Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-15
PATMAN CHARGES
DENIED BY MELLON
AGENT IN HEARING
Gregg Tells House Probers
Secretary Had No Part
in Loan to Colombia.
STATEMENT DICTATED
BY CABINET MEMBER
Declares He Owns No Bank Stock
and Does Not Control Any Cor
poration or Business.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
An emphatic denial that Andrew w.
Mellon had any connection with loan
to Colombia was put before House
committee today in his behalf
1t was voiced by Alexander H. Gregg
in replying for the Treasury Secretary
20 the impeachment proceedings brought
by Representative Patman Of Texas.
Gregg, former solicitor for the Internal
Revenue Bureau, read to the Judiciary
Committee a statement dictated by Mel
Ion.
He defended the Treasury official
against all Pstman's charges One OF
these had sought to link Mellon with
influencing American bankers to make
the loan.
Denies Connection With Loan.
The loan went forward to Colombia
10 days after the government of that
country had granted valuable oil con-
cession to the Mellon controlled Gulf
Oil Corporation.
The State Department has admitted
that it helped influence the bankers to
make the loan. but has denied there was
any connection between the loan and
the granting of the concession.
Francis White Assistant Secretary OF
State. again refused today to turn over
tn the Senate Financ' Committee let
terS exchanged between the department
and its Colombian legation.
Business Connections Cited.
Taking the stand before the Judiciary
Committee, which had heard TWO Gays
Of testimony by Patman, Gregg said he
would answer one by one the charges
in the impeachment resolution against
Mellon. 1900 ,.,,.i
He began with the Secretary,s busl-
ress connections, after saying ne mao
no information as TO whether the sec
retary owned stock in 300 corporations
with resources of $4,000 900 900.
Mr.. Mellon controls no corporation
Gregg said What his famlly ano
business associates control don know;
Mr.. Mellon does not own more man %
Der cent Of the stock in any corporation.
IT do not regard his family as an
issue"
Patuan had charged the Secretary
had engaged in private business while
In ONCE in violation Of the laws.
Reads Mellon Statement.
Regarding the Barco oil concession In
Colombia. Gregg read the following
statement. which he said, was dictated
yesterday by Secretary Mellon:
Mr.. Mellon says that he met Presi-
dent Olaya at one of the usual social
functions and. of course. conversed with
him but such conversation was general
and respecting financial and other con-
ditions in Colombia.
Mr.. Mellon had no conversations
with President Olaya that had to dc
with the so-called Barco concession nor
the Gulf Oil Corporation, nor with any
suggestion whatever, alleged or implied
as to any ;upport or assistance upon
the part of this Government with re-
spect to Colombia obtaining credit.
Mr.. Mellon has never had any con-
versations with officials Of our State
Department concerning the Colombian
loan nor has he had any conversations
with banker with respect to this loan.
Loan Influence Charged.
Patman charged yesterday that Mel
Ion had a hand in influencing a loan
to Colombia, made about the time the
oil concession was given the Gulf Cor
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