The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
1Gcunentaq Evidence ls Used fir Greater Pat of Ses-
 sion y Attorneys
CLAWS CONTINUES HIS
 TESTIMONY ON STtND
Attorney Vertrees Tries to Catch GIavis in Mistakes But the Witness Is Too Clever to Re TrIpped
 in Testimony

Washington. February 15.-The Bal- finger and Pinchot inquiry dragged wear | fly along through two sessions today. without any of the striking incidents or features that marked the interesting ses- | sions yesterday. Louis R. Glavis contin- ued on the stand under examination by John J. Vertrees, attorney for Secretary Ballinger MT Nertress examined the witness almost wholly upon the docu- mentary evidence, and it was necessary to reach much of this in order that he might properly frame his questions
 This required much time and made tho proceedings dull
 MT. Glavis continued his tactics of yes terday, always coupling his answers with long explanations. Counsel for MT. Bal finger protested once against this dis cursiveness of the witness, but Glavis ap- pealed to the committee and it was de- cided that he could make his explana- tions however he desired, whether they were relevant or not.
 MT. Glavis speaks with a decided drawl and some hesitaney. and his long state- ments seemed greatly to irritate Mr. Vertrees, while Attorney Brandeis, repre- senting the prosecution, sat by with a contented grin the whole of the session.
 Subpoenas were issued today for a number of witnesses, who, Mir vertrees announced, would. give testimony as to the finding of 24 official letters which had been missing in boxes left by MT. Glavis in the grand jury room of the federal building in Seattle. a
 MT. Vertrees devofad a large part of the day to bringing olA the fact that when Glavis protested against the clear listing of the Cunningham claims by telegram January 22, 1908. the order for clear list ing was immediately revoked without waiting further explanation from Glavis, and that this state of affairs has con- tinued down to the present time. The inquiry will be continued tomorrow afternoon at ? o'clock
 GIayis Is Good Witness
 G1avis underwent his first ordeal of cross-examination with the same cool self-possession that he displayed when giving his direct testimony. He knows his case from beginning to end as no one else does Glayis fences with the att torneys skllfully and apparently is d match for them all. He parries their questions, and when directed to answer yes or "no'' he always stands upon the right that has been accorded to fol- low this with explanation which may run on for five minutes or more, and in the of which he usually takes advantage of the opportunity in saying that he thus convinced that MT. Ballinger is unfit for the office he holds Is unfaithful to his trust and not loyal to the interests of the people.'
 Members of the committee. among rrr1.. xxrl11 declare that rarely in their experience have they seen a more clever witness than Glavis. His counsel, MT Brandeis, sits by with broad grin during most of the time the dismissed field agent is answering arguing with Mir. Vertrees and is apparently confident that the witness needs no assistance from him.
 Lively Discussions
 The appearance of counsel for both sides has tended to enliven the proceed ings greatly and has also been an influ- ence to bring out some lively discussions among the members of the committee as to the admissiblity of testimony and re- garding protests from Glavis that Yer trees cuts off answers before the witness has fairly started. In the committee dis cussions, as to whether Glavis directly answers MT. Vertrees or branches off into an argument or into expression of opinion the democrats thus far have al- ways been found on the side of the ac- cusing witness. MT. Madison, the in- surgent member from Kansas, has also taken up the defense of Glavis.
 These little incidents as well as the apparent general temper of the committee have led number of persons who are following the case to predict already that the outcome will be a majority and a minority report, one by the republicans bu ba fc and individual report by MT. Madison
 Vertrees Asks for Papers
 Mir. vertrees today asked that the conn mittee secure from the forestry bureau all the papers furnished to 1t by Glavis.
 MT. Vertrees sought to show that the Cunningham claimants having decided to stand for patents under the old law were specifically excluded from consideration in the Pierce opinion on the new coal lands law in May, 1908. The attorney also sought to show that Attorney Gen eral Wickersham substantially sustained MT. Pierce in every essential particular.
 All Glavis would admit in this con- nection was that Pserce certainly did not intend to exclude the Cunningham claims from consideration and while Attorney General Wickersham may have construed the law as MT. Pierce did, the witness did not think so.
 But you condemn MT. Pierce on your construction of the law?'
 ''Yes sir.''
 AS the examination proceeded that att torney wanted direct answers; Glavts wanted to explain every answer by re- ferring to reports, etc.
 Mr. vertrees once arose with convic- ton.
 If your honor please"-- then he checked himself by saying, INT. Chair man." The committee then ruled to let Glavis make as many and long expana- tions as he desired.
 1T don't think they are relevant" said Chairman Nelson. "but go on.''
 Admissions of Claimant
 Glavis declared at a previous hearing