The Holly chieftain., 1924-04-10

the elimination of the Increases in
rates on estate taxes in the house
measure and the elimination of the
gift tax. His recommendations were
followed, and new excise taxes were
added on radio and nah jongg sets.
THROUGH public interest In the
L various Investigations in Washing
ton died down somewhat after the
resignation of Harry Daugherty. the
"probers" went right on with their
inquiries. The Daugherty committee
, obtained some evidence from II. NJ.
Peck of Oklahoma City, former spe
cial assistant to the attorney general,
supposed to indicate that Daugherty
and Fall aided the Miller brothers of
the 101 ranch In defrauding the Ponca
In oil. Then came Capt. II. l.. Scalfe,
a former Department Of Justice agent,
| who has been once before heard and
frequently mentioned in the inquiry.
He told long story about wartime
graft, especially in the aircraft in
dustry, and implicated Secretary of
War Weeks, Dnugherty, Guy d. Goff,
former assistant attorney general, and
Charles Hayden, Boston banker and
| director of the Wright-Martin Air
craft company, NIL of whom, Scaife
declared, should be indicted for econ
spiracy to 0bstruct justice" in failing
to prosecute the aircraft company for
alleged graft. He also denounced
i former Attorney General Palmer and
| T. L. Chadbourne, New York lawyer,
both Democrats. Captain Scaife boil
stored up his accusations with numer-
Gus letters and documents. He said
| he worked up these war-graft cases
but was called off by the higher-ups.
Thomas f. Lane, former legal ad-
wiser to the aircraft division of the
War department, testified that his
copies of reports on aircraft frauds
had been taken from his desk and he
had been discharged because he was
going to appear before the committee.
| Captain Volandt of the air service ad-
mitted taking the papers and said Sec
retary Weeks had them. Thereupon,
Mr.. Weeks was subpOenaed and went
before the committee Friday to explain
his connection with the prosecution Of
the aircraft graft cases.
A l. JENNINGS sensational story
"A about Jake Hamon and the Re
publican nomination of 1920 having
been shot full of holes, the Teapot
Dome committee did not find great
deal to do last week. ]. E. Dyche,
who was confidential man for
Hamon, said Jennings testimony was
bunk" He said Hamon was not In
the habit of giving away his money
but was great "kidder" and might
have told the stories Of huge expendi-
lures when talking to Democrats.
Dyche's evidence. by the way, did not
shed much luster on the purity of
Oklahoma politics.
George White, former chairman Of
the Democratic national committee.
was on the stand Wednesday and SEN
ator Spencer. Republican. insisted on
getting from him testimony concerning
the Democratic campaign fund, though
Senator Walsh contended 1t was ir-
relevant. They bickered over this for
long time and then White was per-
mitted to say that Edward Doheny's
contribution was S34 800. and not S75.-
900. as Doheny himself had said. The
| committee adjourned for the week,
| awaiting the presence of William
Boyce Thompson. chairman of the Re
publican finance committee in 1920.
Harry Sinclair was indicted by the
grand jury for contempt of the senate
In refusing to testify. He pleaded not
guilty and gave bond of $1,000
/ G ONE Democrats in the senate start
- ed move to try to force the resig-
nation of Secretary of the Treasury
Mellon on the ground that he is
stpckholder in various concerns. but
Senator Reed of Pennsylvania vigor-
ously defended the secretary and
Senator Robinson and other Demo
Gratis declined to support Senator Nc
Kellar, who led the attack. so It vir-
tually collapsed. Senator Dill of
Washington then came to bat with n
resolution calling for the resignation
Of Col. Theodore Roosevelt, assistant
secretary Of the navy. This did not
seem very popular move, even with
Democrats, and mt this writing no ac-
ton has been taken on 1t.
yX7ISCONS1N'S Republican pri-
w maries were easily won by Sena-
tor LaFollette. whose vote was about