Evening star., 1928-03-29

with President Wilson In connection
with oil leases. The Senator evaded
direct answer and other Senators. both
on this side and the other side OF the
chamber, took occasion TO defend the
record OF the late Secretary Lane and to
rebuke me for introducing his name
into this discussion. | may state that
the information which led me to make
the Interrogation is based upon letter
written by the Senator from Montana
copy of which l possess. It Is dated
February - 1923. an extract from
which ] will now read II is addressed
to Mr.. w G. Williams, llS Broadway.
New York City II says:
"'Mr Wilson did not hesitate To take
drastic action with respect 10 antici-
pated rulings by his Secretary OF the
Interior
Recalls Leasing Bill Fight.
This drastic action related to lease
on naval oil reserve No. 3. and accord
ing TO statement by the Senator from
Montana on the floor of the Senate this
drastic action resulted In contro-
versv between President Wilson and
Secretary Lane which resulted in the
latters resignation,
And so we have this situation Dur
Senator from Montana was accused by
the late Senator La Toilette of working
in the interests of the Standard Oil
Co. and other corporations who were
inteSting the committee rooms and the
lobbics of the Congress in order To get
the leasing bill through. At that time
the Senator from Montana answered
Senator La Toilette not by a denial Of
his charges but by invoking the name
of former Secretary Lane in iuStiflca
tion OF his action
Now, when II Is disclosed that Sec
rotary Lane himself. according 10 the
Senator's own letter. took such steps
with reference to naval oil reserve as
to call for drastic action to use the
Senator's own words, leading to a con-
troverSy with President Wilson, which
led to the resignation of Secretary Lane,
who thereupon accepted position with
the Pan American Petroleum Co. a Do
heny organization. at a salary of $50 900
a year. Senator Walsh goes the other
way and invOkes the name OF the late
Senator La Toilette aS a witness in his
own behalf
The Senator from Montana will not
deny the charge that he himself at the
time the leasing act was up, was the
chief advocate Of the proposition to per-
NIT private oil interests 10 operate in
naval reserves upon the ground that
other private oil interests, by locating
wells Immediately outside the naval re-
serves, were draining those reserves, and
the only way for the Government and
the Navy to obtain the oil from reserves
was to permit their exploitation by pri-
vate corporations. The entire debate on
the leasing act which became law
in February 1920. is filled which srgu-
mentS advanced by the Senator in sup
port OF this proposition and TO sup
port him in his arguments nc quoted
Mr.. Edwin l. Dohenv
Senator Walsh said at that time
However 1t NAV be re-
garded by any one else. I attach very
great Importance TO the testimony or
MIR. Z. l.. Doheny TO the same effect.
II Is we'll known that Mr. Doheny Is
one OF the most extensive and one OF
the most successful oil prospectOrs and
operators in the world II appears that
he has no interest whatever. i'm any Of
the property within the naval reserve
or in any of the lands that would be
patented He does however. own profit =
able and producing oil wells throughout
the State of California II he has anv
interest in the bill at all OF an individ-
uaI or personal character II would be
TO see the bin killed. because thus ths
volume Of oil would be restricted and
limited, II not reduced, and the value
Of his product would be proportionately
increased I can not believe. however
that he is influenced either one way or
the other by that consideration. but ne
tells us after his long experience as an
oil proSpector and an operator In oil
the fart that fhg Wnfle WhiPh 0puf
exist upon the reserves are continually
draining the supply OF oil and reduc-
ing the oil pressure and he ventured
an opinion that in 10 wears the gas
pressure would he so far reduced as
n MAKE IL next In imnnssihle IN eN-