Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06
PINCHOT'S ORDEAL An AN END
Vertrees Becomes Sarcastic as to For
mer Forestef's differences.
LONG ARGUMENTS WITH WITNESS
Attorney Suggests Misstatements By
witness Are "simpIe Mistakes,"
Those by BaninEer Are
swtllfuI Deceptions."

WASHINGTON, March 6.--Gifford Pin
chot concluded his testimony before the
congressional committee Of inquiry today
by stating anew thai he had practically
no personal knowledge Of the matters to
which he had testified. He proceeded, how
ever, to sum up once more the 'inferences'
he wished the COMMITTEES to draw from the
documents already in evidence and from
the statements Of Witnesses yet to be
heard Mr.. Pinchot had been in the stand
four days.
The cross and redirect Examination Of
the witness we're brought to a close only
after members Of the committee had re-
peatedly cautioned counsel On both sides
against dilatory methods.
Attorney Vertrees made the point today
in his cross-examinRtion OF Mr.. Pinchot
that possible misststemsnts made by Mr..
Ballinger, upon the authority Of others
than himself, constituted a "willful decep-
ton OF the president" while admitted
misstatements by Mr.. Pinohot to the presi-
dent were referred to only as simple mis-
takes"
The entire morning session was taken
up with differences and conclusions on
the documentary evidence already In the
record.
This plainly irritated the members OF the
committee, who declared they were per-
fectly capable OF forming their own con-
illusions.
James r. Garfield, former secretary Of
the interior, took the stand after the noon
recess.
subpoenas have been Issued at the re-
quest Of Mr.. B~allinger's counsel for United
States Attorney Elmer u. Todd and special
Agent q. A. Parks, both Of Seattle.
Mr.. Vertrees has announced that he ex-
poets to prove by Mr.. Todd that Special
Agent Jones testimony as to why crlmi-
nal proceedings against the Cunningham
claimants were not instituted. was false.
Parks will testify concerning CLAWS box in
which twenty-four missing letters are sup
posed to have been found.
Lawyer and witness Clash .
When Mr.. Pinchot had taken the stand
Senator Nelson, recalling the dreary SEES
sion OF yesterday afternoon, suggested to
counsel to avoid going over the same
ground more than once.
Mr.. Pinchot has charged that Mr.. Bal
linger appeared before q committee OF
congress in the interest OF ~fraudulant
claimants. Mr.. Vertrees sought to show
that his appearance had to do only with the
new coal land law, the necessity Of a new
law having been urged by President
Roosevelt and Secretary Garfield.
Mr.. Pinchot said that in his testimony
before the congressional committee Mr..
BalliDger urged an amendment which would
have let the Cunningham claims go to
patent at SO an acre, whereas all future
claimants would be assessed mot less than
SO an acre"
1t was shown. however. that the Cum
ninBham claims we're the only ones that
had gone to final entry IL ALASKA. Asked
If congress could lesislAta against entries
already mRde In good faith. Mr.. Pinchot
said that was a. question for legal au-
thority. .
The witness and counsel soon began to
clash again In the manner which delayed
proceedings yesterday. Mr.. vertrees read
to the witness a part Of a message by
President Roosevelt Mr.. Pinchot listened
earnestly and then snapped back:
DO you read in that message any in
situation that Mr.. Roosevelt favored the
patentipg Of claims not made in good
faithG'
Attorney. Vertrees-I am l~nslnuating moth
ing, Mr.. Roosevelt.
Mr.. P~inohot-That is not, my name.
Mr.. Vertrses-Weu. didn't Mr.. Roosevelt
say. what 1 Just read to your
Mr.. lPinchot-Of course he did.
Senator Nelson grew impatient and de-
clared the meaning and intent Of messages
and everything else could be determined by
the committee. Mr.. Pepper protested that
Mr.. Vertrees' cross-examination was made
up almost wholly OF argumentatfve oues-
tons which called for argumentative
answers.
"oh, go on sighed the chairman YEARLY.
Mr.. Vertrees defended his course by de-
elaring that as Mr.. PinchOt's charges were
all inferred" he was put to the necessity
OF trying to follow in the pathway Of his
differences"
Mr.. Pinchot finally, by dlnt of much
questioning, was brought to the admission
that Mr.. Ballinger's statement to the pres
ident was In effect that, according to
Schwartz's answer. the record shows"
ETC., and that It was not an original state
ment by the secretary. Mr.. Ballinger had
to rely upon the statements of His subordi-
mates, Mr.. Vertrees argued with the wit
ness, just as the witness a relied wholly
upon the statements Of others in his