The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, February 29, 1924, Page 1

+ STATE SHOCKED ¥ 4 é ; WEATHER FORECAST Generally fair tonight and Sat- urday. Somewhat colder tonight. LA FOLLETTE’S SUPPORTERS IN Didn’t Expect That Senator Would Withdraw From State Primary NO ACTION IS TAKEN No Steps Started to Prevent Withdrawal of Candidate, They Say R. A. Kinzer, who has been at the head of the LaFollette organ- ization in the state, this after- noon said that “instructions had been received from Fargo” to prevent the removal of the name of Robert M. LaFollette from the list of candidates in the North Dakota presidential _ primary. However, he said he could not say that any action would be taken. The view of his Fargo informant, he said, was that a name could not be withdrawn 30 days prior to a primary vote. A delegation of Hiram Johnson supporters—H. N. Tucker, C. D. King, O. A. Olson and Fred Har.- son—visited the Secretary, of State’s office this afternoon to in- quire what action would be tak- en, they urging withdrawal o! LaFollette’s name. Deputy Secre- tary M. W. Duffy informed them no action would be taken today. ‘The closing time for placing names on the ballot for the pri- mary election is 5)p. m. March 1, after'which the ballots will be made up. Supporters of Robert M. LaFoilette, who had entered his name as a cag- didate in the presidential pritary in North Dakota, were surprised, shock- cd and disappointed by LaFollette’s telegram of withdrawal. They never expected he would go this far. F, A. Vogel, who was nam- ‘d chairman of the LaFollette cam- naign organization a few days ago at Valley City, declared that LaFollette would never withdraw. R. A. Kinzer ot Valley City, LaFollette organiza- ‘on head, ‘here today, said that La- ollette’s telegram was a distinct irprise to his supporters, The La- ‘ ollette men, he said, nad gone ahead with their campaign plans under- anding that it was agreeable to the Senatoy to be entertained in the race. Mr. Kinzer said that he had no s'atement to make this morning re- irding LaFollette’s action but might ter. He said no steps had been ‘ken toward preventing withdzawal : LaFollette’s name, No Action Taken Mr. Vogel declared after the Valley City meeting that LaFollette himself (d not have power to withdraw his ime from the primary ballot. Secre- tory of State Hall later said that if JnFollette demanded his name be withdrawn it would be, but was out ct the city todgy and -had-taken no sction on LaFollette’s telegram. Senator LaFollette, in a telegram 1» the Secretary of State late yester- ‘sy, said: “You are authorized and “d rected to withdraw my name as residential candidate’ at the ap- peoaching primary election) March 18, (Signed) Robert M. LaFollette. A telegram was dispatched by Hall 1» LaFollette in Washington asking for confirmation. and.he replied: ‘ Your telegram asking verification of my telegram this date withdrawing my name as presidential candidate is + ceived.” That telegram was gen- wine.” The action of LaFollette was no surprise in political circles. Three «ays ago Senator Lynn J. Frazier and Yep. J. H. Sincldir wired Usher L. Nurdick,\ chairman of the Johnson campaign committee, that LaFollette urged his name be withdrawn. Looked Like Defeat With a three cornered fight—Cool- idge, LaFollette and Johnson—it was jredicted by many that Coolidge was sure winner, and that LaFollette would make a bad. showing. There, ‘v0, has been pressure brought to hear to force LaFollette to eithe: af- “rm or deny his intention to lead a tevolt in the Republican party and scome a third party candidate. He us remained discreetly-on the fence. One third party man here explain- ed that LaFollette did not want to vo into the March 18 primary be- cause he wanted to be free to lead a third party movement after the Re- ublican convention ia Cleveland, pnd he did not want to take chances of losing prestige by neing defeated in a. North Dakote primary. Coolidge Petitions Filed Petitions placing Harrison Garnett of St. Thomas in nomination for Re- publican nations! ‘committeemen and the entire “Real Republican” slate of candidates for delegates to. the Re- publican National Convention and presidential electors was filed late yesterday with the’ Secretary of State. The petitions bore about'2,100 names, 1,000 ‘being necessary, is PLAN . BEER. BILL Washington, Feb. 29.