Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-08
AGENT JONES CAUSES STIR
Spectator at Ballinger Inquiry Con-
tradicts the Secretary.
HIS ACTION CREATES SENSATION
Mr. BrnndeIs Has Frequent Clashes
with the Witness, who Says
He VIII kHI More
Snakes.

WASHINGTON. May The cross-ex-
amination of Secretary Bsllingcr by Mr.
Brandeis was progressing with but mo-
mentary renewals Of the frequent bitter
clashes OF yesterday before the Ballinger-
Pnchot investigating committee this morn
ing, when there developed the most specta-
cular incident OF tho hearing,
Horace r, Jones. special agent of the
land office who testified some time ago
in support Of Louis r.. CLAWS arose i'm his
place among the spectators and announced
in loud voice that he did not believe q
statement made by Secretary Ballinger was
true and that he desired that a witness be
called to substantate or deny what Mr.
Balinger had said
The statement had TO do with Jones
ability as an agent and was attributed by
Secretary Ballinger to Special Agent e. w.
Dixon.
When the commotion in the committee
room following Jones interruption had
subsded Senator Root demanded that the
witness be admonlshed that a repetition OF
his outburst would subject him to punish
ment for contempt.
No Interest in Claims.
Attorney Brandeis questioned Mr.. Bal
linger as TO whether or not the Cunning
]
when he appeared before congress in be-
half OF the remedial legislation Mr.. Bal
lnger insisted they were not.
And I want TO reiterate right here. -
added the witness, that had no interest
/ in the Cunningham claims then. now or at
any other time. The imputations in your
questions are unfounded and haven't a leg
TO stand upon. The Cunningham claims
had
/ tion.
and if ] had wanted to patent those
claims, | could have gone ahead and done
so regardless Of the CLAWS report. But
when that report was received il was a
matter of Importance to hold up the
claims and wait to see il CLAWS had any
thing; to let him come through with It,
which he never did.
As matters stand those claims were
suspended by me and still are suspended.
No harm has come TO the government. Yet
II had wanted to act in bad faith il
would have been very easy for me TO say
there was nothing in the charges against
the claims and to have them patented"
More snakes to XIII.
A long discussion here ensued as to
whether special agents ever took view,
or claims other than the detectives view
Mr. Bsllinger said he was sorry to say that
! that was true, II was easier, he delared.
to do an injustice to the individual than
to do him justice. Attorney Brandeis sug-
gested however, that Mr., Balllnger had
control Of the agents.
| Yes snapped the secretary, and !
! have found that the only way to control
some OF those chaps is to discharge them. -
! when do you contemplate taking that
snske-killing step" inquired Attorney
! BTandsis.
Il want 10 say right now that II / am
! to continue as head of the Interior de-
partmCnt they will be killed. everyone OF
them. II am to administer the affairs of
that department It viii be with the loyal
support OF every man in It. want To
serve notice to that effect"
And will YOU kindly make that motto,
specific and enumerate Just who is to be
! killed"
They will be enumerated in due time
II would not help you now In what sou are
| trying TO drag into this case"