The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-03-24
Indictnn nent
of Sinclair
Is Favored
Senate Committee May Urge
Contempt Charges for Re.
fusal to Testify in Tea
pot Dome Inquiry.
Action Still Undecided

Washington, March %. Senate
leaders had failed today to agree
upon the procedure to be followed in
dealing with Harry +. sinclair's re-
fusal to testify before the Teapot
Dome investigating committee.
Members of the committee are un-
derstood to be in favor of reporting
the case to the district attorney Of
the District Of Columbia with the
recommendation that Sinclair be in
dicted by a federal grand jury for
contempt.
The only other course open to the
senate would be to commit him to
the sergeant-at-arms of the senate
until he agrees to answer the ques-
tions of the, senate oil investigating
committee.
c. c. Chase. son-in-law Of former
Secretary OF the Interior Albert 3.
Fall. will appear before the com
mittee tomorrow and will be asked to
testify in connection with the $780,
900 loan made to Fail by z. L.
Doheny.
Chase to be Questioned.
Chase. who is coming to Wash
ington from Il Paco. Tex, Is under
stood to have been closely associated
with Fall in his business transac-
tions and also will be asked concern
ing the source of number OF gifts
Of valuable blooded stock made TO
Fall on his New Mexico ranch about
the time the Teapot Dome lease was
being made.
Chase also is reported to have at
tended most Of the conferences which
took place about that time between
Fall. Sinclair and Doheny.
Sinclair's scathing denunciation Of
Assistant Secretary OF the Navy
Roosevelt and his brother, Archie,
formerly in sinclair's employ. failed
to elicit response today from Colonel
Roosevelt Sinclair said that on the
request of Colonel Roosevelt he had
given his brother. Archie. a position
and that the younger Roosevelt had
failed to make good. He also accused
them Of spreading gossip and scandal
which was entirely unsubstantiated.
Roosevelt Silent.
When asked for astatesnent today.
Colonel Roosevelt said he had no COM
ment TO make at this time on Sin
clair's criticism of himself and his
brother.
Another important witness who will
appear before the oil committee TO-
morrow is Tommy" Thompson. poll
ff~ai iaalar ~ fr.r-orar. ~ -
one OF President Harding's supporters
at the republican convention in Chi
eago. Thompson's name was given TO
the committee bp Tiffin Gilmore OF
Columbus, one OF Gen. Leonard
Woods principal henehmen at the
convention.
Thompson viii be asked about the
offers Of support reported TO have
been made by certain oil interests IL
an oil man was made a cabinet men,
Der. General Woods son recently de-
clared that his father had been made
an offer OF this kind and THOMPSON
will be asked just what influence the
oil interests had in the nomination.
$1,000, 600 Offer"
Al jenkins of Oklahoma also 10 TO
be questioned by the committee. He
left California for Washington yes.
terday and probably will appear be.
fore the committee on Tuesday. He
has offered TO tell the committee about
a million dollar offer" supposed 20
have been made by oil men at the
Chicago convention TO influence the
nomination.
The only other witness scheduled 10
appear before the oil investigating
committee tomorrow fs w. W. Tar.
bell, New York writer. who win be
asked concerning his source Of in.
formation fer an article he wrote in
connection with the Investigation.
Just what action the senate viii
take in regard 20 Sinclair's refusal
10 testify will probably be influenced
by the recommendations OF former
Senator Pomerene and Owen ]. Rob.
erts. special counsel for the oil ,nves.
tigating committee.
| When Fab refused to answer cues.
tions of Senator Walsh and other
members OF the committee, Pornerene
and Roberts advised against citing
him for contempt and forcing him 10
testify against himself on ground
that such action might operate TO give
him immunity from criminal prose.
cution.
| Pomerene and Roberts are expected
to arrive IN Washington from Los
Angeles early this week.
i