—Forty mem- hers of the house joined today in aan panguncement that next week they will introduce # bill to legalize the manufacture and sale of beverages with an alcoholic content of 2.75 p cent By volume, °* ‘ President Coolidge was p mem¢ ing t 800th anniver: and also 300th anniver NEW EXPENSES TAKE MUCH OF STATE'S TAXES ented with the first of the new Huguenot 50-cent pieces. ry of the coming of the Walloons, 'y of founding of New York State. France; President Coolidge; Dr. Charles S. MacFarland, ip Cartier’ dcMarchicnne, ambassador from Belgium, Left to right: esident, Tercentenary Commi: (Copyright, Harris & Ewing) The coins’ com- French and Belgians to this country, J. Jusserand of ion; Baron de- Ambassador J, COOLIDGE IS INFORMED OF TAX PROPOSAL 7 White House Attitude on Compromise on Mellon Bill Is Not Announced AGREEMENT Garner Rites to be Ousted Under the Plan Adopted By .Republicans IS MADE Washington, Feb. 29.—House Re- publican insurgents formally agreed today to support the Republican com- Promise substitute for’ the Demo- Rae income rates in the revenue Representative Nelson, Wisconsin, ee | leader of the, group, said practically FRANCHISE BILL _| IS ADVANCED, London, Feb. 29.—The House of Commons’ today ed “the second reading of the bill extending the} franchise of all women at the age of 21, The vote was 288 to 7 Paid Goes to Expense Created Since 1919 MUCH FOR STATE BONDS Duplication of Courses in Higher Institutions of Learning Shown fore than 43 cents of each dollar paid for state taxes goes to meet ob- ligations which the state did not have befo ecords compiled in the office of the state tax commissioner. Out of each dollar of state taxes levied in 1923, 15.21 cents goes to- ward payment of interest on indus- trial bonds; 27.17 cents out of each dollar goes toward payment of the soldiers’: bonus and 1.36 cents oes to the home builders’ deficit fund, or in all. 74 cents out of dollar levied in state taxes in 1923 goes to three items. of expense not included in the expenditures of the state prior to 1919,” according to statements of Lyman A, Baker, county tax comm sioner, made before a local organiz: tio ‘During the last five years we huve levied $5,659,000 for the soldiers’ bonus,” said Mr. Baker. “It is esti- mated that $6,000,000 more must be levied for this purpose. Consequent- ly, this item’ of expense will continue during the next six years. “In 1924 the state board of equali- zation will have tp levy $200,000 for} ing the cumbersome pipe the purpose of retiring the bonds of the Bank of North Dakota. This levy will continue for ten years. It pro- bably will be necessary to make levies for the retirement of the mill and ¢levator bonds in 1932 and sub- sequent years Mr. Baker showed that out of each dollar levied for state taxes 8.60 cents went to the maintenance of penal and charitable institutions, 49.41 cents to the support of state educa- tional institutions or distributed to rural and high schools, 8.03 cents goes to tho support and maintenance of state departments. Duplication Shown “Tho constitution of the state pro- vides for 11 state educational insti- tutions (iticluding the school for the blind and the school for the deaf and dumb) which are permanently located in various parts of the state,” said Mr. Baker. “Some of these schools are duplicating professional courses given by other schools. “In 1915 and 1916 a survey of the state cducational institutions in North Dakota was made under the direction of the United States Com- missioner of Education at the request of the state board of regents. In outlining to the commissioner of edu- cation the objects which the board had in view in requesting the survey, at- re the year 1919, according to} WORK HALTED "AS PIPE CLOGS Delay in Reaching Bodies of 41 Miners Killed in the Mine Announced 29 shed into the t the time of the disaster there, Fi 5, have clogged up the 10- i suction line being used in }drairting the mine workings and has caused a temporary delay in the work of recovering the bodies of the 41 men who lost their lives there when the bottom dropped out of a nearby pond, flooding the workers, it was announced by rescue workers. ‘The water in the mine shaft which j reached to within 15 feet of the sur- face of the mine shaft had been re- duced to 108 from the top of the op- jening when the section line became clogged. The pump, set up a ‘few days after the accident, has been working day and night until it was forced to shut down and has been ng water from the mine at an ge rate of 1,200 gallons per min- .