The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-02-02
HOW GARFIELD :
QUIT CABINET
Clavis Recounts Statement That
He Was Antagonistic to
Alaska Claims.
NOT REFLECTION ON
TAFT, SAYS WITNESS
lore Evidence Against Secretary
Ballinger Produced by Former
Special Agent at Congressional
Hearing.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 81
when the Ballinger-Pinchot investi.
eating committee adjourned late to-
day until Friday Louis r. CLAWS was
stfll on the stand. He will be further
questioned at that time concerning
various documents, which the differ
ent departments have been asked to
produce.
CLAWS was cross-examined today by
several members of the committee,
the Democrats taking by far the more
prominent part in questioning, franz
ing their interrogations in a way that
elected answers tending to accentu-
ats certain parts of testimony already
given by the witness.
Says Investigation "Fccble."
At the close Of the hearing Senator
Nelson called attention to the fact
that the committee was proceeding
-feebly" and b.indly, as there was no
enc present to cross examine as rep
rssentatives Of the "other side"
Personally, he said, ne had no de-
sire to question the witness further.
II was thought best, however, that
Claws remain in the city until GER
tain documents called for by the in
terror department have arrived and
been examined.
Senator Root moved these docu-
ments be printed before being con-
sddered. Attorney Brandeis, repre-
senting CLAWS and others, said many
q the documents he had asked for
might prove irrelevant.
Senator Root remarked SO far as
he could see there was nothing irrele-
want to this inquiry. Cross examined
by Fletcher. CLAWS said Ballinger,
while commissioner Of the general
land office. had appeared before COM
mittees of congress and by his testi-
mouy had favored a bill that would
validate all of the Alaska coal claims.
Cunningham and Ballinger.
He also said an affidavit filed Sept.
I, 1908, by Clarence Cunningham had
Arm with which Ballinger was con-
nected.
CLAWS said when Bullinger asked
him not to proceed with his investiga-
ton of coal claims until after cleo
ton because of slowness of campaign
contributions, no one was present to
overhear the conversation.
The name Of Donald A. Mackenzie
was brought into the inquiry when
CLAWS testified that Mackenzie mad
told him that the reason James r.
Garfield was not retained in Tafts
cabinet as secretary Of interior was
because of his antagonism to Alaskan
coal claimants.
CLAWS said he made affidavit con-
tanning this interview, but denied
when questioned by Senator Root
that he regarded it as reflec-
ton upon Taft or that he intended to
use 1t and he thought also the
AFFIDAVIT would interest Garfield.
He was asked what he had done
with the affidavit and he said he left
one copy in the land office at Seattle
ami sent the other to the forestry bu-
reau-
Pinchot Was Present.
Clifford Pinchot was present at to.
days session with a large bag filled
with papers 1t is expected he will
follow CLAWS on the witness stand
next Friday or Saturday.
Senator Paynter of Kentucky re-
signed from the committee today and
d.d not attend the session. Illness was
given as the cause for his action. APP
potntment Of his successor has beer
er Of the upper house, and he has
offered the place to more than halt
. dozen senators today without be-
ing able to induce any of them to ac-
eept It.