Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-12-20

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curious II not suspicious. Within 9
short time he and others learned
that President Harding had issued
an executive order transferring
much control of the naval oil re-
serves from the Navy Department
to the Interior Department. II
was brought out also that Sec
|retaries Fall and DENLY had
signed q contract with Sinclair
leasing part Of the Teapot Dome
reservation to Sinclair's Mon
mouth Oil Co., and that they also
leased the Elk Hills property to
Edward L. Doheny and his Pan
American Petroleum Co.
Inquiry Resolution Adopted.
The Senate, in April 80, 1922
adopted Senator LaFollette's reso-
luton for an inquiry. The Senate
Public Lands Committee, Their
headed by Senator Smoot, Repub-
lican. of Utah began a prelirn-
mary inquiry. and in January
1928. ordered a complete inves-
tigation which got under way the
following October.
Proceedings were too compli-
Gated and colorless to attract
much public attention at the out
set. But in January, 1924, the
scandal broke wide open. Do
heny admitted he had given
100000 to Secretary FAN as q
loan"
A week later the Senate passed
a resolution Of Senator Walsh di-
recting the President ito cause
suit to be instituted Immediately
and prosecuted for annulment and
cancellation Of said leases and
contracts and to enjoin the
extraction of oil from said re-
serves" That was the resolution
which also directed the President
to appoint special counsel. subject
to Senate confirmation, and super
ceding anything in the statutes
touching the powers Of the Attor-
ney General or the Department OF
Justice"
Mr.. Roberts and Mr.. Pomerene
encountered considerable opposi-
ton in the Senate. It came
from Senators LaFollette, Walsh
Wheeler of Montana and a hall
dozen other moving spirits In be.
half Of the investigation.
Mr.. Roberts. questioned by SEN
ator Walsh. conceded he had INC
detailed knowledge" about land
law. But he added:
II think that In an hours time
I could get the necessary details
from some authority In the Justice
Department"
Injunction Suits Filed.
Critics of Mr.. Roberts COM
planned he was mot outstanding
nationally and as a lawyer ir
Pennsylvania had represented
some interests" His defender.
noted that he had practiced Law
for Is years and once obtained 9
5000 verdict in a personal dam
age suit against a railroad. the
biggest verdict Of its kind up te
that time. Critics of Mr.. Pomer-
enc. while less vehement, thought
the former Ohio Senator had beer
linked too closely with the Demo-
cratic organization or at least with
former President Wilson.
Despite the tremendous task Of
studying and developing the rec
ord already obtained by the Senate
committee, the two prosecutors
lost no time In filing suits to gel
injunctions and annul the leases
They lost m early round waer
Federal Court In Wyoming hele
that the Teapot Dome lease wa.
valid. But they won when the
United States Court Of Appeals ir
st. Louis and ultimately the Su.
preme Court in 1927 voided the
lease. The Government won al
the way through the Federal
Court and the Court Of Appeals In
California and in the Supreme
Court In having the Elk Hills
lease declared void.
Meanwhile, as a result Of often
dramatic and turbulent commit
tee sessions. as well as evidence
deYeloped by Mr.. Roberts and Mr.