The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-26
TELEGRAMS TO
FALL, M'LEAN
GIVEN PR0BERS
Big Sheaf Is Presented to Oil
Committee by Telegraph
Office Managers
MYSTERIOUS "MR. HAYS
To Recall Secretary who Said
$25,O00 was Given Fall
By 'Mr. Hays

Washington, Feb. 26-Presented
with a sheaf of kilograms sent from
Washington to Albert B. Fall and
Edward B. Mclean, publisher of the
Washington Post, at Palm Beach,
Florida, the senate oil committee
suddenly went into executive session
here today to examine them.
In ordering the hearing room
cleared Chairman Lenroot said that
any Of the kilograms found to be rel
evant to the inquiry would be read in
public. The kilograms were present
ed by the divisional superintendents
of the Western Union and Postal
Telegraph Companies and apparently
numbered several score.
Wilton J. Lambert, counsel for Nc
Lean, was present at the reopening
of public hearings at the Invitation
of Senator Walsh, who has sought a
conference with him. The purpose
was not disclosed but it was stated
that the time for the examination
of Mr.. Mclean by the committee
still was undetermined.
subpoena was issued today for
George ID. Wahlberg, former private
secretary to Harry F. Sinclair, who
will be questioned as to the identity
of Mr.. Hays" to whom he has tes-
titled he had delivered $4,000 in
Liberty Bonds. At the time of his
testimony committeeman thought the
reference was to an employe of the
Sinclair company but since that time
there have been reports it was an
other Mr.. Hays
In this connection Senator Walsh
announced there was no intention of
summoning Will H. Hays, former
postmaster general. Walsh also said
he did not plan to summon Attor-
ney-General Daugherty as to his
statement in his letter yesterday to
Senator Willis, Republican, Ohio,
that he had dealt in Sinclair oil
stocks after the leasing of Teapot
Dome to Sinclair. Chairman Len
root said in any event Mr.. Daugherty
would not be called until expert ac-
countants had finished their exami-
nation of brokers books regarding
the transactions.
H. F. Taft, Washington superin-
tendent for the Western Union Com
pany, was called as the first witness
when todays hearing began. Sena-
tor Walsh took the records of tele-
grams submitted by the witness
while Senator Smoot, Republican,
Utah, read them over his associates |
shoulder. Chairman Lenroot went |
into whispered conference that fol-
lowed over the messages and then
the decision to convene in
executive session.
"The committee desires to find
which of these messages are rele-
vant,' the chairman explained. THE
others will be eliminated and those
Of importance in this inquiry will be
read"
Thomas Dowd, manager of the
Postal company, likewise produced
some messages which were taken into
the executive session. The purpose
Of examining the kilograms was to
determine whether any individual
members of the oil committee or ad-
officers had communi-
cation on the oil matter with Fall or
Mclean while they were at the Flor
ida resort or with the former In
,erior secretary in New Orleans just
before he came to Washington in
response to the summons of the
committee.
Committee Adjourns
After remaining behind closed
loors for nearly two hours the COM
nittee adjourned until tomorrow 1t
vas explained that examination of
he kilograms had not been COM
leted.
Chairman Lenroot said some of
he messages would be placed in the
ecOrds at a public session tomor-
ow.
Senator Adams, Democrat, Coora-
10, said thus far the committee had
ound no kilograms sent by indivi-
ual committeeman to either Fall or
dcLean.