Evening star., 1928-04-03


venient for YOU to grant me a few mo-
mentS on either April % or % with
reference to the proposed development,
Of Teapot Dome structure In wyoming
as reported approved by youe Haye Just
been advised by Secretary Fall that this
matter Is closed, but feel that my cont
uSny should have had opportunity tc
have MADE q bid upon 1t, as we re-
oueSted such an opportunity six months
laSo and we're then advised by both this
Interior and Navy Departments that
development proposition would not be
considered for very long time. And
Furthermore. We requested some oppor-
tunity few weeks ago. and then un-
opportunity to submit competitive bid
Please wire collect here"
Helms identified a COPY of a letter
dated May I, 1922. sent him by Her
| ter who said it had been noticed that
in his telegram Helms had stated "the
arrangement in regard to the Teapot
Dome had been approved by Mr.. Hoo
yer"
Il wish to advise you" Herter wrote.
that Mr.. Hoover at no time had any
knowledge OF any ARRANGEMENTS that
were pending even in this connection -
Daugherty Did Not Reply.
Helms testified that he also had
| discussed the Teapot Dome matter in
person with all three of the cabinet
ofiicers. and had talked with Christian.
He said he never received a reply to
his telegram to Daugherty.
Helms told the committee he saw
Secretary Hoover after he had attempt.
ed to arrange for an interview with
President Harding, He said he be-
iieved Hoover had done what he could.
1t was his understanding that Hoover
had gotten in touch with Secretary
Fall
When was 1t you discussed the mat
ter with Secretary Hooyer?" asked Sem
ator Brstton. Democrat. New Mexico.
After I sent the telegram" Helms
replied.
"whsre?"
Either at his once or his home: /
might say that Secretary Hoover did
what he could on that"
Did YOU have more than one CONVEX
sation with him?"
mo, sir
Bratton referred TO letter r. C.
Finney. Assistant Secretary of the In
terror. wrote to Hoover on April rs.
1922. in response 10 q letter from Hoover
to Fall dated April "A, 1922.
Knew Of Correspondence.
Did you know about that corre-
Spondence at that time?"
Yes. sir
How did you know about it?"
MIR. Herter told me-"
Replying to Senator Wagner Demo-
crat. New York. Helms said he talked
to both Secretary DENLY and Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt Of the Navy about
the lease OF Teapot Dome.
They told me they we're satisfied
that nothing further could Be done :.
about it: that the lease had been closed"
Helms said.
This was late in April. ls22.
Talked 10 DENLY.
Helms stressed today that Fall
told him on April 10, 1922,
the Teapot Dome lease was still
open: that he found out from
FAN 10 days later that the Sinclair con-
tract had been closed on April Z. he
brought out. as he did at the oil con-
spiracy trial, that he mad talked with
DENLY. Roosevelt and Assistant Secre-
tary Finney, Of the Interior Depart
ment. six months before the signing OF
the Sinclair lease had been announced
In connection with his efforts 70 in
terest Secretary Hoover in his at.emp;
to get an interview with President Hard-
ing, Helms offered . copy OF q letter q
Hoover assistant had told him had been
received from the Interior Department
In reply TO an inquiry for information.
In the letter Assistant Secretary
Finney said Helms had spokensto him
some six or eight months ago with
reference to his desire 70 have his COM
pany participate In leases"
~ that time we advised that We
knew Of no intention to develop the
lands" Finney continued. THAT state
ment was absolutely correct at the time
IL was made.
+ Decided at Later Date.
Subsequently. however. the Secre-
tary OF the Interior and the Secretary
Of the Navy, after consultation with
experts and ofiicials Of their depart
ments, determined on making the con-
tract above described"
Finney added that he had seen Fall
early in April. and that he had been
advised by Fall that he did not tell
Helms that the matter of the develop
ment Of the Teapot Dome would be held
open for another month"
But what he did tell him was that
he would not consider the question OF
dispoSing Of the Government royalty oil
In the Salt Greek oil field for another
month" Finney said.
Finney, called 10 the stand. read into
the record q letter addressed April "A,
1922. by Secretary Hoover 70 Secretary
Fall, then away from Washington.
Hoover incIosed q copy Of Helms tele-
gram regarding Teapot Dome, and said
ne would be glad 20 convey 70 Helms
haf 4fnFz he
Ffnney, then acting Secretary. said
he sent q reply to Hoover two days
later, copy Of which had already been
! read into the record. He said he had
no recollection Of any communications
from President Harding. his secretary,
or Secretary Weeks regarding Helms
protest
Finney testified that his letter to
Hoover closed exchanges on the subject
yith Mr. Hoover. TO his knowledge, he
said. the Commerce Secretary had no
other conversations with the Interior
Department or Secretary Fall regard
ing Teapot Dome.
Claudtus H. Huston, former Assistant
Secretary Of Commerce. advised the
committee today that ne Is In Kansas
City and win return here later 10 testify,
Harry NJ. Blair OF New York, another
prospective witness also is In Kansas
City
Lenroot Takes stand.
Mr., Lenroot next took the stand and
/ requested that the Associated Press dis
| patch from ri Paso as TO Falls state.
nent be- read into the record and that
/ WAS done.
The former Senator said that when
the testimony was given before the oil
epce OF Pail. he ssked Senator Smoot
] then Chairman of the cnnanniffeA "a