BUSINESS STOPS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17986, 1 February 1924, Page 9

BUSINESS STOPS.

IN AMERICAN LEGISLATURE GRAFT ENQUIRIES OVERSHADOW ALL. (by cable —pr.Ess association copmrGnr.) (AUSTRALIAN AXD M.2. CA3LS ASSOCIATION.) (Received Januarj' 31st, 8.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 30. Not satisfied with the oil investigation alone. Democratic members ot Congress promise a progressive investigation into various activities of tlifc Republican Administration, including the shipping board and aircraft. The capital has becoir.b a city of investigations; and, as the outcome ot the rumoured scandals, the nation's legislative business Las stopped completely. Republican Party chieftains hold midnight councils in an attempt to stem the tide of public disapproval over the oil scandal, while the Democrats hold secret conclaves in ail attempt to secure the greatest possible political advantage irom the situation. An interesting incident in connexion with the investigations of the scandals occurred to-day, when the Court dismissed the indictments against Benedict Crowell.

Crowell successfully maintained that he merely obeyed the orders of Mr Baker, then Secretary of "War. Thus a scandal which had been promised a year ago never materialised., tin December, 1922, a special grand jury, which was investigating alleged war contract frauds, indicted Benedict Crowell, who was Assistant Secretary of War during part of the Wilson Administration, on charges of conspiracy to defraud the Government.] THE INVESTIGATORS. (AVSTBALIA-M A.TD n.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) NEW YORK, January 20. In connexion with tho oil lands scandal it is interesting to note that Mr Silas Brown, a Chicago lawyer and Republican, and Mr Thomas W. Gregory, a New York lawyer and n Democrat, have been chosen by tho President to represent the Government at the investigation. Mr Gregory was Attorney-General during President Wilson's administration. .

[Considering that tho oil scandal has to do with certain reserve lands which the Navy Department leased—allegedly below their value—to tlie Sinclair \Oil Company, tho following from an American exchange is of interest:—"lmportant if true" is the rumour coming from sevyal parts of Europe that the Albanians havo offered, are going to offer, or have thoughts of offering the position of King to an American ihillionairo of demonstrated business ability. The name of H. P. Sinclair is mentioned as that of the man who can have the crown if lit> will take it, and his agents are said to bo conducting negotiations—finding out what There is in it, perhaps. Well, the Albanians might do worse, how-' ever it might be as to Mr Sinclair. He knows a good deal about oil wells and about racehorses, and lio would havo no great difficulty in being a better King than the 'Albanian! got when they went to Germany for one. A "bnsin-cjos administration," however, is about the last that the Albanians could be suspected of wanting.]