Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
"BETTER OUT OF SERVICE"
Thinks Alaska Coal Land Cases
Would Then Be Safer.
LETTERS PUT IN EVIDENCE
Declares He Considered Commis-
sioner "Crooked" and Under OBJ
legations to Influential Men.

sional Investigating committee late yes
terday. He will be recalled at the re-
sumption of the hearing Monday after
noon for cross-examination by any of the
persons against whom he has made
charges.
CLAWS last day on the stand was full
of interest. 1t developed the animus
which long has existed between the land
Office and the forestry bureau, and the
the land Office people felt
when CLAWS called in 'the forestry" as
they termed it.
The witness also declared that Repre-
sentative McLachlan of California and
Kinkaid Of Nebraska
were interested in Alaskan claims. and
that Mr.. Ballinger, after being commits
sioner of the land office. had acted as at
torney for Mr.. kinkaid. CLAWS asserted
that Mr.. Ballinger had suggested to him
not to pursue an investigation against
Representative McLachan, saying there
had been too much of that sort of thing
in the past
When. toward the close Of his testi-
mony, CLAWS was asked the direct Ques-
ton if he thought Secretary Ballinger
bennett were in league to do wrong in
the Alaskan cases, he replied
We'll, 1 thought the cases would be
better protected with them out of the
way.
bennett Letter Introduced.
CLAWS attack seemed to center more
yesterday upon Commissioner bennett. He
said he became convinced in the sum-
mer of 1909 that bennett was crooked"
and took steps to secure carbon copies
of letters bennett was writing back to
Washington. Several of these letters
were introduced in evidence. One was
from Commissioner bennett to H. H.
Schwartz, chief of the field service. 1t
was dated July 20, 1919. at Seattle and
said among other things:
My Dear Schwartz-The worst situa-
ton on the line is the one l find here
Our friend CLAWS He regarded md
with suspicion and after talking awhile
showed me your telegram assigning the
coal cases to Sheridan. Now. l figure
that CLAWS is preparing to make a cush-
ion for himself to fall Dack on and also
putting himself in shape to have a great
story in case Sheridan does not make
good and succeed in canceling the. Cum
nlngham cases.
while he looks innocently at me, vet
1 can see that his heart is bad, though
why it should be l cannot tell, except
that he wanted to drag the case out. He
may be sincere, of course, in his idea
tnat he has not been given time and
opportunity. He asserts that he will help
Sheridan all he can, but it is not human
nature, or at least his human nature. The
atmosphere is not good at all.
playing the Forestry"
THAT he is playing the forestry there
is no question: the innocent looks he gave
me when L told him he was dragging In
Shaw, ETC., when there was no necessity
was beautiful. He has also talked con-
servation very strongly. CLAWS talking
conservation! All round he is ugly, and
he is preparing to be as unpleasant as
he can, at least that is my solution Of
the situation.
CLAWS processes the greatest friend.
ship to you, and 1 think you know him
better than any one else, and this is GER
tainly the worst situation we have. He
will make about forty favorable and
about 500 unfavorable reports; the way
things will commence to drop will be
amusing"
In second letter from bennett to
Schwartz, dated Seattle, July 22, 1909,
occurs this paragraph:
CLAWS has these coal cases on the
brain and cannot see anything but just
one line. / have told kim how 1t looks
to u.s. and have reminded him of every
thing that we have done for him and
that it looks as if ne were returning our
favoEs by not standing by us as he
Ought to. He has not acted as you or
would act under similar conditions. It
looks a little treacherous to me, this
calling in the forestry"
Telegram From Schwartz.
There was also introduced In this con-
nection this telegram from Schwartz to
bennett. dated Washington, July 81:
Department has letter from Secretary
of Agriculture, originating In forest
service, asking postponement of the Cum
ningham hearings until November. Shaw
says CLAWS wrote or wired him recently
in matter. Require CLAWS to show you
copy his letter to Shaw. it being neces-
sary to determine motive behind Agricui-
ture's request for such long delay
CLAWS explained that he mad asked
Shaw by telegram to come to Seattle to
cooperate with him on the Cunningham
claims, as several Of them were in forest
reserves. This was how the forestry bu-
reau first came into the controversy Of
ficially.
Another letter read was one from Sec
retary Ballinger to Mr.. Schwartz dated
Boise. Idaho. July %. 1909. in which the
Secretary of the Interior said among
other things:
My Dear Mr.. SchWartz-I am just ad-
vised by Commissioner Dennet of your
telegram in reference to the increase in
the number of special agents in the ex-
cepted class 1 desire that you, in max
ing any of these appointments. in addition
to the President being consulted. Post
master General Hitchcock be also con-
suited, provided the appointees are not
directly suggested by the President"
Reading Caused Laughter.
The last document read while CLAWS
was on the stand called out great deal
of laughter. 1t was a telegram from Mr.
Schwartz dated Washington, August r.
1909, at the time attacks were being made
upon Secretary Ballinger and others. and
was addressed to NJ. B. McEniry. special
agent at Denver. Colo. 1t read:
Get into scare-heads tonight and As
sociated Press, If possible. that Secre-
tary and commissioner have secured evil
dence showing unlawful combination of
several hundred coal entries; that gen.
eral land Office is assigning its best coal
engineers and lawyers to Seattle to assist
in the comi' & trials. That commissioner
general lar 4 Office, while in Denver, had
expressed confidence that several hun
dred entries would be Cancelled: that gov
ernment is making every effort to secure
IC,opt;p,,od nm T>wolfth DO 90