The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-12-31


be met with determination to reach
and expose those responsible for them.
Though slow to come to n decis-
sion, It is known that Mr.. Taft is now
inclined to believe that the criticisms
that have cropped out in many wide
ly separated localities are part of
deliberate determination to make
trouble, which amounts practically to
conspiracy.
The channel for congressional In
quiry being thus opened, the selection
of the proper tribunal to hear the evil
dence for and against both Mr.. Bal
linger and Chief Forester Pinchot be.
comes a very important question. At
tention is now being given to this
subject.
have practically agreed that Senator
Nelson, chairman of the committee on
public lands, should be at the head of
the probing body.
A Joint committee of the senate and
house Is not favored because it would
be cumbersome, and special COM
mittee is opposed because 1t Is fear
ed that there would be precipitated a
scramble to have placed thereon men
who are prejudiced either for or
against one of the principals in the
controversy. 1t Is considered likely,
therefore, that the decision, If the
senate determines the selection, will
public lands. This committee is made
up of men who understand the public
lands question in all it's phases, and
the republican members include ad-
herents of both of the parties to the
controversy.
1t is pretty we'll understood that
the investigation will reveal the
strange fact that the government has
been paying for private attacks against
one of it's own high officials. 1t is
also to be shown that certain pub
lished Trades against the same official
have been inspired largely by one of
the government bureaus.
Direct evidence that A. G. Shaw,
assistant law officer of the bureau of
forestry, dictated greater part of the
now famous CLAWS charges against
Secretary Ballinger, and that an ex-
pense occount incurred in the steno-
graphic work in connection Herewith
was turned in to the government, is
reliably reported to be in the hands
of President Taft.
There is also on hand some convinc-
ing evidence that the same official of
across the country at government ex-
pense, expressly to aid CLAWS in con-
cocting plans to discomfit the secre-
tary of the interior, and that more
than one official of the bureau con-
nived in supplying the contents of
highly important government docu-
ments to an illustrated magazine.
1t is understood that Chicago wo-
man, in the person of a clever short
hand writer, has furnished some bits
of informations which will make inter-
esting diversion in the investigation
which congress will start after the
holidays. She has told that "a man"
| was Will opSCldl ASeuI bldNlS III Sul-
cago while the latter was at her office,
and that said person did most of the
debating of the important-appearing
document which was there devised"
The stenographer has been shown a
photograph of Law officer Shaw, and
has reported that he is "the man."
She has also diyulged the fact that
the typewriting bill vas about $51,
which the man supposed to be Mr..
Shaw paid.
The statement as to the size Of the
bill is taken to be correct, in view
of the fact that voucher for $51,
and specifying "stenographic work, "
was turned in at the proper office by
CLAWS, and the government paid it..
Various other vouchers, which men.
ton journeys taken by Mr.. Shaw and
especially journey to Seattle and re-
turn, have also been paid, it is said,
by the proper financial officers Of the
government. 1t is reported that these
trips were made expressly to aid
| CLAWS,