The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-01-18

Representative Hitchcock is that the
improperly used in paying the private
travelling expenses OF Secretary Bal
fingers nephew. The secretary and
other officials of the interior depart
ment will be subponaed to appear be-
fore the house committee on expend-
lures to which HitchcOck's charges
were addressed.
HitchcOck'S charges are contained
in statement presented at meeting
of the committee called to permit
Hitchcock to substantiate his charges
of extravaganza in the interior de-
partment. The committee decided to
subpoena Commissioner bennett of
the general land office and all others
are to appear before the committee
next Wednesday.
Improper Use Of Cash.
The statement alleges the improper
use Of the million dollar appropriation
for protection of the public domain
against frauds" by the purchase of
expensive furniture. mounting into
tens of thousands of dollars, the cree
ton of a certain large brick chimney
fer the land office at considerable eX-
pense: employment of some 80 ad-
ditiOnal clerks. salaries increased and
in one case at least doubled" out of
this million dollar fund, Getting the
case of the chief of field service
Schwartz as this instance) long tele-
graph bills which cover long extras
from the newspapers sent in by trav-
cling representatives of the general
and office: the selection of special
agents not at all qualified etc.
The statement asserts that when
Ballinger became commissioner gen.
aral of the land office he reduced the
salary of Law Clerk Wright, so that
fudge Wright'S $4,000 salary could be
given to Jack Ballinger. his nephew.
not under the title of law clerk, but
1nder the title created by Ballinger' S
orders of confidential clerk / have
been told Wright died of disappoint-
ment and humiliation thereafter
Jack BalIinger Had Snap.
Jack BallinSer remained a year in
he service. the statement says, his
manner of living about the time his
incle resigned in Mrach, 1908. being
alleged to illustrate. THE reckless ex-
Nenditures of land office"
1T was announced" the statement
ices on to say, that young Jack Bal
niger was living off the land office
{" resume his law practice in Seattle.
II order that he might receive a fina.
rake off he was designated speciai
temporary inspector OF offices, an
evident outrage on the treasury. This
enabled him to draw travelling ex-
penses from Washington to Seattle
and per diem also.
Within two weeks after reaching
Seattle he resigned as understood in
advance and resumed law practice in
! Guiding of course practice before the
| land office out there and also in Wash
! ington''
! Hitchcock declared this to be only
| one of the many outrages.
! In the inquiry resolution provision
| was made by the conferees to permit
eny official or eX-official of the depart
| rcent to be investigated TO be repre-
| scented by counsel as follows:
| Defendants Entitled to Counsel.
ANY official or eX-official of the
| department of the interior or bureau
OF forestry in the department of ag-
| riculture whose conduct is in question
may appear and be heard before the
said joint committe or any sub-com-
mittee thereof in person or by counsel
Wording of this amendment author
/ ICES Secretary Ballinger, Clifford Pin
chot, former forester: Overton w
Price, former assistant forester; for
mer law officer Shaw of the bureau of
! forestry and L. r. CLAWS, former field
J agent of the general land Office be
represented by separate counsel
Instead of requiring the investiga-
ton to be conducted during the pres
ent session of congress it is provided
! a report may be made to present to
congress which will make it possible
Tor the hearing to continue during the