Show SECY HUGHES I MAKES MES REPLY Denies Knowledge of Tea Tea- Teapot Teapot Teapot pot Dome Oil L Lease ase Scandal WASHINGTON Jan 31 31 A suggestion suggestion In the tho senate yesterday hy by Senator bendor NorrIs Norris Republican No- No Ne braska Nebraska that Secretary Hughes Io a I former member ot of o the supreme court Court should have huye called attn atten n att-n- attention tion to the tho plain Illegality of ot the oil leases lease when they were dl- dl di dis discussed 1011 cussed by the cabinet was followed ment today by the tho Issuance ot of o this state statement meat ment by iy y Mr Hugher Hughe The questions of ot the legality or propriety of the tho oil leases now Un- Un un der under discussion by congress were ere never brought before the cabinet for Its discussion My opinion upon these questions was as never sought ought or expressed either In 01 or out of the cabinet If It the oil lease leases ere Ithe ever referred refer cd to In cabinet meet meet- ings lags meetings and I do not recall that they were vere It was ens certaInly only ably by Va way of general reference and requiring any responsible action of course I should not ha hate e been willing to take a without of O oc of papers and statutes Hat lIa lag Ing plenty of ot work In the the- thede le- le de department of ot state I had hud no occa occasion sion to consider the tho of law lw and fact tact Involved and I have ave not been relIed clIed upon to take inv responsibility In the matter |