The Sentinel=record., 1910-01-18
PRIVATE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS AMONG CHARGES BY REPRE-.
 SENTATIVE HITCHCOCK.
Alleged That He Mlsused hiis Office to Give Money to Relative and Pay His Personal
 Expenses.

Washington, Jan 17..-Charges against Secretary of the Interior Bai- finger and other officials alleging i'm proper use of public funds to pay pri- Sate travelling expenses of nepnew of the secretary, were made in state ment filed today by Representative Hitchcock (Dem.) of Nebraska with the house committee of expenditures in the interior department.
 The statement was presented by MT. Hitchcock at meeting of the committee called to permit hinl to substantiate his charges of extrava. gance in the interior department.
 The lcommittee decided to issue Isubpoenaes on Secretary Ba!linger, Commissioner Dennett of tae general land office and all others interested in the charge. to appear IS witnesses before the committee next Wedncs. day morning,
 The statement alleges Improper uses of the million dollar appropria- tion for the protection of the public domain against frauds "by the pur- chase Of expensive furniture amount into tens of thousands of dollars the erection of certain large brick chlm- ney for land office at considerable expense the employment of some additional clerks" salaries increased. and in one case at least doubled. out Of this million dollar fund letting ths cast of Chief of the Fieli Service Schwarz as this instance), long tele. graph bills. which cover long ex tracts from the newspapers. sent in by travelling representatives of the general land office. selection of spe. cial agents not at all qualified, etc.
 The statement asserts that when Mir. Ballinger became commissioner of the general Ian dcffice the position he held before entering the cabinet, he reduced the salary of Law Clerk Wright so that Wright's s2.000 salary 'could be given to Jack Ballinger, his nephew" not under the title of law clerk. but under the title created by Mir. Ballinger's order of confidential clerk.
 T have been told Wright died of disappointment and humiliation soon thereafter"
 Jack Ballinger remained a year in the service, the statement says. his manner of living about the time his uncle resigned in March, 1908, being alleged to illustrate the reckless ex- penditures of the land office"
 Tt was announced" the statement goes on to say, that young Jack Bal. finger was leaving the land office to resume his practice of law in Seattle. in order that he might receive a final rake-off, he was designated as special temporary inspector of offices, an evt dent outrage on the treasury. This en- abled him to draw travelling expenses from Washington to Seattle and per diem also Within two weeks after he reached Seattle, he resigned"
 'astead of requiring the investiga. tion to be concluded during the pres ent session of congress 1t is provided that n report may be made to the present congress, which will make 1t possible for the hearing to continue turing the summer and the report to be delayed as late as March next year.
 Tn addition to authority conferred upon the courts 10 punish for con tempt any witnesses who may decline to answer questions or who default in any manner 1t is provided that when q witness is declared in contempt he shall be deemed guilty of mhsdemenn' or
 Upon conviction the punishment would be a fine not to exceed $1,c0O