New-York tribune., 1910-05-08
ALL THE "SNAKES' TO DIE
Mr.. BaIIinger Serves Notice on
DisIoyaI SubordlnateS.
HOT TiLTS WITH BRANDEiS
Gross Examination Takes Wide
Range and VIII Be Long-spe-
cial Agent Makes Scene,
r.rom Tie Tribune Bureau. ]

s. TFrom The Tribune Bureau.
Washington May When the Ball!c-
ser-Pinchot investigating committee closed
its session tonight. Louis D. Brandeis had
devoted another entire day TO cross exam
fning Secretary Bauinger without develop
ing ? single fact in support of the Claws
charges. and the attorney gave marked evil
dence of his disappointment and iiscour-
aeefnent The investigation seems now II
have settled down to an endurance test be-
tween The Secretary Of the Interior and the
attorney for Claws. At the present rate Of
progress il will be many days before the
cross-exam mination Of Air. Ballnger is I'm
siShed The committee is so anxious 10 eN-
pedne the proceedings that it has decided
10 meet four DAYS next week At tO-day$
hearing the clashes between Alr- Ballinger
and his inquisitor were frequent enough TO
keep the large audience entertained. AT
the forenoon session an unexpected inter
ruption by Horace T Jones. a special agent
OF the Land Office. who is cooperating with
Claws, furnished an interesting diversion
and resulted in a warning TO Jones that
any repetition would be punished as con-
tempt.
Mr.. Brandeis worked hard to-day and
covered wide range OF subjects. Many Of
contained allegations and insnuations which
made il necessary for Mr.. Ballinger first
10 repudiate the premises OF his inquisitor
before he explained the facts as he under
stood them Yelled -InsinuatiOns in some
of these questions aroused the ire Of Mr..
Ballinger, and he retOrted that apparently
Mr.. Brandeis did not want facts. When
members Of the committee showed annoy
ance at the method Of cross-examination
Senator Nelson suggested that ii was well
understood that Mr. Brandeis was not try
ing the case for the committee, but for the
press table. Senator Fletcher (DemocEat)
replied that the case was being tried for
the country as well as for Congress. which
leo q member of the committee 10 remark
that those reporting the proceedings should
be sNorn 10 tell the Truth.
Snakes" To Be Eeterminated
colloquy between Secretary BalIinger
and Mr. Brandeis al the afternoon session
is typical OF the method Of cross-examina-
ton which is being pursued. Mr. Ballinger
had several times referred 10 his lack Of
confidence in Jones and CLAWS. and MI
Brandeis suggested that Mr.. Ballinger had
control Of these agents
Yes" said the Secretary, and I have
found that the only way TO control some
when do you contemplate taking that
snake killing step?" asked Mr.. Brandeis
i want TO say right now that if l am to
continue as head Of the Interior Depart
ment they viii be killed, every one of
them II I am 10 administer the affairs
of that department il viii be with the loyal
support Of every man in II. / want 10 serve
notice TO that effect" Mr.. Ballinger replied
And Will you kindly make that notice
specific and enumerate just who is 10 be
killed.
They viii be enumerated in due time;
It wouldn help you now in what you are
trying 10 drag into this case"
Several members Of the committee pro
tested that this lire Of examination could
throw no possible light on the conservs-
tion question and that il was unfair and
improper TO ask Nj Ballinger what his
plans were regarding appointments or dis
rnisssls-
When Mr. BTandeis abandoned this field
he began interrogating Mr. Baninger re
garding the appointment of Special Agent
Love as United States marshal at Juneau
Alaska. Senator Flint suggested that il
was perfectly well known that Mr. Roose-
VelI had appointed LoYe because he had
known him as Rough Rider in the Span
tsh War. Nj BTandefs thought that Mr..
Ballineer ought not to discuss the state OF
mind Of Love toward the Alaska coal cases.
lie R-antod 10 knoW if g was not possible
that. while Mr. Love might be q good man
for marshal. he might be q poor special
agent Of the Land Office.
Mr.. Baiiinger replied that Of course this
was possible. but in the absence Of the
faets showing il 20 be true he did not think
IL could be assumed 20 be the case Mr.
Brandeis wanted 20 know what information
SIR. EaIlinger had which LED him 10 doubt
the ability of Jones.
The Secretary replied that he had come
into close personal contact with Jones and
had an opportunity 10 take his measure.
Besides others had told him things about
Jones. IN 1907 Special Agent Edward w
Dixon mad commented in derogatory way
on the knowledge and capacity of Jones
contradicts the Secretary
81 this remark Jones. who was sitting IN
the audience startled the committee by
arising and announcing IN d loud voice that
Dixon was his friend lie said he wanted
Dixon summoned as he did not believe he
ever said anything OF the kind about him.
At this there uproar, and when or
der had been restored Senator Root said
that he desired that Jones be admonfshed
thar ke would be punished for contempt If
he did not refrain from further interrupt
ing the proceedings. Senator Nelson told
Jones 10 take notice OF this admonition-
Several times in the hearing when Mr.
Brandeis wanted TO know il certain alleged
condolences Of dates and events we're not
Of such character as 10 put Mt Ballin,er
on guard as II the good faith OF the Gun
Tingfam coal claims. the Secretary. with
evident impatience, said that abnorrlaIIy
suspicious minds might regard th, in
stances as striking At point Re said:
Il. IS the constant magnifying of these
saspicions by such conspiracies as that
with which ] am confronted here to-day
which makes the officials OF the General
Land Office backward, often 10 the grave
snfustice and injury OF the honest settler
who IS earnestly seeking 10 perfect his title.