Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-22
DENBYS REMOVAL
IS REQUESTED
President Coolidge Turns Down
Plea Of Senate
ADOPTED BY VOTE OF 47-s4
Chief Executive Issues Statement Say
ing He Does Not Intend To saerl-
flee Any Man For His
Own Good.

Washington. = Following the
adoption by the Senate Of the
Robinson resolution requesting
President Coolidge to ask for the
resignation of Secretary of the
Navy DENLY, Mr.. Coolidge issued
q statement saying he would take
no recognition Of the Senate reso-
luton.
Mr.. Coolidge held that mo official
recognition can be given to the pas
sage of the Senate resolution relative
to their opinion concerning members
Of the Cabinet or other officers under
executive control"
The President also declared that he
did not propose to sacrifice amy in
noceut man for my own welfare" nor
retain in ofhce amy unfit man for my
own welfare" He declared he would
take such action as he deemed expedI-
ent as soon as special counsel could
advise him as to the legality OF the
Doheny and Sinclair oil leases.
Adoption of the Robinson resolution
was by vote of Al to "a and came
after day OF heated debate. Ten
Republicans and two Farmer-Labor
Senators Joined 80 Democrats in vot-
Ing in favor OF the resolution Senator
William Cabell Bruce. Of Maryland,
who announced several days ago that
be would vote against the resolution,
did so and was the only Democrat to
vote with the Republicans.
The DENLY resignation resolution as
passed by the Senate follows:
Whereas the United States Senate
did. on January 81. 1924. by unani-
nous vote, adopt Senate joint resolu-
tion numbered 81, to procure the an
nulment of certain leases in the naval
oil reserves of the United States; and
Whereas the said resolution, among
other things. declared as follows:
Whereas it appears from evidence
taken by the Committee on Public
Lands and Surveys of the United
States Senate that certain lease of
naval reserve numbered 8, in the State
Of Wyoming. bearing date April 7,
1922. made In form by the Government
OF the United States, through Albert
3. Fall, Secretary Of the Interior, and
Edwin Denby, Secretary Of the Navy,
rs lessor, to the Mammoth OIL Com
pany, as lessee. and that certain con-
tract between the Government Of the
United States and the Pan-American
Petroleum and Transport Company,
dated April 25. 1922. signed by Edward
C. Finney. Acting Secretary of the In
terror. and Edwin DENLY, Secretary of
the Navy, relating, among other things,
to the construction of oil tanks at
Pearl Harbor. Territory Of Hawaii, and
that certain lease Of naval reserve
numbered 1, in the State OF California.
bearing date December II, 1922, made
in form by the Government of the
United States through Albert B. Fall,
Secretary of the Interior, and Edwin
DENLY. Secretary of the Navy, as
lessor, to the Pan-American Petroleum
Company, as lessee, were executed un-
der circumstances indicating fraud
and corruption; and
Whereas the said leases and con-
tract were entered into without author
ity on the part of the officers purport-
ing to act in the execution of the same
for the United States and in violation
; Of the laws of Congress; and
Whereas such leases and contract
were made in defiance of the settled
policy of the Government, adhered to
through three successive Administra-
tions, to maintain in the ground
great reserve supply of oil adequate
to the needs Of the navy in any emer-
gency threatening the national secur-
ity. Therefore be it
Resolved. That it is the sense OF the
United States Senate that the President
Of the United States Immediately re.
quest the resignation of Edwin DENLY
as Secretary of the Navy.
The statement issued by President
Coolidge in answer to the Senate ac-
tion in asking the removal of Secre-
tary DENLY is, in full as follows:
No official recognition can be given
to the passage of the Senate resoiu-
tion relative to their opinion concern
ing members of the Cabinet or other
officers under Executive control.
As soon as special counsel can ad.
wise me as to the legality of these
leases and assemble for me the peril
nent facts in the various transactions,
shall take such action as seems es-
sential for the full protection Of the
public interest. shall not hesitate to
call for the resignation of any official
whose conduct in this matter in any
way warrants such action upon my
part. The dismissal of an officer of
the Government, such as is involved
in this case, other than by impeach-
ment, is exclusively an Executive func-
zion. regard this as a vital principle
Of our Government