The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-29
NO EXPLANATION
FOUND NECESSARY
Wickersham Need Not
Answer Charge of Mis-
representation.
sEARCHLIGHT is
TURNED A SIDE
Democrats on Ballinger- Pinchot
Investigating Committee Vote
for Inquiry as to Facts, but
Republicans Block Them.
Secretary Will Testify
in Own Behalf.

Washington. ID. c., April 2S.-The
Republican majority on the Bailinger~
Pinchot Investigating committee to-
day blocked attempt by counsel for
the so-called prosecution to prove
its contention that the Attorney Cen
eral had been guilty of misrepresenta-
tlon in antedating summary OF inc
CLAWS charges prepared for the Pres-
ident and In evidence before the COM
mittee.
Following up his indictment of
Mr. Wickershain last Friday, Attorney
Brandeis, representing L. r. Claws and
others, wrote to the committee asking
for full information from the Depart
nent OF Justice and the Interior De-
partment bearing on the summary and
It's preparation. The request was to-
day refused.
Bnsi. of Charge.
The summary was dated September
IL. 1905. two days before the date of
the Presidents letter to Secretary Bal
ilinger generating him from the
Claws charges. Mr.. Brandeis claims
this summary was not really written
until last December.
Mr.. Wickersham refused either to
affirm or to deny the truth of this
charge. The committee. by its action
to-day declined TO adopt any measures
TO compel him TO reveal the facts.
The four Democrats on the commit
tee voted soiidly in favor of permitting
! Mr. Brandeis TO turn the searchlight
| of publicity into this matter. The only
Republican who did not vote in com
1nittee TO deny it was Representative
| Madison, of Kansas. the "insurgent'
member OF the committee, who was
absent
Mr.. Madison came in after the pub
lie session had begun. He asked 20
] be recorded as voting with the Demo
Gratis.
/ Brandcis Pulled Up.
!; When Mr.. Brandcis sought 10 pro-
test against summary disposition OF
/ his request without opportunity tr
make some argument. he was curtl5
reminded by Chairman Nelson that q
record vote of the committee had beer
taken and that the incident was closed
1t became definitely known to-da!
that Secretary Ballinger would tak'
the stand within few days Attorney
vertrees, counsel for Mr.. Ballsnger. an
nounced to the committee that he ex.
pected to complete his case next week
4 Later he said that Mr.. Ballinger prob
ably would go on before the end o
this week.
4 George Otis Smith. director of tn.
Geological Survey, who was on tn,
stand when the committee adjourned
last Saturday, was under examination
during the entire morning session o
the committee to-day. He was ques
toned at great length regarding ,h
conservation of water-power sites.
Smith ON stand.
Before Mr.. Smith resumed the stant
I Senator Root asked Attorney Vertree.
counsel for Secretary Ballinger, hoy
long he thought it would require 70
him to conclude the direct testimon
of his witnesses. Mr.. Vertrees though
the end of next week ought to see TIL
completion of his case. allowing "rea
sonable" time for s-examination.
Mr.. Vertrees concluded the direct eS
animation of Mr.. Smith in shol
z time. The members Of the conlmitte
departed from the beaten path fol
lowed thus far in the inquiry, and be
gan questioning Mr.. Smith about wa
terpower sites and coal land legisla
tion.
He suggested legislation alon
these lines and pointed out in deta
his reasons why changes should b
made in the law. This required abor
!. two hours time.