Evening star., 1924-01-28
100000 TO FIGHT
OIL SUITS BEFORE
HOUSE FOR ACTION
Resolution FavorabIy Re-
ported-LoWer Branch Be-
gins Debate at Once.
PRESIDENT SPENDS DAY
SEEKING LEGAL EXPERTS
One Acceptance Reported-Resolu.
ton of Annulment Near
Passage.

Immediate appropriation OF $780,
600 to be placed at the disposal of
President Coolidge for necessary ex-
penses in annulling Tea Pot Dome
and other oil leases and for the prose
cution of any parties found guilty
of unlawfulness in connection with
those leases was unanimously recon-
mended to the House this afternoon
by the House appropriations COM
mittee.
Unanimous consent for immediate
consideration of this proposal was
granted on the request Of Chairman
Madden of the House appropriations
committee. A time limit of two hours
for debate on the measure was agreed
upon. Representative Finis J. Gar
rett of Tennessee served notice that
at the proper time he proposed to
offer an amendment.
The House Immediately resolved
itself into the committee of the whole
House on the state Of the Union for
consideration of the resolution.
This resolution was reported out by
the appropriations committee follow
ing conferences of House Leader
Longworth, Speaker Gillett and mem
bers of the republican steering com
mittee. Chairman Madden. in reply
to questions on the floor. stated, The
President of the United States said
that this money is necessary to ena-
BILE him to transact what he pro-
poses TO do"
Text Of Resolution.
The text of the resolution follows:
Whereas the President has made
public announcement that he proposes
to employ the necessary legal and
other assistance to institute legal
proceedings for the purpose Of can
ceiling certain leases of oil lands in
civil suit where necessary and to
prosecute criminally any person OF
persons guilty of any infraCtion OF
the laws of the land in connection
with said IeaFes.
Therefore be il resolved by the
Senate and House Of Representatives Of
the United States, In Congress as.
semb!ed. That there be, and is hereby
appropriated. from any moneys In the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated
the sum Of 100000, OF so much thereof
as may be necessary. to be expended BY
the President for the purpose of en-
ploying the necessary employees anG
agents and for such other expenses
that may be necessary in instituting anC
carrying on any suits or other pro-
ceedings, either civil or criminal, which
ne may cause TO be instituted or which
may be instituted, or to take any Other
steps deemed necessary to be taken il
relation to the cancellation Of any leases
on oil lands in former naval reserves
in the prosecution of any person or per
sons guilty of any infraction of the
laws OF the United States in connection
with said leases. or in any other meas.
ures which he may take to protect tbs
interests of the United States and the
people thereof in connection Herewith
any counsel employed by the President
under the authority OF this resolution
shall have full power and authority Il
carry on said proceedings, any law L
the contrary Notwithstanding.
Debated in senate.
The naval oil disclosures were de
bated by the Senate today in a his.
tory-making session, with all indi
cations pointing TO adoption before
adjournment of a resolution favorine
annulment of the Teapot Dome con.
tract.
While the debate was in progress
President Coolidge was completing
his plans to place prosecution OF an
nulment suits in the hands of two
distinguished lawyers, one democrat
and one a republican. with instruc'
tions to act independently OF the De
partment of Justice.
Senator Walsh. democrat, Montana
who has taken the lead in the Senate
oil inquiry, presented on the Senate
floor the annulment resolution ap-
proved in principle by the investigat-
t,,r Tho discussion nOlnt
ed to general acceptance of the pro-
posal on both sides of the chamber.
The resolution relates only to the
Teapot Dome lease held by the Sin
clair interests, but at the same time
Senator Lenroot presented letter
from Z. L. Doheny Offering to return
the Doheny lease for the California
reserve on condition that the leasing
company is reimbursed for its actual
expenditures.
AS part of the Presidents prose.
cution plan 1t became known that
Congress would be asked to appro-
pirate 100000 to pay the expenses OF
the suit. Action on that feature OF
the case also is expected before the
day is over.
President Coolidge found it neces'
sary today to upset his office schedule
in order to give his undivided atten'
ton TO the oil lease matter. Instead
of going to his office at 8 o'clock, a:
is his custom, the President went in
stead to his study on the second fiool
of the White House, where he re-
mained until 1890 o'clock.
The greater part of that time was
taken up by long distance telephone
calls with invididuals regarding the
selection of two special counsels rep
resenting both political parties who
will enter upon prosecutions for the
Continued on Page 2, Column 9.