Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-27
KELLEY CALLS PROBE
OF SHALE OIL GRANTS
"CLUMSY WHITEWASH'

CONTINUED From First Page.)
have anything to do with the Justice
Department investigation on grounds
that Richardson had prejudged the case
How thoroughly justified was" he
said, lin taking that position is now
self-evident from this predetermined
coat of whitewash applied under the
guise Of an investigation, but still too
thin to conceal the real facts"
The Assistant Attorney General
in the report said records showed
Kelley makes extreme charges readily
carelessly and excitedly; that he is
prone to believe people who disagree
with him venal and dishonest"
Richardson reviewed in detail each
charge made by the former field agent
and said records showed that only
about per cent of the oil shale lands
owned by the Government had been
patented and that oil shale had no
commercial value and would not have
until the supply of petroleum in this
country was exhausted. What its
ultimate value would be, he said. was
problematical
THE investigation, therefore, which
has been made by the Department of
Justice has been unable to substantiate
in any material particular the COM
plants and charges made by Kelley"
Richardson reported. LAS he states,
the records and files should disclose the
existence Of the evils of which he COM
planned, but they do not.
No Evidence Of Irregularities.
1.-THE cases to which Kelley has
directed specific attention, present, in
the files and records of these cases, no
evidence OF improprieties or irreguiari-
ties, and certainly no basis for charge
Of either wrongful or corrupt admin
istration.
THE condition, therefore, presented
by such files and records is entirely
harmonious to the physical computa-
tons which have been presented in the
figures with respect to oil shale acreage
The Government Oil shale lands have
not been lost or dissipated. Approx
mately 81 per cent of them still belong
to the Government. In the Colorado
fields 81 per cent of the oil shales are
still owned by the United States and
the overwhelming majority of the
granted on the recommendation and
with the approval of the applicable
field division" (Kelley's ofice)
The department said the investiga-
ton showed that after being summoned
to Washington last July Kelley con-
tracted with the New York World to
furnish it with a STORY containing
charges against the Department of In
terror and various officials thereof"
The Denver field agent, 1T continued,
did not report to the department until
August 5, where he remained until
September l, when he "absented him.
self without permission" until he re-
signed.
Denies Papers Missing.
The report reviewed Kelley's refusal
to aid in the investigation, said papers
Kelley charged had been destroyed were
in the department. files; that q case
Kelley said had been decided for the
Government really had been a decision
against the Government, and that for
mer Secretary Work, former Assistant
Secretary Finney and other officials had
acted properly and in good faith in ham
ding the oil shale patent cases.
Kelley's charges that politics infiu-
enced the department in its decisions
were described as unfounded, and Rich
ardson said Kelley's allegation that Sec
rotary Wilbur favored oil companies was
untrue. He cited q number of suits filed