The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-27
WASHINGTON NEWS
CONTINUED from Page One.l

against the Wilson claimants are
still pending. CLAWS claimed that
Ballinger's participation amounted
to a conspiracy in fraudulent claim
against the government.
CLAWS next turned to the Alaska
coal fields and described in detail the
location and extent of the Cunning
ham claims.
President Ballinger was not pres
ent when the hearing began.
After CLAWS had proceeded for
half an hour or more. going into the
details OF the Cunningham claims,
Representative DENLY, of Michigan,
him.
Attorney Speaks for CLAWS.
Representative James. of KEN
lucky, said he thought the witness
should be allowed to proceed in his
own way.
Representative Graham, of Illi-
nols, (DemocraD suggested that
Claws counsel should make the
statement. This course was finally
decided upon and Attorney Brandeis
arose to address the committee.
Mr.. Brandeis said that Claws at
tention was first called to the fraudu-
lent coal land claims when Galivs
was in Seattle as chief OF field di-
vision in 1907. Balllnger at that
time was commissioner OF the land
Office. CLAWS heard that a number
of prominent people in Seattle were
in the fraudulent claims
in Alaska. CLAWS met Special Agent
Jones. of the land Office, who was on
his way to Alaska to investigate the
Alaska claims.
When Jones after a preliminary
returned to Seattle in
August, 1907, he was directed TO re
port at once 10 Commissioner Bal
linger. who was in Seattle at the
time.
I'VE ciaim.r said Mr. Brandeis
THAT Commissioner Ballinger there
upon modified the orders which had
been given to Jones by Assistant Com
missioner bennett to make a full and
thorough investigation, making one
or two affidavits in each group. in
stead OF fully covering the matter
Mr.. Ballinger also stated that IL pat
ents could not be granted on the
lands as matters stood, relief would
be required of congress.
Jones had been sent TO Alaska be
cause Special Agent Love. of the de-
partment, who had jurisdiction. lived
in Alaska, and was more or less
closely identified with the claimants.
Love, however. aided Jones in the
work.
Ballinger Ignored Requests.
There were repeated conferences
In Seattle between Jones and Bal
lingr, and various directions were
given by Ballinger, both to Jones
and to Love. There was a full dis
cussion as to the rights. legality and
fraud of the Alaska claims"
Mr. Brandeis then went more
briefly into the CLAWS charges against
Ballinger as presented 10
President Taft. and acted upon by
the president. The speaker said that
by CLAWS and Jone~
in the Alaska case were not acted
upon by Commissioner Ballinger.
Claws sought an affidavit from n
man named Davis. The latter said
that he had talked the matter over
with Ballinger and had been told not
to make any statement; to wait until
charges had been fled by the gov
ernment After this, CLAWS came 10
Washington and argued with the
land Office as TO the danger of a scam
day in the Alaska cases. He was
then directed to proceed with a fun
Soon after ne left
Washington, however, ex-Gov. Miles
C. Moore came here to consult Mr..
Ballinger, to see whether the claims
could not be hurried to patent.
Senator Nelson charged the attor-
ney with Withholding the fact that
Moore was referred to the assistant
secretary OF the interior, as Ballin-
ger had had nothing to do with the
claims.
This having been the case, when
he ceased TO be commissioner he took
the position as counsel for some OF
these claimants"
Senator Sutherland, of Utah, inter-
rupted:
"You don't claim that Ballinger
acted corruptly as commissioner. but
that he made improper use OF the in
formation which he had obtained?"
THAT is not ALL" replied the at
torney. "The fact that he acted at
all with reference to the continuance
of the contest was not consistent
with the highest conduct as an Off
Ger OF the government"
"Then you claim he acted cor
ruptly. or improperly" asked Sena-
tor Sutherland.
"Yes-imprOperly; that he acted
without due regard to the interest of
the government while commissioner
Also that he acted improperly after
ward in taking employment from the