The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-30
CLAWS CONTINUES HIS
ATTACK ON BALANCES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE q,


the coal cases, especially that part show
ing him up. He has no doubt written
you, stating that I am trying to In
volve him, etc.
HE realizes that he has not done right.
/ could go into details and tell you many
things but / shall not do so because
the purpose of this letter is not to in
fiuence you against Dennet, so, how
ever I do not want him to impair our
friendship which I prize very highly as
1 have few real friends.
"It is my opinion that neither Dennet
nor B. will last long.
who did you mean by B.?' the wit
ness was asked.
mr.. Ballinger''
was this your opinion or had you
conferred with anybody else?" asked
Representative Madison
"It was my own opinion. l hadn't con-
ferred with anybody else. Other peo-
pie may have held the same opinion but
nobody had expressed 1t to me-"
Senator Nelson here took up the ex-
animation.
ut seems to me-" he said, that you
were more anxious to make A point
against these officers than to secure the
cancellation of the coal claims
WELL" said CLAWS after some reflec-
ton, IT thought the Alaska coal cases
would be better protected with them out
of the way"
Told His Troubles.
Representative Graham: did you have
any personal Ill Will against either Den
nett or Ballinger?'
CLAWS: mo, sir
Representative DENLY: was it your
idea that Dennet and Ballinger were in
league to favor these claimants or did
tr1v 81 In
tent?'
CLAWS THAT would be only an opin-
ion. I had some evidence that led me
to believe Dennet needed the support
of all the influential people he could get
In order to be reappointed commission
er of the land office and would go fur
Their than he would under ordinary cir
cumstances. It was hard to judge what
Ballinger would get out Of 1t, If he got
anything"
Representative DENLY: "Do you believe
Secretary Ballinger was sincere in his
declarations that as Secretary of the In
terror he did not want to have anything
to do with these Alaska cases with which
he had been connected as a private oit-
izenY'
CLAWS: at know that he did take part
IN these cases after becoming secretary.
The law preventing any former officer
of the government from helping to prose-
cute A claim against the government with
in two years after leaving the service
was read into the record, together with
a decision by former Secretary Of the
Interior Hoke Smith. holding that claim
''meant q money claim"
Representative Ollie James asked that
the decision of former Secretary l.. O. c.
Lamar holding to the contrary be also
introduced.
Ia oil
his tetimony. He said 1t was in Spokane.
wash. during the conservation congress
there, that he met former Governor Par
dee of California and Clifford Pinchot.
He told them all his troubles In connec-
tion with the coal land cases and Mr..
Pinchot advised him to go to the Pres
ident.
The witness also brought out the fact
that former Assistant Law officer A.
q shaw. Of the bureau of forestry, had
gone to chicago to help him in his re-
port to the President. CLAWS took the
report in person to Beverly and presented
II to the President. He said ne re-
turned west from there, and the next
thing he knew he was dismissed from
the service.
..That." he said, "ended my connection
with the Alaska coal land cases OIL
cially."
Mr.. Brandeis said he might or might
not want to question CLAWS further after
certain papers had arrived Senator Mel
son said some of the persons against
whom CLAWS had made charges or insin-
nations might desire to cross-examine the
witness. CLAWS said he did not want to
STAY around Washington very long. The
matter was finally settled by the com
mittee agreeing to resume its sessions
Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, instead
of adjourning over until next Friday
as had been anticipated.