—Roots and plant} An effort was made yesterday to flush the clogged up line with clear water but- the results were not sat- isfactory and the crew today was tak- apart to They expect to have the pimp functioning again Saturday. The first crews will be able to enter the mine workings, when officials permit. Several, days of pumping remains before the watet level is reduced to the first. mine level. Those in charge of the work_ex- pect to find a deep layer of mud and debris over the tunnel floor and it may be necessary to remove this to find the bodies 13 LIVES IS” N.D. FIRE TOLL That Number Perished Dur- ing 1922-23 Fiscal Year clean it. Fire took a toll of 13 lives and caused property damage in ‘excess of $3,000,000 during the fiscal year of 1922-23, according tothe annual re- port of Henry L. Reade, state fire marshal, The list of dead and in- jured from fire, beginning in Aug- ust, 1922, and concluding with the} tention was culled to.the fact that{end of the fiscal year, June 30, 1928, the various institutions in question | included in addition to the 13 dead a were established by constitutional provisions hack of which it Was not’ deemed the province of the survey to 0. The board of regents requested a careful study of unnecessary dup- lication of work,” This commission, in its report, he pointed out sailed attention to a large number of duplicate, professidn- al courses offered at the university and agricultura) college, such as dup- lication in the industrial arts and fine arts, duplication in home econ- score or more known injured in fires, The ‘report, which includes a per- iod during which both Mr, Reade and R. A. Middaugh were fire marshal, lists about 50 investigations of sus- picious or known incondiary fires, It }also contains a list of nearly 200 in- spections made by the state fire inar- shal. The chief cause of fire loss is ex- posure, 329 firess being caused” by this, while 298 fires were caused by lightning, 134 from defective chim- omics and agrieylture/ and duplica-|neys and flues, 215 from stoves, fur- tion in engineering work. Useless Courses ' “In regard to engineering courses, said Mr, Baker, “the report says: “North Dakota has two colleges of engineering preparing to cover all subjects for which there is a demand, although there is no manifest need for, more than one such school, In- deed the question has been seriouely vaised’ whether: North Dekota is at present justified ‘in maintaining so expensive an institution as a college of engineering of the first rank. (Continued on page 3) naces and 381 fires were origin. . 5 DAUGHERTY’S NAME IS KEPT Washington; Feb. ‘29.—Attorney- General Daugherty. wjll be: ‘retained on the list of Coolidge delegates-at- large from Ohio to the Republican national convention regardless of the Milford mine} of unknown |, ‘days on the ocean. fight upon him in the Senate und The | regardless of whether he ramains in the cabinet, | HIGH PRICES RULE ABROAD, DAKOTAN FINDS Edward. Becker, Former Mc- Clusky Man Tells Experi- ence of German Trip TO AUSTRALIA Retiring From Business He Decides to See the World; Has Made Good Start NOW Having traveled 29,000 miles in the last 10 months, Edward Becker, for- mer McClusky business man, is off on another little jaunt. This time he is headed for Australia, and probably will continue on around the globe. Becker stopped in Bismarck today to see friends on his way from St. Paul, his present home, to Se- attle. E He adopted the slogan “See Your Own Country First’ when he decided to embark upon his_peregrinations. So, starting out in May, 1923, he went to the Gulf of Mexico, over to California, up to Canada and back to North Dakota and St. Paul. Last fall Becker decided he wanted it Germany. So he went over, remained about a month, passed through England and Holland, an arrived in the United States three weeks ago. Germany, he said, is not an in- viting country. Everybody seems stunned,” he said. “They don'tsknow what is go- ing to happen. Most of them are getting out as fast as they can—to South America yand the United States. Pay High Prices n on Dec. 28 eggs were 20 cents each, pork 75 cents a ound, beef 85 cents a pound, goose iso a pound and butter $1.60 a pound,” he said, “There is, lots of business and I didn't see many beggars but there are lots of people without enough food. I was at Hamburg and no- ticed a bunch of boys on sleds. ‘They plainly were undernourished.” Nevertheless, he found amusement, and the music crowgled. Becker went into the Ruhr, where he found the Engliyfi soldiers, who were hated so badly .by the Ger- mm during the war, receiving friendly attentions. “Where the English are ocupying a town you'll see a German and an English soldier «walking down the street chatting, but in the Ruhr if a French officer comes the German walks around to avoid him.’ The Ruhr, he said, was not as busy as in normal times, although the people passively accept the French occupation. There is much unem- ployment there, he said. The Germans, he said are friendly to Americans and American dollars. “You hand out an American bill and they'll be anxious to get if,’ he said, “‘but they don’t want our silver —they’re not used to that.” Becker saw no food riots or other troubles. The police, he ‘said, carry sabres and are not adverse. to using them, which discourages rioting. ’ The Kaiser, hg said, never will get baek on the throne. The Germans say little about the formet War Lord, but they are not very friend- ly toward him, he said.. They are go- ing to try the President they have a little while longer, he said. Foreigners have no difficulty in travel, Becker said, but they have to report at a police station every 24 hours, and leave a picture. Finds Seas Rough Becker ran into rough ‘seas on his: return trip on, the Holland-American line steamship Veedem, being 13% On the trip he passed Doorn, where the former Kai- ser is held, closely guarded he said. The ship had on board 90 German immigrants. The, storm delayed the ship so that it appeared it could ndt make New York in time to land them before the quota as immigrants was exhausted, So the captain of the ship turned to Halifax, put the Ger- + * (Continued on page 3)" much halls f fall of the 17 insurgents who voted for the Garner plan would support \ the substitute to be offered by Rep- | Tesentative Longworth of Ohio, Re- | publican leader, Reunion of Republican forces, lead- id, would force a rejection of the Garner rates on a final vote this afternoon. While the house leaders were in consultation there were indications at the White House that President Coolidge might be preparing to set forth Ais attitude on compromise. {Some weeks ago those close to the | President predicted that he might ‘veto a compromise measure, which ‘departed materially from the sched- ules of the Mellon plan. Reports of latest compromise negotiations were carried to the White House yester- day but representatives who talked with the President received no def- inite assurance that the Longworth plan would be acceptable to him. SHOALS BILL UP TORSDAY Bil to Accept Ford’s Offer Comes Up For Debate Washington, Feb. 29.—The McKen- zie bill, which would authorize ac- ceptance of Henry Ford’s offer for Muscles Shoals, will be taken up Tuesday by the house under an agree- ment reached today. The rules committee reported a re- solution giving the measure priority over general legislation after disposi- tion of the tax bill. Chairman Snell said the general de- bate which would be linfited to 10 hours would get under way Tuesday. Representative McKenzie, Republi- can, Illinois, author of the bill pre- dicted a final vote before the end of next week. He expressed confidcnce that the measure would be passed without material change. * SUICIDE PACT DISCOVERED Authorities Believe One Stu- dent Lost Nerve, Other Shot Him e Pottstown, Pa., Feb. 29.—Authori- ties investigating the death of Thom- as Seaton and James Warmkeshcl, night students atythe Wharton school of Finance at the University of Penn- sylvania, whose bodies with bullet holes through the chest were found yesterday in the local Y, M. C. A, ex- pressed the belief today that the young men had entered into a suicide pact and that Warmkeshel lost his nerve at the last minute and , was shot by Seaton who then took his own life, The police declare that the at- tempted suicide of Miss Edna’ High, a school teacher in the Pottstown publie schools; had no connection with the case of the students al- though she was acquainted with them both. FORMER LOCAL RESIDENT DIES Waldemar Juhls, aged 54, a former resident of Bismarck, died at Port- land, Oregon, on February 15 of brights