The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-21
EVIDENCE FINISHED
In BALLINGER CASE
Arguments to Be Heard Fiji
teen Days Hence.
FILING OF BRIEFS FOLLOWS
Final Decision in Celebrated In
terror Department Controversy
Session of COngress-Frank L..
SPauIding Last witness Yesterday.

The Ballinger- Pinchot investigation was
brought 10 a close yesterday so far as
oral testimony is concerned. and the case
was set for argument next Friday and
Saturday
Within fifteen days after the argument
counsel viii submit briefs, and the COM
mittee will then begin consideration of
the evidence for a final decision.
II is generally expected that the COM
mittee will spend several weeks on the
record. and may not be ready 10 report
before the next session OF Congress. a
minority is not disposed 70 yield 10 the
suggestion that the report be deferred.
II is possible a minority report will be
adopted In the House by a combination
OF Democratic and insurgent votes, and
the same trick might be turned in the
Senate. This would complicate the stu
alton UNNECESSARILY for the administra-
ton
In fixing the tate for argument and
other matters incidental TO the closing Of
the case. the committee was unanimous
yesterday for the first time.
Five Hours for Each Side.
Attorney Vertrees. for Secretary Bal
linger. informed the committee that he
did not care to present any argument. as
he did not regard IL as essential: but
members Of the committee stated that
they regarded argument by counsel as i'm
portant, and Mr.. Vertrees acquiesced.
Five hours will be occupied By each side.
Mt. Brandcjs. representing L. r CLAWS,
and Mr.. Pepper. representing former For
ester Clifford Pinchot. will open. occupy
ing the major portion OF the time. Mr.
Vertrees viii follow for Secretary Bal
linser. and Mr.. Brandeis and Mr.. Pepper
will then close briefly.
Mr. Vertrees made the statement that
# he argued the case he did not want 70
speak TO empty chairs. saying that he
anticipated that members Of the committee
would be prone to duck the speech
making
Counsel for Mr.. Pinchot reserved the
right 70 offer some documentary evidence
relative 10 the charge made by Secretary
Balliuger that the Forestry Bureau had
wasted 10000 in administering the Me
nominee Indian reservation in Wisconsin.
BallinEcr Letter Received.
a letter from Secretary Bauinger was
read earlier IN the day, stating that he
had been unable TO find any further cor
respondence between himself and George
w. Perkins, as called for by Mr.. Bran
deis.
Al the opening Of yesterdays hearing
Mr.. NerUees announced that the defense
would rest its case and offer no further
evidence. This Occasioned some surprise
as IL had been understood that the de-
tense would call several additional wit
nesses. among them Don II. Carr. private
secretary TO Mr.. Ballingcr.
Frank L. Spaulding was the first wit
ness in robuttal called by Attorney Bran
deis. SpauldinE. who was formerly
stenographer In L. r. Claws office at
Seattle, was called originally by the de-
Tense. He fatty contradlcted testimony
given for the defense by A. Christensen.
who succeeded CLAWS in charge Of the
Seattle office. Christensen is the man
who testified to finding the mysteriouslv
missing Cunningham letter in CLAWS
storage box In the grand jury room Of
the Federal Building at Seattle.
Christensen swore that ne had never
visited the grand jury room before the
occasion when he found the letters. and
did not know that CLAWS personal effects
were stored there.
Testimony Directly Opposed.
Spaulding testified that he went 70 the
grand jury room with Christensen. shortly
after Claws was discharged from the
service, TO look for one Of his steno-
graphic notebooks containing dictation
from Commissioner bennett and that
he had told Christensen the boxes IN the
room were Claws. Christensen had also
testified that he had never asked Spauld-
Ing 70 find his notebook.
Spaulding also testified that he had
carried some papers TO the grand fury
room, and that It was possible the Gun
bingham letters were among them.
The testimony Of one witness for the
defense, impeacbing another witness for
the defense. created a stir, and members
OF the committee sat up and quizzed him
closely. Representative Madison was
especially keen to have Spaulding make
It clear that he believed it possible that
the Cunningham letters had been car
ried by him b. mistake to the grand
jury room along with other papers and
books which CLAWS had ordered him TO