The Washington times., 1910-01-27
Ballinger Accused of Com
plete knowledge of Illegal
Alaskan Deals.
BRANDEIS PRESENTS
FULL ACCUSATIONS
Judge Decides Coal Tract Title.
Drawn by Secretary,
Illegal.

Secretary BaIlinger, Of the Interior
Department, is formally charged with
acting improperly in failing 10 thorough
II investigate certain Alaska coal land
claims with a view 10 their csuceIIa-
ticn because Of alleged fraud; that he
acted Improperly IN directly that the
Cunningham claims Be patented with
out giving Louis r. CLAWS an oppor-
t,nitv TO complete his INVESTIGATIONS and
that instead OF having only formal
knowledge OF the alleged Alaska coal
lanJ frauds ne had full and intimate
kncv-iedEc-
This. in brief. Is sJfmmary Of the
charges against the Secretary OF the
Interior presented 10 the Joint iHvesti-
eating committee Of Congress by Louis
Rrcndcis on behalf on Louis r CLAWS.
who was discharged from the Govern
mcuc service after he had presented
similar charges against Mt EaIungeT
TO President Taft
Brandeis Weighs Words.
IN presenting his case to The commit
tee 1Ir. Brandeis vas so extremely care
ful in the choice OF his language that
several members Of rhe con- mittee were
evidently impatient with his deliberate
manner. After he Rad made srecifC
charges OF wronEdOinE on the part
or Mr. BaIIinEer. Representative DENLY
IF Michigan sought 20 interpret A-r-
Brandeis- ,-harges as constituting i'm
proper acts and corruption
ct have not used the word 'corrup-
ton - said AIr- Rraudefs- NO charge
gf corruption ought to- be made The
question for this committee 10 decide
is whether she great trust Of the cOUn-
Try IS in safe hands The only charges
%
NJ b -andeis laiI great emphasis on
M Bai myers connection with the
Wilson coal land cases in which Nr
BallinEer acted as counsel. and. while
ne was addressing the committee. the
United States Court IN Washington
was handing down q decision I'm favor
or the Government The suit was the
direct result o. charges Of-fraUd made
by Claws al the outset OF his carnpsicn
against what he believed To be extensive
frauds in the Alaska coal lands
Although the original intention Of the
committee was 10 sit only ON Fridays
and Saturdays. the manner IN which
the hearing moved yesterday and the
great mass Of evidence which VIII be
introduced by the counsel Of the men
who are behind the charges against See
rotary BsIIiuEer probably VIII result in
holding daily hearings within short
time
The decision Of United States District
Judge @ H Hauford at Seattle sustain
ing the charge Of land fraud in securing
, title 10 1.C24 acres OF coal lands ~
.-eWls county, Wash Claimed ~
- 2 Richardson and other members Of
the z. 8 Wilson family, IS a most in
tereSrinS development in the EalliuEer-
PiuChOT investigation. and VIII have an
important bearing upo1 this inquiry
As vas stated .refO-e. 4 he iu7-eSri-
eating committee yesterday Secretary
BaliinEeT was AT one time attorney for
the defendants I'm this proceeding now
declared fraudulent by the United States
court II Is the same land CrauSa elton
that L r Claws was directed 70 in
EeSuEaTe IN connection with Special
the testimony before the committee yes
teTday that The deed and agreement 10
assign these lands before proper entry
had been made were drawn by r A
BalliuEer-
BallingeT's Na-ne Crossed.
Il vas also conferred before the CON-
uittee that, when -ffte-war6s. NTr. Bel
Iineer became Land Commissioner and
the deposition were taken IN Fae Gee
n his former clients for submission in
open court, 10y agreement Of the attCr-
neys IN the case the name Of Ar Bal
Lncer was stricken OFT and the words
counsel for. " wilson Inserted
N hen seen this morning Louis r
BraudeiS. attorney. for Claws. said thar
the decision Yesterday in Seattle was
rlCSt interesting and dramatic coin
CidenCe- This case, he saiG. had az
QeaTed in yesterdays record and the
committee had asked specifically i ir
had been reviewed by the United States
court Il IS Uroha BIZ. s. ~ 1Tr- E-aGdetS.
that al The very hour the committee
here was considering the case Judge
HanfOni was handing down rs decision
IN Seattle AR BraudeiS preferred nos
10 discuss probable effects OF the new
development, uTon the outcome Of the
inquiry