Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-29
TO AVOID A SCANDAL
CLAWS Tells Why He Kept ST.
lent and Didn't Resign.
PROBING COAL LAND CASES
Testifes That He Was Disheartened
at Official Ruling.
HIS INVESTIGATION STOPPED


mittee Inquiring Into the Bal
lineer-Pinchot Controversy.
Louis r. CLAWS resumed his testimony
today before the joint congressional COM
mittee. inquiring into the Ballinger-
Pinchot controversy. He asserted.
with other things, that Mr.. Ballinger
on one occasion instructed him not to
pursue an investigation against Repre-
sentative McLachlen of California, who
held claim in the Green group of coal
lands in Alaska. He quoted Mr.. Ballinger
as saying there had been too much of
that sort of thing in the past.
The witness gave further details of his
work in connection with the fraud cases
and said he had once thought of resign
ing from the service in order to give out
the facts to the press, but was advised
not to do that, as it would make too much
of a scandal at the beginning of Presi-
dent Taft's administration.
CLAWS Accuses officials.
Louis r. CLAWS Immediately took the
stand when the hearing was resumed at
1870 am. today. The witness gave
some more details as to how he came
into possession of the Cunningham jour
nal. which he declared contained proof
that fraud was contemplated in this
group of coal land entries in Alaska.
The morning session had not proceeded
very far when Senator Nelson clashed
with the witness. who had intimated that
attempts had been made to hinder him
in the investigation of the Alaska cases
during the period from October, 1905 and
March, 1909.
In any of your talks with Land Com
missioner bennett or others, was there
as a matter of fact any attempt to hinder
YOU in your work. asked the chairman.
Well, 1 would have -
Answer yes or no.'' commanded the
Well 1 will have to explain the various
interviews
oh. answer it directly. yes or no.
Yes. they did
Senator Nelson during the morning ses-
against asking leading questions of the
witness.
Pinchot Not Present.
For the first time since the inquiry
started Clifford Pinchot was not in the
first row of spectators this morning. He
was expected later In the day.
Representative Ollie James of Ken
tucky. who had been complaining of late
of being uncomfortable in the regular
chairs provided for the committee-which
in ordinary terms would be called roomy-
was today supplied with a leather -uphol-
stored chair of enormous proportions.
Representative Denby> of Michigan, also
something of q giant in stature, looked at
Mr.. James in astonishment, and declared
that while he was jealous he would not
admit he was SO fat as to require a Spe-
cial chair.
AS was expected, the greater part of
the morning session was devoted to the
introduction of documentary evidence
from the printed record in the contro-
yersy.
Mr. Pinchot's name Uudly enough was
of his absence. CLAWS had got to that
point in his story OF the Cunningham
claims where the land office placed Spe-
cial Agent Sheridan in charge of the case
10 conduct the hearings.
Sheridan was a lawyer and had had
wide experienced" inquired Senator Mel
.'Yes, sif,' replied CLAWS.
Was the governments interest placed
in jeopardy by his assignment"
NO, sir, not by that action. He took
the same view of the case that l did,.
Wasn't 1t the fact that Sheridan su-
perseded you that made you think 1t nec-
essary to apply to Pinchot to introduce
you as to the status of these cases.?
Wanted Field Examination.
"A great many things alarmed me be-
sides that; that didn't alarm me very
much I applied to Mr.. Pinchot after
had protested against the cases going to
hearing in July. I wanted first to make a
field examination"
Former District Attorney Jerome OF
New York arrived during the midst Of
the morning session and was figure Of
interest.
Representative Madison had some little
difficulty In getting direct answer from
the witness as to whether 1t was abso-
lutely essential that a field examination
should be made before hearings were
held.
am trying in d perfectly kindly and SYM
pathetic way to ascertain your position
in the matter.
Claws declared field examination was
necessary to establish priIna facie case.
We'll what so alarmed you about these
cases?" again asked Senator Nelson.
"All that l have been testifying to
alarmed me-" said Claws. land a lot of
testimony l haven't given yet
Once when Senator Nelson started to
ask question CLAWS stopped him. say
II haven't finished what I wanted to
say yet.
go on said the chairman.
Cautioned by Ballinger.
CLAWS testified as to visit he made tc
the land office on one occasion.
What brought you to Washington al
that time?" asked Senator Nelson.
Il came to interview congressman
who had a claim in the Green group,
replied the witness. amid laughter.
who was the congressman" asked
Representative Madison.
.'Mr McLachlan of California"
Did you see him or get an affidavit
from him.?
No
'Why not?'
well" said CLAWS. Mr.. Bailingel
said to me that there had been too much
of that sort of thing in the past. !
wouldn't see him, If l were you. Mr.
Ballinger said"
And you didn't see him?'
mo"
The Act of May %, 1908.
One of the letters put in evidence to-
day was addressed by Chief Schwartz
OF the field division to G. w. Woodruff.
assistant attorney general for the In
aradaiS raad