Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1924-03-21
Questions Right of Oil Probers
to Proceed with Inquiry
Into Lease
OF TEA POT DOME LAND
Adjourn Without Reaching
Decision and Without the
Testimony of Sinclair


Counsel for Harry F. Sinclair
waged an inconclusive two-hour
legal battle with the oil commit
tee today in an effort to have
their client excused from further
questioning.
Challenging the committee s
authority to proceed with the in
quiry after the validity of the
leases already had been passed
upon in a resolutions of congress.
and contending that in fairness
and justice" Sinclair should not
be compelled to testify while
charges of fraud are pending
against him in the courts, Mar
tin F. Littleton of the Sinclair
counsel told committee members
that their course was "mon-
+ strous proposition" and an "out-
xrage.'
Senator Walsh, the committee
Z prosecutor, did not agree with the
! Sinclair attorney. but some COM
1 mitteemen wanted more time to
think it over and adjournment was
taken withou at decision. The argu
ment will be resumed tomorrow,
probably in open session.
While today's discussion was in
progress the oil operator, whose
lease of Teapot Dome was the start
3ing point of the oil inquiry, sat at
I the committee table, apparently con-
Z hident that in the end he would be
\ excused from testifying. His coun--
sci did not predict what other legal
! privileges might be invoked later
Z in his belief, but Littleton repeatedly
accused the committee of attempt
4 ing to drive him into position
where he would have to assume the
"odium" of refusing to answer, like
4 Albert b Fall, on the ground that II
z might incriminate him.
Attorneys for the operator based
their objection on .ne Walsh reso-
! luton, adopted by congress, direct
ing annulment of the oil leases. They
! pointed out that the resolution de-
cfared the leases Ncse made under
circumstances indicating fraud and
torruption and said that If this be
Strue the committee had ascertained
q what it was directed to ascertain.
In long argument presented i'm
mediately after the witness was call
j ed to the stand, Martin w. Littleton.
4 OF the Sinclair counsel, contended
4 that by the resolution congress not
! only had brought to an end the
jurisdiction of the committee, but
had defined the policy of the gov
I ernment that the oil shall be pre-
served for the government"
you have passed upon the valid
ity of these leases" Littleton said,
and as far as the legislative adjudi-
cation can be effective you have
legislated the leases to be void and
have legislatively imposed an injunc-
ton with regard to the property.
"You have established a policy of
Z the government on this subject, and
anything you claim would be only a
detail which would not warrant the
further examination of my client in
this matter.
''You not only say that the leases
were void, but the language you use
is very broad and the policy you
s have established is very definite. You
have declared the policy of his gov
eminent is that the oil should be
maintained in the ground as a great
sreserve supply to meet a national
Emergency. You have thus dis
Charged all the duties placed in your
hands.
'sWhat is it your committee is in
B vestigating that entities to take my
S client, who has been here time and
again with his books and papers, and
say You must testify further ?"
"Have you any jurisdiction which
entities you to do so under the STAN
Z ards and precedehts of the Ameri-
& ee government?"
The right of congressional commit
tees to call witnesses and papers
3 ro y all over the country to aid in
s. framing legislation, the attorney ar
& gued. never had been sustained by
& the courts
s HAS it ever been denied?" asked
Senator Walsh, the committee pros
& ecitor.
..No but 1t has been questioned -
was the reply.
There was a long colloquy between
I.ittleton and senators as to the
(Continued on page 81
Take our advice and buy that Ford now.
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IL