The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-28
CLAWS Testifies That Was the
Order From Ballinger.
Then Cunningham Claims We're
Clear Listed in a Month.
HIS PROTEST BY WIRE
Was Sent in and the Order Was
Revoked.
Secretary Had Friends Among
the Alaska Claimants.

washington, JAN 8.-Louis R. CLAWS
today continued his testimony against
Secretary Ballinger before the con-
gressionaI investigating committee
The proceedings at the morning session
were taken up largely by reading into
the record certain letters. etc, whlcn
have been made public from time 70
time since the controversy started
Claws declared that pite the fact
that he was directed by Mr.. Ballinger'
as commissioner of the land once, on
December 13, 1907. to make complete
and thorough examination of all the
Alaskan coal land cases. sparing no
one. the Cunningham claims We're Or
dered clear listed" for patent In less
than a month thereafter On MS protest
by wire and mail. CLAWS said the clear
listing was revoked
The following witnesses today were
subpoenaed to appear before the com
mfttee at the request of the "prosecu-
ton:
Horace T. Jones, special agent land
Office, Portland. Ore: Arthur K BOW
man, Cheyenne. Wyo.: Andrew kenne-
CIV. Seattle: Henry NJ. Hoyt, attorney
general OF Porto Rico; p. C. Rlchard-
son. Seattle
Washington, jan 28.-An executive
session of the investigation committee
delayed the opening of todays proceed
ings until 1926 a. M, at which hour
Louis R. CLAWS again took the witness
stand.
BalIinger Was Absent.
All the members of the committee
were present at the opening OF the ses-
sion. Mr. Pinchot and his dismissed
assistants of the forest service were
early on hand but Secretary Balnnger
was again absent.
Attorney Brandeis. representing Ga
Wis, presented to the committee ions
q 80 I,ea e-aTF
CLAWS took up his story where he leit
off Wednesday afternoon. giving his
testimony in response to questions from
his attorney
CLAWS said that United States At
torney Hoyt had suggested to him IN
1907 that he should take up the mat
ter of the Alaska coal lands direct
with Secretary of the Interior Gar
field.
well to go over the head of my i'm
mediate superfors," he added.
CLAWS said he did write to H H
Schwartz then a chief of the field di-
vision, saying he was worried ABOUT
the Alaskan situation and would like
to confde in him.
pained me- the letter ran, but am
sure you will want to learn the true
situation
what Alaskan claims did you refer
to IN thdt letler dSkeu Nep le9ci.o
tive Olmstead. "All of them" replied
the witness.
Some 900 in all?'
Yes
At this time Mr.. Ballinger was com
missioner of the land Office.
Takes Up Printed Document.
Attorney Brandeis next took up the
printed document in the case. which
consists of S07 pages, and spent some
time in calling the attention of the
committee to various letters. kilograms.
etc. tending to show CLAWS activity in
the Alaska cases. The attorney said he
also wanted to call attention to GER
tain letters which showed the part
Mr. BaIlinger played as commissioner
in directing the inquiry.
His purpose in this, he said, was to
indicate that President Taft and At
torney General Wickersham were mis-
taken when they reached the stated
conclusion that Mr- Ballinger's partici-
(Coutiuucd OF, rage Eighth