The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-19
|sAYs ASHES TELL
! Of WHITEWAsH IN
BALLINGER CASE
stencgrapher Kerby, Testifying Be
fore Congressional Committee, De-
clares Documents Were Burned ia
Crate in Interior Department.
Senator Root, Defending Taft, Has
Sharp Tilt With Attorney for
Louis r. CLAWS.


tericr department and with them are
more ashes that have accumulated
since the first papers were burned
said Frederick Kerby, the stenosra
pher. who made the expose OF the BAL
linger ''whitewash" letter. while testl'
eying before the congressional inVes'
tiga ing committee yesterday after
noon.
Assistant Attorney General LAWYER
took the stand when Kerby had com
pleted his testimony. LaWleI was SO
bitter ia his denunciation OF the
.'prosecution." including James X Gar
q fieftf, Clifford Piaehety l.. Rr-GIaNiS- and
Stenographer Kerby as 10 almost nut
lify whatever effect his testimony hao
as to facts. He even went so Tar at
one time as 10 yell at the top OF his
voice that Attorney Brandeis was a
'liar." lie said the whole AFFAIR was
"foul conspiracy"
At3rney Brandeis yesterday after
noon asked the investigating commit
tee to lema I'd that the interior de-
partment produce ali correspondence
between Secretary Baliinger and
George W. Perkins. of the Morgan
GIggenheim interests.
Stenogranher Kerby had testified
that Perkins asked Ballinger person
ally to recommend an engineer for
work in Alaska and that considerable
correspondence was exchanged.
BalIirger, upon request of Perkins
10 re commend q good engineer TO go
20 Alaska. had recommended Thorn
son; subsequently. however. Thomson
found that he could not go. the wit
ness said
Attorney vertrees protested Il
q, think IL Is time To stop this calling
Tor personal correspondence. We have
given you these letters regarding En-
gineer Thomson and you see there is
nothing in them"
Vertrees paused and an audible tit
ter rippled over the room.
They don't show anything" start
I'd up Vertrees holly.
II don't know about that" remark
ed Rep James. Besides, that is for
us to Judge, when we want an argu-
ment we will ask for IT.
Il made my answer" explained
yertrees. in reply. TO the 'giggle
and smoker"
We'll. Just remember" said James.
''that the giggle and smoker don't get
into the record"
Chairman Nelson Becomes Indignant.
Chairman Nelson Indignantly told
Attorney Brandeis that there was no
testimony affecting the Morgan-Gug
genheim operations in Alaska that re-
fiected on Ballinger.
That's just your version OF It," he
told Brandeis.
And | suppose your answer to me
IL your personal View" retorted
Brandeis
After a statement by vertrees that
he was not afraid to produce these
letters, the committee voted to have
them produced for consideration as TO
their relation to the investigation.
Kerby picked out the following
statement by Secretary Balfnger as
being untrue:
IL have stated about all know or
can recall as to- the contents OF IL
(refcsring to the Lawler drafr. IL
was resume of the facts as to the
CLAWS charges Whether IL related 10
the papers that were delivered TO the
president regarding the cooperative
crtilicate matter OF Withdrawals. do
no. remember"
Kerhy declared that Ballinger did
not know exactly what the Lawler
draft was
Attorney Vertrees then produced the
original statement as signed by Kerby
He identified changes aud corrections
in the statement as being In his own
handwriting and that of those who aid
ed him. The witness declared that 0
number OF things were stricken ont
II wanted the statement to be abso
lute,y true and correct, and where
tafy 4 rtaf h
said.
Tho witness then read long series
of communications relating to his
charge that Ballinger had offered New
ellis place to r. n Thomson. OF Sc
attic
The correspondence was between
Thomson and Balliuger and Georg,
w. Perkins, OF ], p. Morgan & Co. =
Reclamation Service Mentioned
There was frequent mention I'm tho
letters OF the reclamation service Ir
one Of the communications Ballingei
told Thomson what salaries were paiC
fhe directors aud Others In another
he said he had decided not TO make
any change In rho reclamation service
until he had met Thomson.
KERRY. under REORGANIZATION BY
lNehi'uFu the tithll vi illi
Iawler memorandum sent 20 the com
: mittee by the Encouragement. ant
said ho believed he himself had type
a written the first four pages.
Brapdeis then read n copy Of the
statement Issued from the Whit;
House Oh Saturday afternoon. immc
diateiy following the publication her
OF KerbyS statement This Statement
declared that the president himsel
Ind dictated the letter OF Sept IL
after careful investigation OF all IN,
documents. and after having befor
him the report of the attorney genera
and that there ags no foundation 70
kerbys statement.
-llid you sec that statement in tn
Daper?" IIrandois asked.
II object" yelled Senator Root. "
don't think the committee will find
NECESSARY to take up time on thu
pCdEt. We arc not here investigator
the president OF the United States. w
were directed by the resolution TO n
rcstfgatc the interior department an
thc forest service. Counsel has hee
endeavoring assiduously for a consic
cradle time now and In a manner M
Ingenious. 10 divert attention froI
the Interior department and lead tn
INVESTIGATION INTO the conduct OF tn
president n this line OF questionln
= pursued Il can lead 70 nothing else
inject
A lone dfeenaaion eusaed among III