Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-08
Committee Asks That He
Speedily Produce Papers.
ABOUT FACE IS CHARGED
Attorney for Prosecution Alleges
Change Of Front.
SAYS CLAWS TOOK PAPERS
Witness Tells of Letter Missing
When He Took Charge Of
Seattle Office.

As soon as the congressional committee
investigating the Balunger-Pinchot con-
troversy was called to order this morn
ing by Chairman Nelson, Attorney Bran
deis was on his feet protesting against
the letters written by Secretary Ballinger
last week complaining of the numerous
wholesale calls for papers made upon
the department by the attorney for the
prosecution.
The Secretary characterized Mr.. Bran
deis' course as an "oblique attempt to
control the manner in which the evil
dence should be presented and mere
fishing process" Mr.. Brandeis today
complained of the delay OF the Interior
Department in producing papers request
ed. and he asked that instructions be is
sued calling for the production of the
papers at once.
Attacks Secretary's Position.
Mr. Brandes then proceeded to attack
the present position of Secretary Bal
inger. which, he characterized as "a re-
markable reversal of ideas He declared
that at first the Secretary did not even
want counsel lest it hinder the commit
tee in its search for the truth After
ward he employed counsel and now was
protesting against the production of
papers, he said
Attorney Vertrees replied to Mr.. Bran
deis statement. He declared that coun-
sci for the prosecution was hshfng, be-
cause the main case put in against Sec
rotary Ba1linger had failed in all its
parts.
Fishing. remarked Representative Ollie
James, amid laughter, don't hurt moth
ing unless you catch something
The discussion was ended by the adop-
finto IF 6.Ir nj a Wa
calling upon the Secretary of the Interior
10 produce all papers called for by the
committee with 'all due speed"
Tells Of Missing Letters.
Andrew Christensen, the chief of the field
division of the land Office, who succeeded
CLAWS at Seattle, when the latter was
dismissed from the service, was called to
the stand. He told Of the trouble he had
with CLAWS about the turning over of
certain official papers in the Seattle Office.
CLAWS took bundle OF papers away with
him and declined to let Christensen see
them until he had made copies. Christen-
sen said that advice of the United
States attorney at Seattle he made a de-
mand In writing upon CLAWS. saying that
as he was no longer in the government
service he had no right whatever to the
papers.
In response to this demand. CLAWS re-
turned some papers to the Office the fol-
lowing moring. After hits the witness said
he found that twentyfour letters men,
toned in a receipt of papers were miss
ing from the files.
Resort to "Third Degree"
Mr.. Christensen read at some length
copies Of letters and kilograms that pass
ed between him and the department re-
garding the missing letters. Mr.. Vertrees
apologized for infiicting this correspond
ence upon the committee. but said 1t was
necessary in view OF the intimation of
the prosecution that Christensen had
framed up something against CLAWS.
Members of the committee questioned
the witness at some length regarding
the minute details Of how the discovery
made that the letters were MISS
ing.
The correspondence read by the witness
showed that others than CLAWS were un-
der suspicion as to the missing letters.
\ general inquiry was instituted by the
department and third degree" methods
were resorted to. The letters subsequent
~ were found by Christensen, 1t is said,
IN box belonging to CLAWS.