The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-09
F. G. Bonfils Of Post Admits Receiving Sum After Stopping
 Dome Stories
SAYS HE GOT TT
 FOR OIL RIGHTS
Develops Sinclair Contracted With Colorado Man And As
 sOciates As Settlement
DEFENSE OF MADOO
 IS MADE BY WALSH
Senator, Conforming Denby, Accuses Lenroot Of Trying To
 Harm Democrats Candidacy

WASHINGTON, Feb. S.--(By the Associated Press) A new turn was taken today in the senate oil investi- ga ton with the testimony of Frederick G. Bonfils, publisher of the Denver (Colorado) Post. that Harry F. Sin clair had entered into a contract to pay him and his associates $1 100000 in settlement of claims growing out of rights asserted in the Teapot Dome naval oil reserve. Senator Walsh, Democrat, Montana. has told the senate that every vestige of these rights had been denied by the federal gov ernment. . jsz
 According to Mir. Bonfils' testi- mony the contract was entered into at Kansas City after he had sent a reporter of his paper to the home of Albert B. Fall in New Mexico to in- vestigate rumors regarding the leasing of the Teapot to Mir. Sinclair by Mir. Fall, as secretary of the interior. and after the publication of one article in the Denver Post attacking the lease by analysis and theory"
 The contract was signed. he said, after two conferences between Mir. Sinclair and Mir. Bonfils, his partner, H. JOHH lAco Denver oil man, and H. H. Schwartz, their attorney.
 McAdoe Appears Monday
 The opening up of this unexpected line of investigation made it necessary for the committee to defer until next Monday the hearing of Wm. G. Me Adoo, former secretary of the treasury, which Mir. McAdoo has requested in a letter sent to Chairman Lenroot last night and read into the committee record today. The committee first de- eided to hear him tomorrow. but changed its decision when it was found that the examination of Mir. Bonfils could not be completed today. tf
 Interrupting it's examination. the com mittce adjourned and the members hpr-s ried to the Senate chamber, where &ena-s tor Walsh opeHea the debate on the Denby resolution. At the outset, he at tackled Chairman Lenroot, of the oil committee, because Mir. MeAdoo's name had been brought into the oil investi- gation. Asserting that he himself had re- trained from conducting the inquiry on partisan lines, Senator Walsh contin- ued
 Sees Effort To Hurt McAdoo ,
 Tt was reserved to the chairman of the committee at the instigation of the senator from Missouri Senator Reed) to travel outside the realm of ex- animation into the leases of the naval oil reserves to which it is, by the Sem ate resolution, restricted to inquire into the employment by MT. Doheny of coun- sel in matters unrelated thereto. for the perfectly obvious purpose of running the prospects of the leading candidate for the democratic nomination for Presi- dent"
 In his opening statement Senator Walsh sail he expected to show be- yond question the unfitness of Edwin Denby to continue as Secretary of the Navy
 Out of his own mouth is be con- demned," said Senator Walsh. He had every opportunity before the committee to defend, explain. excuse or extenuata his acts or failure to aFt.
 Says Great Crime Committed
 "A great crime has been committed. The very structure of our government rocks upon it's foundation in consequence of the revelations made in connection with it. There is but one way to re- to its stability and per store to it that confidence which is in- petuity. namely, to visit uposl the perpe- trators the extremest rigcr of the law and to drive from the public service every one through whose connivance 0 supinness it became possible.
 Are you willing. my colleagues, C, turn back these great properties into the keeping of Edwin Denby? am not. Ara you willing 10 condone the fragrant which has characterized his administration of his great office ss Ts- vealed by his own testimony before rls, l am not. Are yeu content to let liia down easy. lest sensibilities be offended or political prospects be affected? am not.
 Would Drive Him Out
 ''l want to see him driven from of- flee with all the odium that possibly attaches to his going. that his fate may serve for aH time as a warning to those who might otherwise fail the republic as he has failed
 Senator Walsh read into tie record q memorandum of protest from Rear Ad- miral Griffin to Secretary Denhy against the transfer of the naval oil re- serves from the navy department to the interior department. He also read a letter written to Secretary Denby by President Harding which stated there was inclosed draft of the executive order of the transfer and a copy of the Griffin protest
 Calling attention that the Griffin was dated May P, 1921,
 tcsntausd on Page Two. Column Fsur)