The Washington herald., 1910-04-29

secretary or the Interior Richard A
BalISager win take the stand to-day be
fore the Congressional investigation com
mittee
Mr.. Ballinger appeared late yesterday
afternoon for the first time since the
| investigation began. Attendance at the
hearings has been falling Of lately. but
It is expected that standing room will be
at a premium to-day
Root Feels Relieved.
Attorney Vertrees informed the com
mittee that The defense expected 20 con-
clude the presentation Of direct testimony
by the last of next week
Does that allow for cross-eXamIna-
tom asked Senator Root, with a tone
Of relief in his voice.
For reasonable. orderly cross-exam-
ination. yes. replied Mr.. Vertrees. "Of
course. cross-eNamination can be pre-
longed indefinitely"
George Otis Smith was on the stand
all day to-day. his testimony continuing
! 20 be a strong defense of Secretary Bal
iinger. lie declared repeatedly that. in
his opinion former Secretary CARRIED
and former Forester Pinchot both made
many mistakes. He did not question
their motives. but he and Mr. Pinchot
in particular, differed on one fundamental
principle
Mr. Pinchot believed that the end JUS
titled the means and do not and cannot
agree TO that said Mr.. smith
Wants Wickershnm's Proofs.
At an executive session the committee
by strictly party vote. denied the re-
quest Of L, u. Brandeis. attorney for L.
r. CLAWS. that Attorney General Wick
ersham be called upon to establish den-
nitely the date Of the preparation OF his
report 10 President Taft This report
bears the date Of September II. 1909. two
/ days prior 90 the date Of President Taft's
( letter generating Secretary BaIlnger.
and Mr.. Brandeis has charged that. as a
matter of fact il was not completed until
more than two months after that date.
! Mr.. Brandeis had asked that the com
mittee request Mr. Wickersham Tor the
! original draft and all documents used in
preparing it, particularly messages from
! officials of the Interior Department. a list
/ Of all who assisted in the preparation OF
/ the report, and a statement Of the report
and statement as 70 what part each of
them took In the preparation Of the re-
port.
Madison Breaks Line
senators Nelson. Flint. Sutherland and
Root and Representatives Mccall and
Olmsted, all Republicans. voted to deny
Mr.. Brandeis' request Senator Fletcher
and Representatives Graham and James.
] Democrats, voted 20 grant il. Later Sena-
tor Purcell Democrat. and Representative
DENLY, Republican. placed themselves on
record as voting for and against granting
the request.
! The party alignment was broken al
| noon, however when Representative
Madison. Republican, reached the COM
mittee room. He read Mr.. Brandeis' let
ter, end then had his vote recorded as
| favoring the granting Of the request. Mr..
Madison is an insurgent and was put
on the investigating committee as a re-
suit Of the successful fight Of the insur-
! gents and their Democratic allies TO take
from Speaker Cannon the power Of Sc
lecting the House members Of the com
mittee.
Decision Brings Surprise.
| When Chairman Nelson announced the
decision at the opening of the hearing
Mr.. Brandeis protested that he should
have been accorded a hearing. but Chair
man Nelson announced brusquely that
the matter had been disposed Of Mr.
Brandeis then stated that he would make
a further request for call for docu-
/ mentary evidence.
As yet no denial has been made Of Mr..
Brandeis' charge that the Wickersham
report was pre-dated. and the action OF
the committee barring the investigation
occaSioned general surprise II Is the
! first request for evidence of such ckar-
acter that the committee has rejected.