Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-20
Republican Member, Defend
ing Deal, Says Purchases
Made Without knowledge
of NavaI.ReSerVe Lease.
WILLING TO REVEAL FULL
DETAILS TO Committee
H. P. Whitney, Friend of Teapot
Operator, Appears Before Probers
in Executive Standardization
of Immunity for Witnesses Is
Problem for Special Counsel.

Senator Elkins, republican, West
Virginia, said today that he had pur-
chased stock OF the Sinclair Con
solidated Oil Company.
He added he was perfectly willing
10 go before the Senate oil commit
tee and tell all about it.
Il purchased the Sinclair stock
without any knowledge with respect
10 the oil leases" Senator Elkins
said Ill statement. Il bought much
more of Bethlehem Steel and other
stock than I did OF oil stock.
Il am perfectly willing to go be-
fore the committee ii it desires and
tell all about these transactions.
There is no law against buying and
selling stock. Many of my pur-
chases were made solely on my own
initiative or on advice Of my brokers.
Dcnounces Democrats.
If YOU stop buying and selling this
country will have to stop. This whole
thing is Il political drive by the
democrats. but they will get the
worst of it before it ends Already
William q. McAdoo has been men,
toned prominently, as have the late
Franklin *. Lane and others"
His statement revealed that he is
The senator whose name appears on
The records of the Bernhard broker
age firm which were presented to
the committee yesterday
The West Virginia senator visited
the committee room today during the
examination of Harry Payne whitney.
but he was not heard. Members of
the committee said that if he were
called 1t would be in an open session
the statement was issued after Mr.
Whitney and his counsel, Frank L.
Crocker, had visited Senator EIkins'
office. Mr.. WhitneyS examination by
the committee was brief and Chair
man Lenroot said afterward that ar
ranSementS had been made to have
committee accountants examine his
books in New York
Senator Lenroot added that there
was no other immediate development
In the oil scandal in prospect which
would require an early meeting CT
the committee. Members would not
say. however, whether it might be
necessary to hold other sessions be-
fore next Monday, the time set for
the resumption of the public hear
ings.
Whitney appeared today before the
Senate oil committee and was ques-
toned about possible stock transact
tions by public officials.
Mr.. Whitney who is a personal
friend of HAIRY F. Sinclair. holder
of the Teapot Dome lease. was exam
ined at an. executive session.
An official stenographer was pres
tnt and the witness was accompanied
by his counsel.
a subpoena for Mr.. Whitney was
issued Sunday after new information
had been laid before committee men,
hers. He had been expected to APP
pear yesterday along with officials of
the New York Stock Exchange bro
kerage firm of j. p. Bernhard & Co.
But return on his subpoena was not
received until late yesterday.
The examination of Mr.. Whitney
consumed just fifteen minutes. He and
his attorney, Frank l.. Crocker We're
met afterward in the committee ante
room by Senator Elkins. republican,
West Virginia, and accompanied him
TO his office.
While an official record of the
executive proceedings is kept. it has
been decided not to swear any wit
ness who appears in secret session.
80 that no question of immunity can
ne raised subsequently,
The session today. committee mem
bers said. was merely to determine
the quickest procedure in handling
the brokers' books and determin g
what records should be searched. 1t
was indicated that Senator Elkins
would not be invited before the COM
mittee until reports of the auditors
disclose the full extent of his stock
transactions.
Immunity Considered.
The question of immunity for wit
nesses appearing before the commit
tee is being considered by Owen J.
Roberts and Atlee Pomerene, the
governments special oil counsel, who
received their commissions from
President Coolidge yesterday and es-
tabliShed headquarters with their
staff of assistants. The matter was
placed in their hands by the COM
mittee as the result of an inquiry
addressed to it by an important wit
ness now under subpoena
The special counsel announced in
taking up their duties that they
would press their preliminary work
with all possible speed, and declared
mo time will be lost in diligently and
urgently presenting the claims of the
government or in the prosecution of
any individuals criminally guilty" ,
The probability that the naval oil
reserves leased to Harry f. Sinclair
and L. L. Doheny may again come
under the jurisdiction of the Navy
Department has led President Cool
idge to fix in his mind the type of
man he will select to succeed Secre-
tary DENLY. A knowledge of mining
and engineering will be required, it
is understood, and in consequence the
names of John Hays Hammond, min
ing engineer and inventor; George L.
Foss of Chicago. who was chairman
of the House naval affairs committee
for eight years, and former Repre-
sentative Kelley of Michigan, chair
man of the naval subcommittee of the
House appropriations committee in
The last Congress, have been brought
into the speculation over the impend-
ing appointment.
More than two hours after the COM
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