The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-02-19
SAYS bennett
IS NOT LOYAL
TO HIS TRUST
CLAWS Reiterates. His Charges
Against Ballinger and His
Subordinate
CRoss-ExAM|MAI|0M Of STAR
WITNESS ENDED YESTERDAY
Counsel Vertrecs Sprang Surprise at
Opening Of Session This Morning
Announced That He Would Not Fur.
tler Cross Examine CLAWS.

Washington, Feb. 19.-The cross
examination of Louis R. CLAWS was
Unexpectedly announced as finished
when the Ballinger-Pinchot investi-
cation committee met today and H..
n. Hoyt, attorney general for Porto
Rico. was called to the stand. MIR.
Hoyts atstimony corroborated that
given by CLAWS as to taking the Alas
ka coal cases up with Attorney. Cen
eral Wickersham and had to do also
with the stipulation, omitting the
name of r. A. Ballinger as attorney
from the Wilson coal land cases. Mr..
Hoyt said it was OIL his own suggcs-
ton that the stipulation, was made,
but that as a matter of fact Mr.. Bal
lfnger's name does appear in the rec
many times.
when adjournment was taken until
p. M. it was expected that Clifford
Pinchot would take the stand late this
afternoon but he could not be found
during the luncheon adjournment and
his testimony will not be taken today.
Mr.. Vertrees Introduces documen-
tary evidence containing the denials
by the interested parties that there
ever was an escow agreement in the
Wilson cases. CLAWS has charged
that MIR. Ballingers action in drawing
up this alleged agreement was a
criminal act, but that the statute of
limitations prevented action OF it. Mr.
Hoyt said the only evidence as to the
existence of this agreement was an
Informal statement made by Watson
Allen. which was taken down by a
stenographer who could not after
wards read her notes correctly. To
clear up all these subjects. the COM
mittee has sent to Seattle for the en-
tire court records in the Wilson coal
cases.
With yesterdays session CLAWS has
been under cross-eXamination for one
week. Despite all the questions
hurled at him, Mr.. CLAWS repeatedly
reiterated his charges against Secre-
tary Ballinger and says: THE facts
still convince me that he is not fit to
hold his Office The witness declared
also that Mr.. bennett, commissioner
of the land Office, lis not loyal to his
trust"
At the afternoon session Yesterday
MIR. Vertrees called attention to the
fact that in his original testimony,
Mr.. CLAWS expressed surprise that
Special Agent Sheridan, who sue
ceeded him in charge of the Alaska
cases, should have reached the same
conclusion he had.
why were you surprised?" de-
manded Mr.. Vertrees.
well, he had letter of instruc-
tions, and L think they expected a
different report; otherwise they wou.i
hoN H.,
WHO do. you mean by they?"
Whoever wrote the 'etter-AIr.
Schwartz
Mr.. Vertrees then read the letter
into the evidence.
During all the t;",n You are in
the service and in charge of the Alas
ka cases did not you feel that YOU
had the confidence of your superiors
and did they not SO express them
selves to you in communications from
time to time?" asked Mr.. Vertrees.
"Yes, SIR"
A cross examination of the wit
ness as to his meeting with Clifford
Pinchot at Spokane. WASH, in August
of last year, then was begun. CLAWS
said he told his story to Mr.. Pinchot
and that the latter called in Cover
nor Pardee of California.
What was there to be ga:" ID in
presenting the case to MIR. Pinchut?
The forestry had already interviewed
and your requests had already been
granted?"
Il thought that in view of AL the
facts and the difficulty had ii in
getting a postponement of the case,
that in view of the lette"s written by
bennett and his action throughout the
proceedings that it would be only a
little whi'a ">.'' these cases were
brought up again to be decided before
Mr.. bennett or Mr.. Ballinger. and 1
did not think they wo"- fit people to
render decision"
Chairman Nelson-"Did YOU think
the forestry could act in these c:-cs?'
mo, sir"
What were your reasons for go
ing?"
II did not think the heads of the
interior department and 'nri o:".::ce
were men who could be depended
upon to protect the governments in
terests."
Senator Root-"You believed the
remedy was removal from office of
these two men and you wanted s.r.
Pinchot to help you in that?"
ut was not quite that" said CLAWS.
II didn't know exactly what to do
wanted to get some advice"
Had YOU ever gone to him be-
fore?" asked Mr.. Vertrees.
NO"
when you sought to get the for
estry to intervene in these cases and
before going to see Mr.. Pinchot,
hadn't you written a letter to Assist
ant Law Officer Shaw of the forest
service. in which you said: Another
point involved to which your attcn-