The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-18
Department of Justice Gets
Protests on District
Attorney.
TERM TO EXPIRE
THIS MIDNIGHT
Official Declares He Has Heard
Nothing Whatever of
the Matter.

.. W. Baker. United States District
whose term OF office expires at midnight
tonight, is under rigid investigation by
the Department Of Justice as a result
of serious charges which have been filed
against him with the Attorney General
Mr.. Baker is an applicant for reap
pointment
Although no official admission IS made
at the Department OF Justice that the
charges have been filed, The Times is
able to state positively that such action
has been taken and that A. B. Bielaski,
examiner for the department, has been
busy for the past ten days collecting all
the evidence possible regarding the sit
uation.
Mr.. Bielaski has been working among
the washington attorneys, as the gen
eraI tenor Of the accusations is that
Mr.. Baker has practlced favoritism in
the conduct of his Office, and that some
lawyers have been able TO obtain Ia
vors in regard TO their clients, while
others could not have the same things
done for them.
Expects ExOneTatiOn.
The friends Of Mr.. Baker express
themselves as confident that the inves-
tigation, which is now being conducted
by the department, will result in his
complete exoneratIon. There are other
attorneys. however. who have given Mr..
Bielaski information bearing on the
charges. In one or two cases. attorneys
who possess information desired by the
Attorney General have refused to be
connected with the affair.
Remains in Office
The rule OF the department. when
charges OF sucI' a nature are fled, is to
keep them secret, IL that be possible.
and 90 submit them TO the person ac-
cused who then has the privilege Of
submitting an answer to the allegations.
This is understood to have been done
in Mr.. Bakers case. It was impossible
TO keep the matter secret longer, how
ever. because the investigating work
/ done By Mr.. Bielasld on behalf OF the
department has acquainted large
number of lawyers Of the circumstances
connected with the case
1t is unusual for a District Attorney
snip appointment TO be allowed 10
lapse as has been the case with Mr..
I BAKER ana IL Is belefdlIE supposed LilatLB
had n not been for the filing Of the
charges. he would have been renamed
! several days ago by the President.
AS the situation stands now, he will
continue to hold office through a lapsed
[ appointment until the Attorney Gen
/ eraI has examined the evidence sub
mitted by Mr.. Bielash, and made up mis-
mind whether to reappOint Mr.. Baker
or one OF the Other applicants for the
place.
Mr.. Baker is frankly anxious TO OBJ
tain the reappOintment At this time
he has to 20 against not only the
charges which have been fled, but alTo
against the political influence which has
been lined mp by the other men men
toned for the post
The charges are described as Deing
. lengthy and covering specified cases.
and citing detailed circumstances sur
rounding the conduct Of Mr.. Baker, 70
which objection has been taken.
District Attorney Baker was this
morning advised Of the reported inves-
tgation and asked 20 make a state
ment
He said. 'I have no statement 70
make. do not know officially OF Other-
wise Of any investigation"