The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-17
Attorney vertTees Fails TO Make
Much Out Of GIavis
MANY LETTERS ARE READ
Vertrees shows That GInvis Was Taken
OF the Alaska Claims and Put
At other Work At His
Own Request

w tDi Lhc IdiiiAA-
ger-Pinchot investigating committee was
In session for three hours today and
then adjourned over until Friday morn
ing at 10 o'lock.
Mr.. vertrees, the attorney for secre-
tary Ballinger. continued his cross-exam-
ination of Louis r. CLAWS, but made lit
tie or no headway. He had several argu-
rnents with the witness on the subject of
diroct answers and during one of these
Representative Graham of Illinois, DEM
ccrat, and Senator Nelson of Minnesota,
chairman of the committee, had quite
warm oolloquy.
Mr. vertrees read into record today
| number of letters and kilograms dealing
with the calling in of the forest service
by Claws During the cross examination
of the witness it was shown that before
he was called off the Alaska coal lands
cases in May. 1908, he had telegraphed
the department at Washington that the
United States attorney at Portland had
urged the necessity of closing up about
1900 cases in Oregon where a hearing had
to be held almost Immediately and the
full field service would be used.
Three days later G,ayis was taken off
the Alaska cases and assigned 10 the
Oregon work. .Gsfavis testified he got no
orders to resume the Alaska cases until
October,1e0s.
A <bfief executive session preceded the
resumption of the hearing this afternoon.
Mr.. Vertrees began Immediately to aues-
ton Mr. Claws as to the alleged neces-
sity for field examination of the Alaska
coal claims prior to his making final re-
ports.
GlA Wis had declared that he had not
been given time to make these examina-
tons. He admitted however, tnat he had
been instructed that the result of the
| fields examinations could be put into the
records after the evidence on the other
| features of the case had been taken.
CLAWS said he felt the results OF the ,feld
examinations should go Ia tlrs 'sde-
! layed his report. He said the field exain-
| nations would enable the government
to make a prirna facic case and to force
the claimants on the witness stand.
Mr. yertrees and CLAWS got into a
wrangle because, when Mr.. Vertrees
would ask, "Were these not the facts?"
| the witness would reply, 'Yes, but my
opinion as to that was based on this,
and so chi.
"You just answer my questions and
we'll get along BETTER commanded Mr..
| vertrees.
| 1T seems to me you should answer the
questions" directed Chairman Nelson.
II suggest that there is too much lee
turing of the witness" interposed Repre-
sentative Graham, democrat.
The witness stated Mr.. Vertrees tries
| to lug in an argument to countervail any
| state of facts ne thinks L may be devel-
| cping."
Proceed! drawled the chairman.
Now, Mr.. Claws" resumed Mr.. Ver-
trees, please permit me to request you
| to answer my questions, and not add any
| thing unless it is necessary to explain
| your answer. / will be greatly obliged II
you will do that for me-
| The examination proceeded quietly for
| a time
/ Mr. Vertrees sought to draw from the
witness the admission that when he tele-
| graphed the department that he could not
submit report on the Cunningham
| claims because of additional evidence
available, he did not know that any evil
dcnce could be secured. CLAWS insisted
that he thought evidence might be Sc
cured in Alaska. He was not sure, how
ever.
Mr. VertI ees asked Mr.. CLAWS when he
first received word that he was to be sup
planted. He said July /, 1909. number
of letters and kilograms dealing with the
calling in of the forestry were read by
Mr.. VerfIees. In letter dated July 16,
1908, and addressed by CLAWS to former
Assistant Law OFFICER A. A. Shaw of
the fol estry service, CLAWS said that the
land office probably would for obvious
reasons" turn over certain papers to the
forestry
But 1 have copies of them" he con-
tinued "and they will make mighty in
terestng reading to you. The reasons
for my request for a delay will be appar-
ent from my reports
In a telegram which Shaw sent to the
district forester at Portland, the latter
was instructed to assist CLAWS and make
his telegraphic report "full and strong"
Mr.. Vertrees next turned to the charge
CLAWS has made that he was called or
the ALASKA work in May, 1908. and got no
orders to resume until October of that
year Tie witness admitted that three
DAYS before he was called off the Alaska
work ne had telegraphed the department
that the United States attorney was re-
ouesting immediate action on 1000 cases in
oregon, where patents would have to be
attacked In the near future and that the
entire fol ce would be required on this
work until July.
At b:o5 D. m. adjournment was taken
until Friday morning at 10 o'clock.
l-@-~r a vryev nAn