Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-02-16
DEPENDENTS ATTORNEY
QUESTIONS WITNESS
Of Misconduct Against
Commissioner Of Land Office Den
nett Are Taken Up by the Lawyer
Admits Affidavit He Made Might
Have Been Too Broad.
CBy Associated Press.l

WASHINGTON, ID. u. rep. To- hc
Balllnger- Pinchot inquiry dragged
YEARLY along through two sessions to-
day without any OF the striking Incl
dents or features that marked the IN
teresting sessions yesterday.
Louis r. CLAWS continued On the
stand under cross examination by
John J. yertres, attorney fer SecTe-
tary Ballinger.
Mr.. Veitres examined the witness
almost wholly upon the documentary
evidence.
,Subpoenaes were issued today far
number of witnesses who. Mr.. Vertres
announced. would give testimony as
TO the finding of twenty-four official
letters which had been missing In
boxes left ty Mr.. CLAWS in the grand
Jury room OF the federal building at
Seattle.
immediate Action Taken.
Mr.. Vertres devoted a large part
OF the day to bringing out the TACT
that when CLAWS protested against
the clear listing of the Cunningham
claims by telegram on January %.
1908 the order fer clear listing was
Immediately revoked without waiting
further explanation from CLAWS and
that this state of affairs has continued
down to the present time. The IN
quirv will continue tomorrow.
Mr. Vertres took up the witness
accusations of misconduct against
Fred bennett, commissioner of the
land Office CLAWS had declared that
after hearing II. II. Hartman, rne
of the claimants, make certain admis-
sions relative TO his claim, bennett
answered a telegram fFom CLAWS say
ing none of the claimants had made
admissions Mr. vertres brought out
the fact that CLAWS had been sent
m-re than a year after the admission
and that the witness knew of no other
admissions among the 900 claimants.
Yet. you condemn Mr. bennett as
an improper official from this?'
Makes Admission.
Not from that alone" replied the
witness.
CLAWS admitted that an affidavit he
made June %. 1863. as to certain
statements which a claimant. named
Mcdonald. had said he had made 20
bennett. may have been toe broad.
II it was the witness he was anx-
ious to correct it.
What else did bennett do?' asked
Mir. VcTtres.
We'll. he wrote those funny letters
from Seattle and Portland"
II " did you get copies Of those
Ietters?~
Special agent Spalding acted as
benefits stenographer and told me
about the letters and asked him TO
furnish me with COPIES"
You ordered him to do so dion
your"
Il was his Superior officer.
He refused and YOU ordered himZ'
He hesitated. He said the letters
were private But they were mailed
under a frank and thought IN L
made them official"
You USED that argument 70 Spaic-
ing. didn't yaG7"
4 don't know that ! c.d.T
His instructions.
Mr. VcrtTes to-k up with Mr. CLAWS
the character OF his Instructions as
to the investigation OF the Alaska
coal cases. Claws said O. was his pur-
pose 70 examine all the soc cT 900
cases before reporting on any
Nr. Fcrtrcs then read from the rec
ord. Mr. Baii.nZcr's original insiTuc-
tons {, Claws. which we're 10 Sic IN
diyiGaal and separate Terorts on them
from time 10 time 20 the end that
action might BE- taken without further
delay. The witness would not admit
that this meant that nc VAS 10 COM
rIcic his Investigation y. one group
b. fcrc going 10 another.
Mr. Verfrcs sor-hf 10 shog that u
wa Ciavis's action IN Lo' submitting
separate reports r.. m time 10 tine
which caused an The fr0Iile. Claws
said b. deemed his way ~ conducting
affairs fhc hcsf.
Under date q Jsauarr =. 1913.
vou tcicrTaphcd The commissioner ~
TIE land ,f6cc. esyiEg: Coal cnirics