disease, according to ‘word here. He moved from Bismarck to Oregon 14 years Ago. His wife, Ly- dia, died at Salem, Oregon, several years ago, He is survived by five daughters and ‘two sons—Mrs, Ida Worthen, Mrs. Alma Hauxhurst, Min- nie Juhls and David Juhls of Lake- side, Oregon; Mrs, Martha J. Bailey and Joseph C. Juhls of Kelso, Wash., Mrs. Sadie Clarno of North Plains, Oregon. Interment: was made in the Clagget cemetery, near Salem, Ore- gon. One sister, Mrs. Mary Gough- nour, lives in Portland. In Her Mother’s Footsteps A visitor said to a. little girl, “And what will you do, my. dear, when you are as big as your moth- er?” “Diet,” replied the modern child. *Tit-Bits (London). od WINTER'S BACK BROKEN, WET SPRING AND GOOD CROP MAY BE IN OFFING Weather Topsy-Turvy During the Present Winter, Records Show—Leés Snow, Milder Weather, Are Recorded Ad Local Bureau, in the Light of Past Experience There may ibe more winte: bureau will offer, especially during have been upset in various places o: There cannot be protracted win far north, and there is no snow field in f air descending on North Dakota . Weather Observer, But There may be wintry ything imtan unusual r the temperature u: ar March FARMING NOW CHANGING, SAYS RESERVE AGENT Substantial Readjustment Said to Have Taken Place | Throughout District NEW OPPYORTS MADE Farming Is’ Vurning Away From, Old Paths Into New Ones, He Finds Minneapolis, Feb, “substantial readjustment” is now under way in the ninth federal re- serve district, which includes North Dakota, according to the monthly summary of business conditions i: sued today by John H. Rich, chair- man and federal reserve agent, Minn- | eapolis. Mr. Rich, in his summary says: - “Additional evidence comes to hand almost daily that substantial read- justment is now unger way in the wheat raising areas of this district. That the prices of. agricultural pro- ducts have practically reached pre- war levels is a generally recognized fact. However, a comparison with the price readjustment which follow- ed the Civil War furnishes a very in- teresting commentary on the present trend of prices both for agricultural produce and for the things which farmers must purchase. These price changes are bringing about a revolu- tion in the methods and plans of farmers in this section, Figures re- cently made available show that there has been an increase of more than 12 per cent in milk cows, 38 per cent in swine, and more than 10 per cent in sheep held in this district as com- pared with three years ago, and this is a much greater increase than has taken place for the United States as a whole, There has also been a re- awakening of interest in promoting diversification, crop rotation, better tillage, the study of markets, dairy- ing, and animal breeding. The sit- uation generally has not been so bad throughout this section during the past thrée years, as to prevent an in- creased density of automobile owner- ship as compared with population. However, this increase has not kept pace with other sections of the Unit- ed States so that the thre this district which held first, sixth, and eighth. position in 1920 dropped back to seventh, sixteenth, and four- teenth places respectively in 1923. These increases in livestock holdings 29.-4A ly that the great change in prices has begun to force a readjustment in farming methods and farming bud- gets. Urban Business Unsatisfactory “The volume of business in urban centers in this district during Janu- ary was very unsatisfactory. This may be accounted for partly by the greut contrast between the favorable weather conditions in December and the unfavorable weather conditions in January. However, it is significant that the total was 13 per cent below a year ago and lower than any Jan- in North That's the best in the way of long d A blanket of snow. wv ature of the air currents down 10 degrees by the Dakota, and conversely, lack of snow causes a sun is so far north that it is unlikely that remain on the ground more than tw spells agi Hack of prec jusually is followed by : 'N. D., and uary month in the last five years, ex- cept in 1922. And the immediate outlook for urban business activity is not very favorable because prospec- | tive building activity, as reflected in permits, is below a year ago both inj number and valuation, although the | average building permit reached a| very high point in January. The fact that money