Evening star., 1938-02-08
Reads From Report in Effort
to Show Mishand|ing by
Ickes and BurIeW.
2 WORKERS INVOLVED
IN CASE OF TEXAS FIRM
Senator Declares Committee s
Findings Were in Conflict With
Those of Investigators.
BY REX COLLIER.

Lengthy ramifications OF what Sen
ator Pittman, Democrat, of Nevadt
contends was a "whitewash" by the
Interior Department OF two employees
allegedly involved in a hot oil'' case
several years ago were detailed t
the Senate Public Lands Committee
today.
Senator Pittman read excerpts from
voluminous reports in an effort to
show that Secretary 1ckes and his as
sistant. Robert K. Burlew. mishandled
the case of the two employees. Mr.
Burlew is under consideration by the
committee for confirmation as First
Assistant Secretary Of the Interior. a
post to which he recently was nomi-
mated by President Roosevelt.
The employees in question were
senior examiners of the Federal
Tender Board. assigned to hot-oil in
vestigations in Texas. Senator Pitt
man said the record shows they ac-
quired one-third interest in a firm
whose head later pleaded guilty to
l.,
ing shipments Of contraband oil.
The examiners were suspended after
an investigation by the Interior De-
partment's Division of Investiga ton
had revealed that they had made
loans to an alleged hot oil oper-
ator.
Reports Were in Conflict.
The employees filed counter charges
against the investigators and denied
they were in partnership with hot oil
concern. Secretary Ickes. the com.
mittee was told, then appointed a com.
mittee. composed of George w. Hol.
land. Geological Survey attorney. anc
Roy R. Duncan Of the departments
solicitors ONCE to make an independ.
ent report on the case. The commit.
tees findings, Senator Pittman said
were in conflict with those OF the di.
vision Of investigation. so, as 4 fina
measure Of settlement. Mr.. Ickes callec
in Jonathan G. Latimer, Chicago at.
torney and friend Of the Secretary. te
examine Ill the reports and advise hin
legally with respect to what action
should be taken.
The Latimer report, according Il
Senator Pittman. exonerated the sus.
pended employees Of criminal con.
spiracy, but condemned them for &C.
quiring An interest in property over
which they had investieative jurisdic.
ton. Mr.. Latimer pointed out that
such action tended to bring the de-
partment into 'disrepute." and tc
provide critics with "inferences of cor
rupt motives"
Were Never Prosecuted.
Senator Pittman brought out that
the oil examiners finally were sepa
rated from the service for expiration
Of funds" on June 80. 1886, and were
never prosecuted.
Mr.. Burley was questioned sharply
by Senator Pittman about the depart.
ment's handling Of the case and the
Senator contested Mr.. Burlew's claim
tnat the Holland-Duncan Committee
was unbiased"
"You call men disinterested when
they know they can be dismissed by
the Secretary or transferred to some
unhealthy climate?" the Senator de-
manded.
Mr. Burlew insisted 1t was "cus-
tomary" to call on qualified persons
within the department to pass on
matters in dispute. He declared Sec
retary Ickes did his best to get at all
the facts in the controversy and that
there was no disposition on the part
of any one to soft pedal the matter.
Senator Pitman. announcing his in
tention of getting to the bottom" OF
the hot oil case, requested the commit
tee to subpoena Richard Hill of the
tSee BURLEW. Page A-3)