The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-17
CLAWS A TARTAR
ON WITNESS STAND
Attorney for Ballinger Accuses
Him of Distorting Testimony
to Suit Himself.
MAKE LITTLE HEADWAY IN
FORESTRY INVESTIGATION
Sharp ColIOquy Indulged in Be-
tween Members of Commit
, tee Making Inquiry.

I WASHINGTON, Feb 16.-The Bal
lingerPinchot investigating commit
tee was in session for three hours to-
day and then adjourned until Friday
morning at 10 clock. Mr.. Nertrees,
attorney for Secretary Ballinger, con
tinued his crosseXaminatiou Of Louis
r. CLAWS. but made little hcadway.
He argued several times with the aues-
tion on the subject of direct answers
and in one of these disputes Represen-
tative Ora ham of Illinois. Democrat,
and Senator Nelson Of Minnesota, chair
man of the committee, had warm
colloquy.
Mr.. Vcrtrees read into the records
today a number of letters and tele-
grams dealing with the calling in By the
forest service Of CLAWS. In the cross
examination OF the witness 1t was
shown that before he WAS called oil the
Alaska land cases, in May. l9os, ne had
tclegraphed the department at Wash
inctou that the United States attorney
at Portland had urged the necessity
of closing up about a thousand cases ID
Oregon, wherein hearing had TO be
held almost immediately. and the fun
field service would he needed. Three
davs later CLAWS was taken off the
Naska case and assigned TO the Oregon
work CLAWS testified he got no orders
TO resume the Alaska cases until DC,
tobcr, 1908.
What CLAWS Thought.
a brief executive session preceded
the resumption of the hearing this at
. ternoon Mr.. Vertrees hogan lmmedl'
atelv TO question Mr.. CLAWS as to the
alleged necessity for field examination
Of The Alaska coal claims prior to has
making final reports.
CLAWS had declared be had not been
given time 10 make these examinations
He admitted. however, he bad been IN
structed that the results of the held
: examinations could ne put into the
records after the evidence on other lea
. lures had bcen taken.
. CLAWS said he did not agree with thr
: officers in this matter. He felt that
the results of the field examinations
: should 90 in first aud accordingly de
!. laved his reports.
yertrees and tho witness had a long
argument as 10 the value OF the atli
davits taken by CLAWS aud his as
sistants from the coal claimants and
the use 10 which these could be put
The attorney aud Claws soon got into a
wr2ugc
''You lust answer my questions and
we II get along bctter.S' said Nertrees
'.It seems TO me YOU should answer
the questions, - directed Chairman Mel
''I object on tbc ground that there
is too much lccturing of the witness.
intcrposcd Representative Graham,
, Democrat.
s'I am not aware of that fact, re
marked rho chairman.
"'It strikes me differently replied
! MI Graham.
II am sorry 10 differ with you, ;" re-
torted Senator Nelson,
1.-The Witness stated Mr.. Nertrcos,
"tries To lug IN an argument to conp.
tervail any state OF facts he THINKS l
may be developing.
= Proceed said the chairman.
"Now. Mr.. CLAWS, resumed Mr.. Yer.
trees, ''plcasc permit me 10 request you
to answer my questions and not add
anything unless 1t is necessary to eX-
plain your answer. | Will be greatly
obliged if YOU viii do that for me. -
Might Be More Evidence,
Mr. Vcrtrccs sought to draw from the
witness the admission that when ne
tclcgrapbed the department. be could
not submit q report on tho Cunningham
Claims because additional evidence was
available he did not know any evidence
could he obtained
CLAWS insisted he though; evidence
. /
sure. however.
Mr.. NerCrees asked Mr.. CLAWS when
he FIRST received word tina. he WAS 20
bc supplauted. lie said ou July l,
1905.
\ number Of letters and tclegrams
dealing with the calling in II "lhG
forestry were read by Mr. Nertrees
Copies of these were received from
rhe forestry today In letter
dated July Is 1908. and addressed by
CLAWS 10 \ \. Shaw. former assistant
law officer Of the forestry service,
CLAWS said he land office. ''for oh.
tious reasons. probably would turn
over certain papers 1" tho forestry.
Will Be Interesting Reading,
:Rut I have copies OF them. he
conrinucd. land rhcy viii mako mighty
interesting reading 70 YOU. The rcasops
for my request FOR delay VIII be ap'
parent from my reports.
IN telegram. which Shaw scnt to the
district forester ut Portland. he was
instructed 20 assist CLAWS and mako
his telcgraphic report "luu and
strong,
Mr.. Ncrtrccs next turned to Inc
charge CLAWS bad made tnat he was
called off the Alaska work in May;
1905 and got no orders to resume unu!
October Of that wear
Tho witness admitted that three days
before be was called of the Alaska
work he had tclfGraphcd Tic depart
meut that The United States attorney
was requesting immediate action on
1000 cases in Oregon, whore patents
would have TO bc attacked IN the near
future, and that the entire force would
nc required cn this work until July.
Push Work
Mr. Nertrees quoted from n telegram
Of Commissioner bennett on May 2S,
1908. which told OF mn additional ap
preparation for field work, and con-
cmded: "Push work. -
Claws said be did not regard this Us
referring TO the Alaska cases. and that
| u. H. Schwartz, chief Of he field serv.
ice did mot so regard it, for on Sep, |
tcmbcr 23 1908, Schwartz recommended !