rates are lower than for | (Continued on page 3) ota, but it won't last long. ance predictions the weather a winter in which weather records ver the entire world. ter again, because the sun is too ‘anada over which currents will pass, according to 0. W. Rob- lly sends the temper- me they reach North ise of 10 degrees. The a snowfall in Canada would Oo weeks. n. In fact, if past records mean will be a colder month than usual. Ny equalizes itself during the year. . And in January it was a shade colder than but in Febru- ary, ending today, the temperature averaged about 15 degrees above normal, The average since January 1 is now about eight degrees above the normal, and according to past experience there should be weather colder than usual this spring, or this summer, or next fall to make up for it. Yesterday it was 59 above, the mildest this month although not a record-breaker. There also is the omen of a good crop in the weather conditions. For, according to the weather obser pitation in the winter 1 spring normal, This is not true in al! ng to Mr. Roberts, guara is likely to happen. Wet Spring Ahead? The amount of precipitation thus far is greatly below normal. For example, there was only a trace of snow last November and in Novem- ber, 1896, there was 31 inches of snow. There was 3.7 inches of snow in December 1923, and in December, 1916, there was 21.7 inches of snow; in January, 1924, there was a half ‘inch of snow and in 1907 there was , 14.7 inches; in February, 1924, thére has been 26 inches of snow and. in February, 1922, there was 17.8 inch- es of snow. The deficiency in pre- cipitation in January and February now is .80. Many farmers in various parts of state have already seeded wheat, ac- cording to word received here. ‘The weather bureau doesn't advise such practice at this time, however, in the light of past weather experience. There also have been gophers and geese seen, the woodpeckers are flying about and a local citizen today re- ports seeing the first robin. ASK FUND T0 FIGHT FIRE $15,000 Sought to Combat Blaze at Haynes, N. D. A fund of $15,000, with which to fight the fire raging in the Haynes Coal Mining Company at Haynes, which, it is said, is threatening the entire coal field around Haynes, is being sought by state mine officials, In addition to the $5,000 asked of the North Dakota state emergency commission, it is un- derstood, 000 is being asked of the state of South Dakota and the Haynes Coal Mining Company will pay into the fire-fighting fund an equal amount. Secretary of State Thomas Hall and Commissioner of Agriculture J. A. Kitchen, members of the state emer- gency commissien, are at Haynes to- day investigating the fire. 12-HOUR PARKING LIMIT IS URGED Minot, N. D., Feb. 29.—Parking of vehicles on the principal business streets and avenue’ of the city would be limited to oné hour while on the other streets and avenues the limit would be 12 hours, according to the terms of an ordinance now being drafted by City Attorney R. H. Bo- sard and which will probably be pre- sented to the next meeting of the city commission next Tuesday to be placed on its first reading. The general terms of the proposed ordinance were outlined to the city commission by City Attorney Bosard and with few exceptions met with the approval of the commissioners. On st s and avenues in the city, where not otherwise provided within the ordinance, automobiles, motor trucks and motoreycles might be parked on the right side, under the | Proposed regulations WADOO WON'T MEET SENATOR REED | ON PLATFORM IN “OIL DISCUSSION” Kangas City, Feb. 29.—Announce | ment that William G. McAdoo will not come to Missouri to answer charges made by U. S. Senator James A. Reed, his opponent for the Dem- ocratic national nomination for pres- ident, is the latest development in the hot campaign being waged in this state. Senator Reed, speaking here last night challenged Mr, McAdoo to meet him on the platform:in Missouri for & joint discussion of the oil lease disclosures, McAdoo headquarters at St. Louis issued a statement an- nouncing that Mr. McAdoo will not nfuke a personal campaign in the Senator's home state and declaring that friends of Mr. McAdoo in Mis- souri assumed full responsibility for this decision. Senator Reed de- clared the former secretary of the treasury had received large fees from E. L, Dohney, oil, operator, “in the guise of attorneys’ fees but in fact for political influence.” COMMITTEE TO BENAMED FOR NEW INQUIRY Senate Expected to Adopt Resolution After Debate on Method of Proceeding PALMER GIVES VIEWS ‘ Former Attorney-General De- nies Many Assertions in McLean Telegrams Washington, Feb. 29.