Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-05
KELLEY HAS ROOM
NEAR Firing LINE
Wilbur Critic Across From
Department of Justice Pend
ing Developments.
BY REX COLLIER.

from quarter century OF quiet Gov
eminent service into a bewilderine
blaze of publicity of his own making
has established himself across the
street from the Department of JUS
tice to await developments at the
center of things" with regard to his
sensational broadside against Secretary
Wilbur's oil shale policies.
The middle-aged former field execu-
tive of the Interior Departments land
Office at Denver, Colo, whose unoSten-
tatiouS manner of conversation is not
in keeping with the blistering attack
delivered in writing against his SUI
periors, declared last night he is will
ing to discuss matters" with Attorney
General Mitchell or any other au-
thoriZed person.
II have not declined to talk about
this case with the Attorney General
and with Assistant Attorney General
Richardson" Kelley told The Star in
an interview at his hotel. But have
refused to give any formal charges in
writing to the Department of Justice.
I'm perfectly willing to discuss mat
ters with Mr.. Mitchell or Mr.. Richard
son at any time they see AZ. They
know where I'm staying If they want
to talk to me, and I'm going to re-
main right here while there are any
developments in progress"
Details To be Published.
Kelley said that full details of his
complaint against the Interior Depart
ment's administration of oil shale pat
! ents in Colorado will be made public
in the series of articles under his name
to appear, beginning tomorrow, in a
New York newspaper. Kelley is not the
only person awaiting developments cue
to follow publication Of the charges
Assistant Attorney General Richard
son, who has been instructed to make
full inquiry into them, and Secretary
Wilbur, who requested the investigation,
sSe marking time until the SPECIFIC ac-
cusations become public.
Senator Nye of North Dakota, chair
man Of the Senate Land Committee,
will stand by attentively until the Jus
tice inquiry Is completed, ready, how
ever, if necessary to offer cooperation
and to ask for Senate investigation II
such is deemed advisable later. Nye has
talked with Kelly and believes the lat
ter's action Justified"
While Senator Nye announced after
his conference with Kelley that Secre-
tary Wilbur is not responsible for the
condition alleged by the former field
executive, Kelley complained that VIII
bur failed to end certain abuses"
which have long existed in the granting
OF oil shale land patents In Colorado.
Kelley refused last night to define
these abuses but he charged broadly
that favors have been granted certain
patentees who brought pressure to
bear at the Interior Department.
Pressure" Is Charged.
Spare of hair and rather spare Of
build, Kelley also Is spare of words
in casual conversation, although he has
waxed prolific on paper within the past
few days. Officials who have read
many Of his technical reports on land
patent matters over a long period of
years profess amazement over Kelleys
non-technical literary ventures of late.
Secretary Wilbur is quite frank in his
opinion that Kelley Is merely q tool"
in the hands of designing persons"
Kelley last night met this suggestion
with chuckle and shake of the head
Il don't know who the designing per-
sons are, If they exist" he remarked.
ST know that I am not controlled by
anybody, however,
Kelley's record of service in the Gov
eminent Is a good one. His integrity
as public official has never been queS-
toned. He Is regarded as one who Is
honest and determined in his convic-
tons. He has conducted his office eff
ficiently and quietly. It Is understood
his resignation and accompanying out
bursts created real surprise among those
who know him in the department.
For six years he has been with the
Interior land ONCE In Denver. For 30
years before that he was with the In
terror land Office in Salt Lake City.
Although he was connected with the
office which had supervision of the Tea
pot Dome oil lands during the height
of the hectic inquiry into those leases.
his name never was brought into the
oil hearings as a witness or otherwise.
Not in Charge at Time.
IT was not in charge of the ONCE at
that time" he explained, "or might
have had something to say then"
Interior Department officials can see
no parallel between the Teapot case
and the Colorado oil shale controversy.
1t was pointed out yesterday that while
the Wyoming oil lands are rich and
productive, the oil shale lands involved
in Kelley's charges are not profitable"
under existing methods OF extracting
oil from the ground.
The lands generally are barren. The
shale contains oil, but TO obtain 1t IN
commercial quantities costs about three
times as much as the OIL Is worth at
the present price of dollar barrel
1t Is estimated it may be many years
before oil can be extracted from the
shale in commercially practical guam
titles.
That Kelley has been in good stand
ing with the Interior Department until
recently is evidenced by the fact that
more than three-fourths Of all oil shale
patents granted by Secretary Wilbur
since he took Office were issued on KEEL
ley's recommendation. According to the
Secretary, the former Denver execu-
tive has been overruled but once in the
half hundred cases submitted.
Whether it was Wilbur's action In the
one case overruled that precipitated
Kelley's resignation Is a matter Of spec
ulation here. Kelley himself declares
the conditions he complains of have
been allowed to go on over period OF
years.
The fact that the letter Of Assistant
Attorney General Richardson inviting
Kelly to submit his charge to the de-
partment was delivered in person by a
special agent of the United States Bu-
rsau Of Investigation Is said TO have
contributed to Kelley's refusal TO pre-
sent his case formally to the Depart
ment OF Justice.
Object Of Method.
At the Department Of Justice it was
stated yesterday that this method OF
delivery was adopted solely to insure
prompt personal delivery of the missive
at Kelley's room in the Ambassador
Hotel. 1t was denied emphatically that
Kelley is being Swallowed by department
agents.
It is known that Assistant Attorney
General Richardson has been in con-
ference with J. Edgar Hoover, director
of the Bureau of Investigation, regard
ing the Kelley case. but Hoover himself
6eclared the bureau so far has not been