The Washington times., 1909-09-16

ants themselves. Moreover. in Nav las
you came TO me and made a similar
statement 10 me of your course and
intention in respect TO the claims.
CLAWS Statements Not Upheld.
The statement made by Mr.. Claws
that while you did thus formally with
draw from any official connection with
the Cunningham claims. you neverthe-
less continued to exercise your influence
in regard to them. is not sustained by
any evidence in the records produced.
The truth Is that had you or Com
missioner bennett. or Chief Of Field
Service Schwartz. during the years of
the tendency of these clealrns been de-
sirous. through dishonest motives and
without regard to law and the interests
Of the public Of bringing them to patent.
the opportunities for you 10 have done
so WIRE many. and the circumstance
that speaks. not. more concIusively than
many others, but still most emphatic
ally, against the accusatory statements
of Mr.. CLAWS. is the fact that though
his conviction that the claims were
fraudulent or Illegal was well known IN
The department. he was allowed during
all the years Of the tendency Of those
claims TO remain in charge Of them as
an agent Of the department when It
would have been entirely easy for either
you or bennett or Schwartz 20 remove
him 70 Portland or elsewhere, and thus
take the claims out Of his Jurisdiction
Instead of this. with the consent and
acquiescence of every officer whose cor
fupt motives in respect 70 reese claims
continuously in control OF the taking Of
evidence with respect 70 the claims. and
only when the claims were about TO be
submitted to hearing before a tribunal
fnOnuhf Mr a
not having had any professional expert
ence, To give them in charge Of Mr.
Sheridan, lawyer whose good faith
and earnestness in opposing the patent
ing Of the claims even Mr. Claws has
not had the tenerity TO question.
Claws Dismissal Authorized.
In answer 20 your request for author
ity to discharge Mr.. CLAWS from the
service OF the United States for dis
loyalty TO his superior officers in max
ing a false charge against them: When
a subordinate has trustworthy evidence
upon which 10 believe that his chief is
dishonest and IS defrauding the Govern
ment, II Is, OF course. his duty to sub
nit that evidence TO higher authority
than his chief. But when he makes
charge against his chief founded upon
Nero suspicion, and in his statement he
fails 20 give 20 his chief the benefit OF
circumstances within his knowledge that
would explain his chiefs action as on
proper grounds, he makes il impossible
for him 70 continue IN the service of the
Government, and his Immediately sepa-
rating therefrOm becomes a necessity
You are. therefore, authorized 10 dis
miss l. R. CLAWS from me- service Of
the Government for fling a disingenu-
Gus statement, unjUedy impeaChing the
Official integrity Of mis- superior officers
I cannot close this letter without re-
fer1ing to certain other matters con-
nected with your conduct OF the Interior
Department, which have been unfairly
used IN the public press 10 support a
general charge that you are out OF sym
pathy with tire declared policy Of this
Administration, following tIat OF Presi-
dent Roosevelt. in favor or the cOnser-
walton Of national resources, especially
r. connection with GOAL lands, with wat
empower sites. and with the system OF
reclamation o. arid lands, which are all
within the Jurisdiction Of the Interior
Department
Mnpffnro D.VIan