—Several of the ‘sensational assertions made in telegrams sent to Ed- ward B, McLean in Florida by his employes here were denied today in testimony before the oil com- mittee, A. Mitchell Palmer, a former Attorney-General Who acted! as counsel for the publisher, testi- fied that he was mot “a partner” of J. W. Zevely, attorney for Harry F. Sinclair; that he was not looking after the interests of Albert B. Fall and that he did not, as stated in telegrams, ask Senator Underwood or anyone else to bring pressure to hear Senator Walsh or nyone else to keep McLean off the witness stand. The witness added that he was not employed.by any oil company and defended under severe cros! examination his decision to di miss prosecution of the famous Southern Pacifie land cases in California. Washington, Feb. 29.—(By the A. P.)—The resolution for investigation of the administration of Harry M. Daugherty, Attorney-General, — was taken up by the Senate, Its adoption is expected before tonight and the inquiry will begin next week. Controversy at once developed over the question of appointing the in- vestigating committee. Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Montana, autho of the resolution, proposed that fix senators, three Republicans and two Democrats, undertake the investig tion. Senator Lodge, Republic: leader, countered with proposal f appointment of the committee in cu: + tomary manner by the senate’s pre siding afficer. Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the Democratic senator, supported the campaign for election of the special committé& declaring “it had been openly declared that efforts were con- templatdd to pack the committee.” He added that he had reason to be- lieve that Senator Cummins of Iowa, the president pro tem, did not desire te name the committee, Washington, Feb. 29.—A. Mitchell Palmer, Attorney-General in the Wil- son administration, testified before the oil committee today about the circumstances of his retention as attorney for Edward B. McLean, pub- lisher of the Washington Post, in the oil inquiry. He denied that J. W. Zevely, counsel for Sinclair, is his law partner as suggested in the Mc- Lean telegrams. He added, however, that Zevely “is an old friend of mine” and had outlined to him a couple of months ago the salient facts in the oil inquiry. Zevely asked his opinion, he said, as to whether Sinclair and Fall could be compelled to answer questions be- fore the committee. Palmer gave it as his opinion that they could. Palmer said he had not seen Fall “for years” and denied he was to look after the interests ‘of the man at Wardman Park,” as John F. Ma- jor said in one of his telegrams to McLean at Palm Beach. “I did not take up this matter with Senator, Underwood,” Palmer said when asked about a report sent to McLean that he had done so. Hadn’t Discussed Matter He also denied that he had discuss- ed the matter with any senator ex- cept Walsh of Montana and Chair- man Lenroot, “I did not have a living soul work- ing on Senator Walsh,” Palmer said when questioned about another of Major's telegrams to McLean. Testifying that he never had rep- resented E. L. Dohney Palmer said smiling, “I rather regret that con- sidering the size of the fees he pays.” Palmer said that so far as he knew no suggestion had heen made to McLean as to what he was to say in explaining that he did net make the loan to Fall. The committee also cross-examined Carl Schuyler, a Denver attor:ey, who declared the Denver group that intervened in the Teapot negotiations and were bought out by Harry F. Sinclair had acted on the theory that there was “a conspiracy between Sin- clair and the Pioneer Qil Company.” WANT TO SEE RETURNS Washington, Feb. 29.—The senete today asked that the income tax re-' turns of a number of individuais and corporations prominently ,connected with the oil inquiry be thrown open to inspection by the oil committec. Those named include Harry F, Sin- clair and the oil companies: with which he is connected; E. Lb. Dohney and E. L. Dohney Jr. and the Dohney oil corporations; Albert B, Fall, former Secretary. of the Interior, and (Continued on page'3)