The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-04-30

Washington, April 30.-Secretary
Ballinger asserted under oath and
vehemently to the Ballinger-P inchot
Investigating committee that he would
take the same action today that he
did as commissioner of the land office
in ordering the Cunningham Alaskan
coal claims clear listed" provided he
had the same record before him.
cts willful, deliberate lie," he
snapped, when Mr.. Vertrees asked as
to the truth of CLAWS statement to
the committee that he had discussed
Cunningham's claims with Ballinger
In December, 1907. He spoke with
assurance and related several in
stances in which former President
Roosevelt had indicated confidence in
him. .-<
Mr.. Ballinger, in beginning his tes-
timony, recounted the story of his ca
reer up to the time he became COM
missioner general Of the land Office
on the earnest solicitation of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, Secretary Garfield
and Senator Piles. He referred to the
anti-vice crusade he led while mayor
Of Seattle.
"They knew 1 would enforce the
law, and did," he stated emphatically.
Mr.. vBallinger read kilograms he had
received from Mr.. Garfield and Mr..
Roosevelt after he had replied mega
lively to suggestion of Senator Piles
that he accept the post of commission
er of the land Office. Reading from
the Roosevelt telegram he said: 1T
is your duty to: help me. You and
Garfield will lift an immense burden
from my shoulders"
Not Intimate With Garfield.
1t was then, Mr. Ballinger said, that
he decided to accept the post and Mr..
Vertrees asked the witness whether
his relations with Mr.. Garfield then
were friendly. Friendly, but never
intimate. I knew Mr.. Garfield in COL
lege." -.~-.l 49,.
Mr.. Vertrees. asked Mr.. Ballinger
whether he knew any Of the Cunning
ham Alaskan claimants at the time
he became commissioner. He said he
was not aware be knew any of them
at that time, but had since discovered
that he knew about six of them,
whom he named.
did you have any interest in Alas.
kan lands?" asked Mr.. Vertrees.
II had no interest in Alaskan or any
other lands whatever, either directly
or Indirectly" retorted Mr.. Ballinger
emphatically. 49,.
what professional relations did you
or your law firm have at that time
with Alaska ?" ...-
II don't recall that we represented
any, with the possible exception of
Watson Allen, lumberman, who had
some interest in Nome, in placer gold
diggings." ..-.....
Mr.. ,Ballinger then told of having
come to Washington and of an inter-
view he had had at the White House
with President Roosevelt soon after
arrival. Raising his voice Mr.. Balm.
ger said: .,r.~.a.-. .-.s
The president said. to me as he
greeted me, I have no apologies to
make, Ballinger. I'm glad you are
here. Any man who could clean up
Seattle as you did can clean up that
land eff1ce.'" .
Describes the Cleaning Up. F.
Mr.. Ba1]inger described how he
Cleaned up" the land Office, repeating
in detail the many changes he had
made and the innovations he had in
troduced. Mr.. Ballinger said he first
met L. R. CLAWS in San Francisco in
the summer of 1907. At that time moth.
ing had been said about coal lands,
but CLAWS had asked him to secure
his transfer to Portland when he re.
turned to Washington.
Explaining why he had put H. K.
Love in charge of the Alaskan coal
cases instead of H. T. Jones, another
special agent, Mr.. Ballinger said he
lacked confidence in Jones. J=.E
Attorney Vertrees asked Mr.. Balm
ger about conference he had with
CLAWS in December, 1907. He referred
Ballinger to CLAWS testimony before
the committee that they had talked
about several specific groups of Alaska
coal claims.
That's winful and deliberate lie,"
exclaimed Mr.. Ballinger. He said they
had discussed the situation in general,
but that he knew nothing about any
groups.
Mr.. vertrees called the witness at
tention to the matter Of the "clear
listing" of the Cunningham entries by
his order as commissioner in January,
1908.
Mr.. Ballinger said he and Chief Of
Field Division Schwartz had gone over
the report on the claims of H. X. Love,
made Aug. 2, 1907, and had decided
that the claims were entitled to patent,
there being no protest in the record.
BRITISH BUDGET NOW A LAW
49,