The Oilman Before the Senate

A Senate committee investigating the leasing of the nation's naval oil reserves to private companies called the president and sole owner of the oil company that had obtained a lease of one reserve. The government had already brought suits over the leases. Asked about a contract concerning rights in the reserve land, he refused to answer, stating that he would reserve any evidence he could give for the courts to which the Senate had referred all questions. He was indicted for refusing to answer questions pertinent to the committee's inquiry and convicted on four counts, receiving three months in jail and a $500 fine. The defence argued the Senate had no power to investigate a matter already in court and that he had acted in good faith on legal advice.