The Washington herald., 1910-02-19

Louis r. CLAWS had a difficult time
to-day specifying the particular acts OF
Secretary Ballinger. as head Of the IN
terror Department. which. in his opinion
in this respect had been concluded by J. J.
Vertrees. counsel for Secretary Ballinger.
he had accused the Secretary of what Mr..
veruees characterized as three acts Of
commission and one of omission. They
were:
His refusal to call upon Attorney Cen
eral Wickersham for an opinion as 10
how the new coal land laws should be con
strued, and asking for one instead from
Assistant Secretary Pierce.
His orders 10 CLAWS telling him not to
interview the members Of Congress who
owned coal lands in the Cunningham
group.
That, while not officially appearing to
guide the investigation Of the coal eases
the record showed that officials of the
Land Office had to consult him and get
his consent in handling the cases.
That, with the evidence before him,
he should have postponed the hearings in
the Cunningham cases until after the field
examination HAD been completed.
CLAWS protested that it was unfair to
ask him to specify. on-hand. the various
acts Of the Secretary on which he based
his charges, and said ihqt If he had time
10 go through the record Of evidence he
would make out a better case.
Don't you know. as matter OF fact"
said Mr.. Vertrees. that Secretary Ballin-
ger refused at all times 10 act in these
Cunningham cases because he had been
previously engaged on them?'
THAT is not true" replied CLAWS. 'He
had a conference with bennett, Schwartz,
and myself about these"
Correspondence with Moore
Mr.. Vertrees read correspondence be-
tween Miles c. Moore. a representative Of
the Cunninghams, 10 Secretary BaIlingeT.
complaining because the Land Office was
holding up the clear listing, and letters
from Secretary Ballinger to Moore declar-
ing that because of his previous connec-
ton with the Cunningham claims he could
not officially pass upon them.
trouble on one side with these Cunning
ham claimants as YOU were having on the
other?" asked Mr.. Vertrees.
1T looks that way" replied CLAWS,
with a laugh, in which his counsel and
several members of the committee Joined.
In one OF these letters to Mr.. Bailinger
Mr.. Moore said that CLAWS desire 10
have the Cunningham entries cancelled
was actuated by determination to get
revenge on Clarence Cunningham, with
whom he had quarreled.
Mr.. Brandeis, counsel for CLAWS, called
FOR the original copies Of all correspond
ence between BaIlinger and Moore, and
they will be ordered by the committee.
CLAWS told of the circumstances in con-
neetion with his appeal to Clifford Pin
chot TO help him hold up the hearings
in the Cunningham cases until he had
collected all Of his evidence. He said he
asked Pinehot 20 have the Forest Service
interfere because he knew such action
would hold Up the hearings long enough
10 let him complete his work
PinchOt said "See Taft"
WAS your object TO bring about the
removal Of Secretary Ballinger and Com
missioner Dennett?" asked Mr.. Vertrees.
Not necessarily" replied CLAWS.
What advice did Pinchot give you?"
He told me to take the case to the
President"
What prompted you to go to Pinchot?"
Because had faith in him. replied
CLAWS. I had depended on Hoyt for
advice when he was out there, After he
left there was no one else I could
trust"
Chairman Nelson took CLAWS over the
same ground, and in reply to one of his
questions CLAWS said:
Il went to Mr.. Pinchot because I
wanted the eases held up. so that they
would not be decided by BaIlinger and
bennett I did not consider them COM
Petent or proper men to pass upon them"
Mr.. VeTtrees endeavored to show that
the hearings were postponed as a result
Of the evidence presented to the Land
Office by Sheridan, his successor, but
CLAWS would not admit this. and he read
a telegram from bennett, then In Seattle,
TO Schwartz, referring to the interference
OF the Forest Service, and recommend