oelschlager that
Powers had told him he was to get in
on the Wyoming oil reservations
through close connection with Attorney
General Daugherty.
Both the oil committee and the
Dangherty committee have now crossed
each others path at varioua places,
especially in connection with the ru-
mors of an oil deal at the Chicago con-
vention, but the committee chairmen
whether there would he a switching or
witnesses from one committee to an
other in an effort to disentansle and re-
assert the evidence in sequence.
The Democratic national committee
in a statement issued tonight with the
approval of John Barton Payne, for
mer secretary Of the interior. replied
to cla rges that the Democratic admin
fat RI ton set a precedent for leasing
Of naval oil reserves.
what the Wilson administration
did" the statement said. was to fol-
low the national policy established by
Presidents Taft and Wilson and by
Congress when 1t. passed the leasing
law to protect and conserve the nafai
reserycs-to keep the oil for the use
Of the navy for some great emergen-
CIV; while Secretaries Fall and DENLY
deliberately defied this national policy
and secretly leased the reserves, thus
destroying the reserves.
The statement said that not single
claim was allowed nor single lease
made as to Naval Reserve No. l. AS
to Reserve No. :. 1t was found ina.
claimants had brought IN about 30
nroaucinr wells. These. under the man.
datory provisions of the leasing act,
we're leased to the claimants. With APP
rroyaI Of the secretary of the navy and
the president, offset wells were leased
where II was apparent that private
wells were draining the reserve.
"As 70 the Reserve No. 3-The Tea.
NOT Dome" the statement said. all OF
the claims were rejected and no leases
were made"
Although the Wilson administration
80 pa.arye No intact. the state.
r,ont said. upon recommendation OF
SECRETARIES Deaby and Fall the pow
arc and discretions of the president
and secretary of the navy were trans
ferred to Secretary Fail and the va
lidity of this order will be decided py
the courts.