The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-03-10
Pinchot Investigating Commit.
tee Resumed It's Hearinr
Today After Recsss
eUGGEnHHM INTERESTS MADE
PROPOSAL FOR CUNNINGHAM CLAIMS
Ohio Man Who Was Ono Of The En-.
trants, Made Sensationsl Statement
Concerning Meeting Held st Spokana
in 1907 for This Purpose

WdSuluSVOus M6FCQ 1V.-x00 64Is
lfnger-Pinchot Investigation was re-
sumed today with James r. Garfield,
former secretary Of the interior, ON
the witness stand. The examination
Of Mr.. Garfield was taken up at the
point where it was left of whom the
committee adjourned last Saturday.
Mr.. Garfield had just begun . de-
tailed explanation Of the four coal
land bills that were introduced In
congress during his term as secre-
tary. He continued his explanation
at the opening Of the session today.
The testimony of Mr.. Garfield was
enlivened by the declaration of the
witness that he did not believe the
$3O,O00,0O0 bond issue, recommended
by President Taft to congress, was
necessary for the proper forwarding
Of irrigation work in the west. Mr.
Garfield said this In defense Of the
cooperative plan he entered into with
the Water Users association and Of
the reclamation certificates which he
issued in evidence of work performed
and which have come to be known a.
the Garfield currency"
He declared that it was evident At
torney General Wickersham and
President Taft did not have the pro-
per facts before them when they
reached opinions adverse to the legal
ity of the reclamation certificates. The
witness implied that Ballinger might
have been responsible in this connec-
tion but he did not make an outright
statement to that effect. The former
secretary took issue with Mr.. Bal
linger as to certain statements made
by the latter in his reply to President
Taft regarding the various charges
made against him. Garfield said he
could not recall any conference with
Ballinger regarding the Cunningham
coal claims, although Ballinger said
he had Immediately conferred with
Garfield after the receipt of Claws
protest against the clear listing Of
Alaska claims. Garfield admitted that
in urging the general coal legislation
by congress early In 1908 he Had made
the statement that he was willing to
condone the fraudulent entries in
Alaska provided the entrymen were
compelled to pay an increased price
for the land to the government
Charge Combination.
Cleveland, Ohio, March 10.-That q
combination with Guggenheim inter-
ests was considered by the thirty
three claimants to Alaska coal lands
in the so-called Cunningham group
was admitted today before United
States Commissioner William ]. Nc
Gee, by w. H. Warner. one Of the en-
trants.
Mr.. Warner declared that at
meeting of the claimants at Spokane
in 1907, to which he sent proxy.
there had been a discussion as to the
advisability of a combination. but
that he had understood that the mat
ter was dropped.
The evidence was given at the open
ing u an inquiry here into the claims
of four of the original thirty-three
claimants.
Mr.. Warner and Hugh B. Wick Of
Youngstown, another claimant. both
testified that they had known person
ally most of the thirty-three who had
filed claims and that 1t had been un-
derstood that they would operate on
a friendly basis.
One of the exhibits offered in evi-
dence by the government was an af-
fdavit which had been prepared by
L. r. CLAWS. while he was still agent
for the land Office, and which was
signed by the claimants. This affida-
Wit admitted that the claimants were
acquainted with each other. but Mr..
Warner asserted that he had signed
it in ignorance that it would be used
against him to invalidate his claim.