Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-05
|2INCHOT ENDS STORY
EFinishes Testimony Before
Investigating Committee.
\ COUNSEL ARE CAUTIONED
'AvoidanceAof Dilatory Methods Is
Urged.
|.DISCUSSION OF INFERENCES
.Expected That James b. Garfield,
Former Secretary of the Interior,
Will Be Heard Next.
DISCUSSION OF INFERENCES

Clifford Pinchot finished his testimony
! before the congressional committee of in
qury into the Ballinger- Pinchot oontro-
versy today by stating anew that he had
practically no personal knowledge of the
matters of which he has testified. He
proceeded then. however. to sum up once
| more the differences he wished the COM
mittee to draw from the documents al
| ready in evidence and from the statements
of witnesses yet to be heard Mr.. .Pinchot
! had been on the stand four days.
The cross and redirect examinations of
| the witness were brought to close only
| after members of the committee had re-
peatedly cautioned counsel on both sides
against dilatory methods.
Attorney Vertrees intimated today in
his cross-examnatfon of Mr.. Pinchot
that possible nEisstatements made by Mr..
Ballinger. upon the authority Of others
than himself, We're held to besa "willful
deception of the President while ad-
mitted misstatements by Mr.. Pinchot to
the Presidents were, referred to only as
simple mistakes
The entire morning session was taken
UP with differences and conclusions on
the documentary evidence already in the
bers of the committee. who declared they
were perfectly capable Of forming their
own conclusions.
1t is expected that James r. Garfield,
former Secretary of the Interior, will
take the stand late Athis afternoon.
Attendance Decreased.
The dull sessions Of yesterday ma
terially cut down the crowd that waited
for the opening of the doors to the COM
mittee room in the Senate Office building
today. The further fact that no more
picnicking was to be allowed in the room
during the luncheon recess served to cut
down the attendance. Heretofore the
woman spectators have brought sand
witches and other edibles with them, pre-
pared to spend the entire day. Yesterday
the new rule of clearing and airing the
room at recess time caused mild riot
among the ladies. but the instructions of
the committee were mandatory and the
officers at the hearing carried them out
to the letter.
the Interior. is now a daily attendant at
the hearing and will follow Mr.. Pinchot
on the witness stand.
The cross-examination of .Gifford Pin
chot continued this morning, and the
course pursued yesterday by Mr.. Vertrees
of going over the testimony in detail gave
no indication as to when he will finish
with the witness.
Witnesses to Be Summoned.
A long executive session preceded the
resumption of the hearing this morning.
| Subpoenas have been issued at the re-
quest of Mr.. Ballinger's counsel for
United States Attorney Elmer E. Todd
and Special Agent g. A. Parks both of
u 30
he expects to prove by District Attorney
Todd that Special Agent Jones' testimony
as to why criminal proceedings against
| the Cunningham claimants were not insti-
tuted is false. Special Agent Parks will
testify concerning CLAWS box in which
twentyfour missing letters are supposed
TO have been found.
Clients May See Documents.
Senator Nelson announced that the rule
relating to the handling of public docu-
ments sent to the committee had been
modified to the extent of allowing coun-
| sci to exhibit the papers to clients and
to make copies of them.
When Mr.. Pinchot had' taken the stand
Senator Nelson. recalling the dreary ses-
sion of yesterday afternoon, suggested to
ground more than once.
Mr.. Vertrees began to question the wit
ness concerning the new coal land law
of 1908. when Representative Olmsted in
terrupted by remarking:
Unless your conversation with the wit
ness is to be entirely confidential. Mr..
Vertrees, kindly raise your voice so the
committee can hear"
Mr.. Pinchot has charged that Mr.. Bal
| lnger appeared before a committee OF
Congress in the interest of fraudulent
claimants. Mr.. Vertrees sought to show
that his appearance had to do only with
| the new coal land law, the necessity of
| a new law having been urged by Presi-
| dent Roosevelt and Secretary Garfield.
Mr.. Pinchot said that in his testimony
| before the congressional committee Mr..
Ballinger urged an amendment which
would have let the Cunningham claims go
| to patent at so an acre. whereas all flu
ture claimants would be assessed at mot
| less than SO an acre"
1t was shown, however. that the Cum
| ningham claims were the only ones that
had gone to final entry in Alaska.
/ Asked If Congress could legislate against
/ entries already made In good faith. Mr..
Pinchot said that was question for le-
| gal authority.
| Roosevelt Message Quoted.
| The witness and counsel soon began to
clash again in the manner which delayed
proceedings to such an extent yesterday.
Mr. Vertrees read to the witness a part
| of a message by President Roosevelt.
| Mr. Pinchot listened earnestly, and then
| snapped back:
do you read in that message any in
| situation that Mr.. Roosevelt favored the
patenting of claims not made in good
| faith?'
Attorney vertrees-r am insinuating
| nothing, Mr.. Roosevelt.
| Mr. Pinchot-That Is not my name.
Mr.. Vertrees-WeH. didn't Mr.. Roosevelt
say what / read you?
Mr Pinchnf-Of 10
Senator Nelson grew impatient and de-
| clared the intent and meaning Of mes
sages and everything else could be deter
mined by the committee.
Mr.. Pepper protested that Mr.. Vertrees'
Characterization was made up almost
| wholly Of argumentative questions, which
called for argumentative answers.
"Oh, go on" sighed the chairman wear
lily.
Mr.. Vertrees defended his course by de-
| cla ring that Mr. Pinchnt,S