The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-02-19
CLAWS UNDER FIRE
Holds His Own With Bal
fingers Lawyer.
PR0BtRS GETS TO MRANGlIN6
Attorneys and Committee Get Into
Argument Over CLAWS Answers
and the Investigation Be-
comes Tiresome.
PR0BtRS GETS TO MRANGlIN6

Washington. Feb lT.-Members OF
the Ballinger-PinchOt investigate ting
committee got 20 wrangling Louis r.
CLAWS. who was being cross-examined
by J. J. Nertrees counsel for Secretary
Ralinger. had answered at consider
able length a question about the man
ner In which he was relieved OF the
coal Investigation. Mr. Nertrees de.
clared that his question had not been
answered. Mr BrSindels. counsel for
CLAWS. insisted that II had.
Read the question and the an.
swer. said Mr.. Braindeis TO the stem
ographer.
1t is unnecessary" replied Mr.
Root. shortly
4 would like TO have the question
and answer read. reiterated Mr..
Braindeis. with considerable heat.
Il object" replied Mr. Root
Il submit" remarked Representa-
tive James. that counsel has a right
10 have questions and answers repeat
ed. and ! make a motion that they be
read by the stenographer.'
Il second the motion" said Mr. Ora.
ham.
Chairman Nelson put the milton and
only James and Graham voted for Il.
Only a short time previously there
had been a tilt between Mr.. Graham
and Mr.. Nertrees. due again to a de-
claration by CLAWS that he did not
wish Mr.. Nortrees to interrupt him.
Too Much Lecturinq.
g..
witness and too much fault finding. 90
said Mr.. Graham. coming to the res
cue Of CLAWS
Il am not aware OF that fact " r.
piled Chairman Nelson.
Well believe there is" persisted
Mr. Graham.
Il sm sorry TO differ with YOU. re-
turned tho chairman.
Mt Nertrees then announced with
considerable feeling that ne was or
Titled 90 an answer To his questions
and that II was unfair Tor CLAWS to
lug in arguments 10 anticipate what
wish 20 bring out"
Senator Fletcher Joined the irritable
members Of the committee by lee.
turing Mr.. Vertrecs Tor spending hall
an hour questioning CLAWS about the
dates OF letters and kilograms which
were already in the record.
CLAWS Displays cievsrness.
CLAWS once more displayed MS cIev.
erness as a witness when Mr. Vertrees
endeavored ca show that the witness
was dilatory IN resuming his fuvcstf
cation OF the Alaska coal cases after
he had been ordered 10 suspend II
because the department appropriation
was runn.ne low Mr Vertrees spont
nearly half an hour on this point AMI
quoted a letter from COMMISSIONS
Dennett. written on May 2S. 1905 in
forming CLAWS that new apprupria
ton was available and instructing him
10 push the work Mr. Vertrees IN
sisted that this vas virtually blan
ket order and embraced the Alaska
coal cases. but finally CLAWS called nj.
tention 20 a letter written bv n II
Schwartz TO Commissioner bennett on
Sept. % Of the same year. expressing
his belief that the Cunningham claims
We're fraudulent and asking that Ola.
Wis be allowed 10 resume his invcsti.
cation OF them
When adjournment was taken until
Friday. CLAWS was being questioned
about 1hent r>s'asin. the rules OF the
derss- lie declared thato coal land
case changes made would ding alone
'h-'oIh A'-~.sa>--9nRng. butnot snpe,-
,rmed that the senator IRON - -
s-.st-@se ~rY,.- ions | 1 J
connection with the manner IN whicul
the general land Office handled the
coal land cases during long period
the changes We're particularly siguif
cant He declined TO state. however.
that the changes involved wrongdoinr
on the part OF any ono IN the land
once.