The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-11
Secretary Ballinger Forced to
Admit That Rulings of De-
partment We're Violated.
UNDER CROSS FIRE FOR
THE ENTIRE SESSION
Defendant" Does Not Relish
Queries Recalling Political
History of His State.

WASHINGTON. May 1O,-The existence
OF rulings in the interior department
Which Mr., -Ballinger must have violated
in appearing before the general land Of
flee In behalf OF the Cunningham coal
claimants after his retirement as land
commissioner, was brought out by At
torney Brnndeis In cross examination OF
the secretary OF the Interior In the Bal
linger Pinchot investigation today,
Mr. Brandcls secured an admission from
Mr.. Ballinger today that he had been
barred from appearing before the land
office by a similar ruling in another case
subsequent to his activity in the Cum
nlngham cases and prior TO his becoming
secretary of the interior, Mr.. Ballinger
said he had not called these rulings TO
the attention OF the president TO assist
him in reaching a conclusion on the CLAWS
charge because he did not think there
was any law 10 sustain them,
Brandeis Scores Point.
The committee decided to grant the re-
guest OF Attorney Brandeis that Oscar
Lawler, assistant attorney general for the
interior department, be asked TO furnish
the original or copies OF the memorandum
he prepared Tor the president last Sep
tember and which Mr.. Brandeis has init
mated the president followed in writing
his letter vindicating Ballinger and dis
missing l.. r. CLAWS BY unanimous
president for similar information.
Attorney Brandcls had almost concluded
the cross examination Of Mr.. Ballinger.
when the hearing was adjourned until
Thursday. He devoted practically the en-
tire day to tho subject OF the "clear-
listing OF the Cunningham claims by
Commissioner BalIiDger, to show extra
ordinary haste had been made 10 rush tho
claims to patent and that Glavis's relter-
ated protests alone had caused Mr.. Bal
lnger TO pause.
During an exchange OF amenities be-
tween Chairman Nelson and Attorney
Brandeis in the course of a wearisome
rebuked the former because he undertook
to discipline the inquisitor for swapping
az members of the committee.
You can insult witnesses, but you can't
insult the committee said Mr. Nelson
hotly addressing Mr.. Brandcis
You can't insult him either" Inter
ruptcd The lawyers fair feminine defend
eli, whose identity was hidden behind u
solid row of chanticleer hats.
Senator Nelson was too surprised 10
answer. So was Mr., Braudeis and thus
harmony was restored.
Detail of the Day.
Ballinger continued under cross-eXam-
inatlon Dy Brandeis, counsel Tor J.. II.
CLAWS, and others, when the BalllnGer-
pinchot Investigation was resumed TO-DAY.
The congressional committee Will meet
on four Gays this week III the hope that
the attorneys VIII conclude their ques-
tioning OF the secretary OF the interior
by that time.
committee TO call on President TAFT and
through him on Oscar Lawler, assistant
attorney general Tor the interior depart
mcnt for the memorandum which Lawler
took to Beverly from Washington last
September. and upon whlcn the prcSi-
dents letter generating Ballinger and
dismissing CLAWS WAS supposedly based,
MIR. BrandeiS at the opening OF the
hearing today asked what disposition had
been made OF his request, Chairman
Nelson replied that il had not been acted
on owing to the limited number present
when executive SESSION. zero held
Mr.. Brandels strongly intimated dur
ing his cross examination of Mr. Bal
lingcr last Friday that the president had
not carefully weighed the CLAWS charges
himself but had taken action on mem
orandum prepared for him by MI Law
ler.
4 spirited controversy among mem
bers OF the committee was prccipitated
by Mr. Brandeis asking Secretary Bal
linger II he had not heard 1t stated IN
most public manner by. Samuel II.
Piles that Charles Sweeney, one OF the
Cunningham claimants and president OF
the Federal Smelling company, sub
sldary company OF tho GugGenhelm syn
dcate, had been Instrumental IN ms
(PiIes) election as United States SEN
ator.
Sutherland Objects,
Senator Sutherland objected to Mr..
Brandeis ''draggins senator into TINS
lUNSSllStlIDl ils INC SDh'''.'N'NN
had not been authorized TO investigate
a senator
Mr. Brandcls explained that he had no
desire TO reflect on Mr.. Piles other than
to show that he had been the instru-
mcnt In the hands OF the powerful In
terests OF the northwest TO bring about
the selection of man for commissioner
OF the land office who hold different views
on Alaskan matters from Secretary Gar
field
Chairman Nelson put the question &c
a vote, and by n party vote OF to
tho committee decided Secretary Bal
llnger should not he allowed TO answer
the question,
Mir. Ballinger had previously admitted
Continued on Page Two.