The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-12
LENROOT QUITS TEAPOTNQUIRY;;
 LADD IN CHARGE
Committee Head Gives Poor Health As Reason
 For Withdrawal
COURSE OF INQUIRY
 NOT TO BE INTERRUPTED
John F. Major, Mclean Agent, Only Witness Heard By
 Investigators Tuesday

WASHINGTON, March 11.--Iae- tirement of Senator Lenroot, of Wis consin, as. chairman and member of the oil committee today oyershadowed other developments in the oil inquiry He will be succeeded as chairman by Senator Ladd, of North Dakota, a republican identified with the IMfol- lette group who has been actively in chargeN of the committee since the de- parture of Senator Lenroot for South. ern Pines, N. C., week ago to re- cuperate from athreatened attack of nervous exhaustion.
 Senator Lenroot's letter of resigna- tion was made public after the oil in vestiga tions had cleared up some of the mysteries in the Mclean telegrams in grilling of John F. Major, one of the agents of the Washington publisher.
 Before questioning Major for the third time, the committee examined in secret session another batch of tele- grams, including those from Three Rivers, N. M., home town of Albert B. Fall, former Secretary of Interior and author of the oil leases. Com said the new messages shed little additional light on the oil ques- tion, although some of those in code might prove relevant.
 Retirement Not Unexpected
 Senator Lenroot's retirement from the committee was not wholly unex- pected, as he gave warming of it in the Senate two weeks ago during a debate in which Senator Smoot of Utah, another republican member of the oil committee, before the former in- terior secretary misled the committee with the statement that he obtained $100, 900 from Edward B. Mclean.
 At that time Senator Lenroot told the Senate he would be glad to be relieved of the duties of chairman and declared that if the investigation con tinued indefinitely he would have to ask to be relieved. His health at that time was poor and | short time afterwayds he vent to Soushsrn RiRss for a rest. In aletfer from that place tc tlie Senate made public today he said: a Letter Of Resignation
 '.Since coming to Southern Pines I have not recuperated as I had hoped and it will not be possible for me to continue my work on the committee on public lands and surveys.
 T realized some time ago that I was nearing the point of exhaustion and stated upon the, floor of the Senate that if the oil investigation should continue indefinitely. would be compelled to resign. e
 II have given nearly four months of service in this investigation, trying as best I could to keep up with such .other work as could not be neglected. with fhe result that cannot in my present stite of health continue any longer.
 T hope to be able to return to Wash. ington next week, but shall not attempt more than routine work of my office until my health is restored" !"
 Ladd Is Nxet In Line
 Senator Ladd is next in line for the chairmanship, as Senator Smoot, the former. chairman, was relieved of that place because of his elevation to the of the powerful finance committee. Republican leaders said election of Senator Ladd would be made by the republican committee on com mittees, who will name some other sem ator to fill the vacancy. Both seIec- tions will be subject to Senate approval.
 The resignation of Senator Lenroot will not interfere in any way with the oil investigation, which from the first has been almost exclusively under the direction. of Senator Walsh, democrat, (centInued eA Paae TSo, celumR FiVs1