The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-16
BAL[|NGER CASE
ORAGS SOMEWHAT
Examination of CLAWS on Docu.
mentary Evidence RObs Hear
ing of Sensations.
ATTORNEY FOR BALLlNGER
IRRITATED BY WITNESS
Slow Speech and Deliberate
Long MINDED Explanations
DO Not Please.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 15.-The Bal
llnger-Pinchot inquiry dragged YEARLY
along through two sessions today with
out any of the striking incidents or
features that marked the interesting
sessions of yesterday Louis K. CLAWS
continued on the stand under cross
examination by John J. Vertrees, at
torney for Secretary Balluger.
Mr.. Vertrecs examined the witness
almost wholly upon the documentary
evidence, and it was necessary to read
much Of this anew that he might prop
eriy frame his questions. This required
much time and made The PROCEEDINGS
decidedly dull
Mr, CLAWS continued his tactics of
yesterday Of always coupling his an.
swers with long eIplana tions Counsel
for Mr. Balliuger protested once against
Tins dlsconrslvcuess of the witness, but
GlayIs appealed 10 the committee, and
II was decided that he could make his
explanations however be desired,
whether they were relevant or not.
Vertroes Irritated.
! Mr.. CLAWS speaks with a decided
arawl and some hesitation. and his long
\
trees. while Attorney Brandeis. repre-
senting the persecution sat. with a
| contented grin the whole daY long
Subpoenss were issued TODAY for ?
number OF witnesses. who. Mr.. Yer
trees announced, would give testimony
as to the finding of twenty-four official
LETTERS. which had been missing in
| boxes left by Mr.. CLAWS in the grand
Jury room in tho Seattle Federal build.
| ing.
Mr.. Vertrees devoted large part of
the day TO bringing out the fact that.
when Mr.. Claws protested against the
clear listing OF the Cunningham claims
order for clear listing was Immediately
rcFohed without awaiting further ex-
pIauation from CLAWS. aud that tbis
state Of affairs has continued down 10
| the present time,
The inquiry will be resumed toulor-
| row afternoon.
Detail Of Testimony.
MI. NHrtrses. counsel for Secretary
| tion OF Louis r. Claws. In order for
| hin =" frame some al his questions IT
was necessary fret 10 wade through
mass OF documentary evidence and this
process consumed much time
The committee was In executive ses-
SION iorty minutes, discussing the admis-
sibllity at this time OF a report from Sc
attic giving the details OF the alleged
discovery among Claws effects OF twea-
ty-iour letters which had been missing
from the official files or tine land office
there. No decision was announced
Subpoenas were issued however, for
~ Christensen, chief of the field d.
vision of Seattle. and also G. O'Neu as
where the boxes belonging TO CLAWS were
stored The list OF prospective witnesses
Is in@creaSninG @ daily. indicating that the
inquiry VIII he extensive.
Mr.. Nertrees questioned Mr.. CLAWS
about the memorandum ne assisted in
preparing on which Assistant Secretary
new coal land law OF May. 1905. Mr..
Claws testified yesterday, that this opin-
ion, 70 his mind, showed Mr.. Pierce 10
Nh. Vertrees sought 10 show the Gun
nlngham claimants. having decided To
stand for patents under the old law, were
specifically excluded from cousideratio
in the Pierce opinion, The attorney also
sought 10 show that Attorney General
WickerSham did not oYerr'Ilc Mr.. Pierce
but substantially sustained him in every
essential particular.
All Mr.. CLAWS would admit in this
Intend 20 exclude the Cunningham claims
from consideration. and that while Attor-
noy General ,S Mieksrsham p,al may have con
witness did not think so.
But YOU condemn Mr Pierce on your
construction OF law?''
The morning session had not pro-
ceeded far whom Mr. vertrees and the
witness had another clash. The attor-
wanted to explain every answer. Mr.. Nev-
trees once arose with:
rccted himself by saying: MIR Chair
man"
CLAWS Given Freedom.
The committee ruled 10 let Mr.. CLAWS
give as many and as long explanations as
he desired.
Chairman Nelson. but go on
Mn Ncrtrccs then took up the wit
ness on the accusations OF misconduct
against Fred bennett, commissioner OF
the land office. CLAWS had declared that
after hearing ". L. Hartman. one of the
claimants make certain admissions rela-
eGram from CLAWS saying mono OF the
claimants had made admissions.
Mr.. Nertrees brought out that CLAWS
telegram bad been sent more than year
after the Hartman admission, oud the
witness knew OF no other admissions
among the 500 claimants.
Yet you condemn Mr.. Dcnuett as an
improper official from JhiS?'
Not from that alone replied the wit
ness.
CLAWS admitted that an affidavit lie
made june 90, 1909. as 10 certain state
ments which = claimant named NTcDon-
aid had said hc had made to pennrte
may have been too broad 1t Ii was. the
witness said. ne was anxious 10 cor
''Wha, else did Dcuuctt dog'' asked Mir.
Nc"trccS.
We'll, he wrote those funny letters
from Seattle and Portland"
How did you get copies OF those let
teTS2'
Special Agent Spaldtug acted as Den
nctts stenographer and told me about
tho letters, and asked him 10 furnish
me with copies"
"You ordered him to do so. didnt
you?'
II was his superior officer
We refused and YOU ordered him.?
"ic hCSltatcd. lie said tho letters
were private. But they were mailed
und"r frank and | thought that mado
thcm official"
You used Enlargement 10 Spaldug.
didn't vou7'
II don't know that 7 did
MI Ncvtreos went into the letters tn
some detail. They were written by Den
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