The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-26
CLAWS is
A vi TNESS
Takes the Stand at the
Opening OF BalIinger
Investigation

Washington. Jan. 26.-With Senator
Nelson OF Minnesota presiding, the
congressional inquiry into the matters
concerned In the so-called Ballinger-
Pinchot controversy began In earnest
this afternoon at 2:37 p M, With
Louis r. CLAWS on the witness stand
The direct manner in which the
BallingerPinchot congressional com
mittee Of inquiry proposes to deal with
the work 1t has undertaken, was evil
denced today In summoninG Louis R
CLAWS as the first witness to give
testimony.
CLAWS is the dismissed field agent
who preferred charges against Secre-
tnry Ballinger in connection with the
Cunningham coal claims in Alaska
He sent the charges to President Taft
and the latter after considering them
wrote 10 Mr.. Balllnger, declaring nc
had been unjustly attacked, and that
CLAWS should be Immediately sepa-
rated from the service
Since his dismissal Claws has car,
ried on an unrelenting campaign
against Secretary BallInger by means
OF interviews and signed articles IN
various publications
1t was in connection with the prep
aration Of the CLAWS charges against
Secretary Ballinger that Clifford Pin
chot was drawn directly into the con
troverSy. Mr.. Pinchot directed Asso-
ciate Forester Price and Assistant
Law Officer Shaw of his bureau to
assist CLAWS In framing the charges.
These facts, proclaimed by Mr. Pin
chot In a letter TO Senator Dolllver,
together with the letter Itself. led to
the dismissal OF Plnchot. Price and
Shaw from the forestry service.
CLAWS. being the man around whom
the greater part OF the tempest has
turned. his appearance on the witness
stand naturally tended TO center in
terest in his testimony.
The committee Is starting with an
absolutely clean slate. All that has
been said and written In the past Is.
so far as possible. forgotten, and the
case against Secretary Balllnger or
any one else upon whom the attack
may turn must be developed In court,
although in this court OF investigation
there Will be none of the strict rules
OF evidence TO exclude any character
vi lt1NllIpns hulNll ludl uG presented
by the principals in the controversy.
Mr. CLAWS announced that he would
be represented throughout the hear.
Ing by two attorneys. Louis D. Bran
deis OF Boston and Joseph 3. Cotton
of New York.
Messrs. Plnchot, Price and Shaw are
| collectively represented by George w.
Pepper. an attorney OF Philadelphia,
Mr. Pepper and the Claws attorneys
VIII cooperate regarding the conduc;
oil the Investigation.
Secretary Balllnger and Commits.
! sioner bennett of the land office have
both stated that they have no desi7e
| to be represented by counsel. askinn
only that the Inquiry be thrown wide
open"
The Friday and Saturday sessions
Will be held from 10 a. m. to I n m
and p. m. 10 p. m.
CLAWS leading attorney. Mr. Bran.
deis. said he would not occuny the
time of tho committee with n nroIImI
| nary statement as TO what wouId be
| shown. Tho witness requested thai
his testimony be takon through an OK
animation by his counsel. He was
then sworn. and Senator Nelson osl,e6
few preliminary questions
What. II anything. do Won claim
To have seen amiss In the adminIstra
ion OF the public LANDAU" asked the
senator. '''e
CLAWS sald he could not answer tho
question briefly. ''ie
Go ahead and toll it all in Won,
! own way, directed Senator Nelst,,
Claws was trlne nervous as bo