The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-04-01
Resolution
Offered by
Senator Dill
Washington Legislator Urges
President Coolidge to Dis
miss Assistant Navy
Secretary.
Notes Offered In Defense

Washington. March 31.-While the
senate oil committee was in recess
today, opponents of the leasing Of the
naval reserves were restricted in
their action to the floor of the SEN
ate where developments centered
around a resolution by Senator Dill,
democrat, Washington, calling for
the resignation Of Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt. 1t proposes to express
the sense Of the senate that President
Coolidge should ask for the assistant
secretary's resignation.
Senator Dill introduced his reso-
luton without comment, but Senator
Wadsworth, republican. New York,
attacked the evident motive behind
It," declaring the author OF the reso-
luton "had deliberately withheld the
facts bearing upon his preamble"
Senator Wadsworth contended tha
purpose was "a bare attempt to be-
smirch by false innuendo the name of
a public official" He referred TO the
Washington senator as another
sniper rising from the political
trenches
Statement Confirmed
A letter from Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt TO State Senator William
W. Campbell of New York was read
into the record. Reciting the assist
ant secretary's connection with the
oil reserves. 1t declared he had op-
posed their transfer to the Interior
and was ignorant OF the
leases which ensued until they had
been announced publicly. Senator
Wadsworth also presented letter
from Rear Admiral Robert S. Griffin.
retired, a leader OF the anti-iea sists
in the department. confirming Mr..
Rooseveit's statement OF the facts.
Chairman Ladd. republican. North
Dakota, announced there had been NJ
change in the scheduled reconvening
of the oil committee. despite the fail
ure OF subpoena servers 10 locate WI
liam Boyce Thompson, former chair
man of the republican national CON-
mittee's finance committee, who Is to
be questioned respecting campaign
contributions.
Dill to Amplify Charges.
Plans for forthcoming hearings dc
not go beyond the delving into cam
paign contributions from oil interests,
members Of the committee said. but
there was no confirmation Of reports
that an early conclusion OF that body's
activities was now foreseen.
r. II. Wilson. once a candidate fof
the democratic nomination for govern
or of Oklahoma. is expected TO testifs
tomorrow. Other witnesses include
". L. Kistier. an oil promoter Of
Tulsa. and George White. forrne.
chairman Of the democratic national
committee.
Senator Dill. who is a member o.
the committee. left Washington to-
night for a speaking tour in which he
promised TO arnplify his contentior
that Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
should not remain in office.
Text Of Resolution.
His resolution follows:
That whereas. Theodore Roosevelt.
the assistant secretary Of the navy
was q director OF the Sinclair Oil
company previous 10 his entrance into :
she government service, and
Whereas. as the assistant secre-
tary Of the navy he personally car
ried the executive order TO the White
House for the president to sign whici,
order transferred the control of the
navy oil reserves from the secretary
OF the navy to the secretary Of the
interior.
And whereas On July 20. 1893. Mr.
Roosevelt. then the acting secretary
of the navy in the absence Of Secre
tary OF the Navy DENLY. ordered the
United States marines TO remove all
oil claimants from the naval reserve !.
No. S. and thereby made an outrage
Gus use af the armed forces Of the
United States government 20 perform
acts which should have been per.
formed only by civil officers on the
order OF court after due hearing
OF all Of the facts in the case.
Now, therefore. he IL he resolved thar
IL is the sense Of the senate that the
president should be and he is hereby
requested 10 ask for the resignation
of Mr.. Theodore Roosevelt as assistan
secretary Of the navy"