The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-04-01
RESUME HEARING
BALLINGER CASE
Director Of Morgan.euggenhelm synd
Ieate Parties ouestlons--com.
mlttes Getting irritable.
By Associated Press.


after executive session today unani-
mously decided to deny the request
OF Attorney Brandeis that Ballinger
Ee called as witness for the prose
cutlon" at this time.
Washington. March 26.-The Bal
linger-Pinchot inquiry was resumed
Friday after an adjournment Of prao-
tically two weeks, the sessions of last
Friday and Saturday having been ser
iously interferred with by the fight
against Speaker Cannon in the house
of representatives
As soon as the committee met this
morning Attorney Brandels represent
ing Louis r. CLAWS and others, sprang
surprise by requesting that seere-
tary of the Interior Ballinger be cali
ed as one Of his witnesses. Mr.. Bran
dels stated at first that he wished to
identify by Mr.. Ballinger two letters
that he desired 10 introduce In evil
denoe at this time Questioned fur
ther by members Of the committee
as to his intent. he admitted he de-
sired to conduct a general examina-
ton Of the accused cabinet official.
Counsel for Mr. Ballinger objected to
this and called forth from Mr., Bran
dels the remark that from his letters
he had always supposed Mr.. Ballinger
to be ready to appear whenever and as
often as anyone connected with the
inquiry desired,
Some members Of the committee
seemed TO think that Mr.. Balllnger, as
the person most interested in the In
curry, should have opportunity TO
make his statement first in his own
way and not subject himself to cross.
examination before being examined In
chief. The matter was passed over
temporarily, TO be decided later in
executive session.
The witness stand was occupied dur.
ing the entire day by stephen Birch,
managing director of the Morgan
Guggenheim syndicate In Alaska. 1t
was thought at FIRST that Mr.. Birch's
testimony would be largely perfume
tory In character and would follow the
lines of his statement recently made
before the senate committee on ter
ritories. Members Of the committee
however, became deeply interested IN
the operations of the Alaska syndicate
from every possible angle. Much oi
the questioning was intended 20 show
that the Guggenheims practically con
troll Alaska. Mr. Birch stoutly denied
this.
We'll" he was asked by Represen
tative Graham, "lf the GuggenheimI
got control OF the coal lands in Alas
ka what would there be left?'
Mr., Birch said he did not think this
was a fair question to ask him. III
admitted that the Guggenheim inter
ests were large that they had in
vested some st5,000,0o0 already, ant
had contracted for the expenditure d
other millions. There had been ne
returns from these investments as
yet But the syndicate had hopes.'
AS TO the Cunningham claims. Mr.
Birch produced the option which d
committee OF the claimants had given
to Daniel Guggenheim July 20, 1907
He declared that this option had been
accepted by the Guggenheims Decem
Der : Of that year The claimants
however, had never lived up to it's
terms Cunningham. he said, In Jan.
nary or February. 1905. had contend
ed that the Guggenheims themselves
had voted the option by changing their
railroad base from Katalla to Cor
doya, and that, furthermore. the op
ton was of no effect, because a ma
iorlty Of the claimants had never rati
fed It.
Mr. Brandels sought 20 show that
the Morgans and Guggenheims with
their great power and influence II
this country must have brought this
influencing power to bear during th,
past two years in an effort TO get pat
ents granted to the Cunningham elal
mants. Mr.. Birch declared however
that he knew Of no such efforts hav
ing been made
what could we have doneg" he pro
tested.
'Ah, Mr. Blrst, you can answer tina
far better than l." dramatically OK
claimed Mr. Brandels.
AS 10 his estimate that the coal II
Alaska was worth cents a ton. ant
that therefore the Cunningham claim
represented an acual value Of $4,000
600. Mr.. Birch declared that II wa
just as sensible to say that the Ice
bergs IN Alaska were of inestimabl
value. The ieebergs. he said, woull
be valuable in this country, So It wa
with the coal. but first the transporta
ton facilities had 10 be provided
"a