Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-27
First Session of BaIIinger- Pin
ohot Inquiry Devoted to State
ment of Case in Behalf of
Prosecution,
COMMITTEE OUT TO GEy
FACTS IN CONTROVERSY
Secretary's Chief Accuser and
His Lawyer Enthusiastic Over
Opportunity 10 Make Their
Charges Before Official Body,
Iny MornIng Ianrna. sas.Inl Isassa wIssl

my Morning Jaurna; snssiai leased wiseI
Washington Ian. 25. the Bal
linger-pinchot congressional inquiry
began It's puhlie sessions today with
Louis T. CLAWS, the chief accuseT Of
Secretary naliinger on the witness
stand.
As a result Of many Interruptions
ana the final decision OF the commit
Tee 80 insist that CLAWS counsel make
an upcn statement Of the specific
chnrgoe against Mr. Isallinger tho
witness did not gel very far along on
his narrative There WAS opportunity
70 draw some conclusions as TO the
preliminary line-up of the committee.
IN his enthusiasm over the actual
beginning of the inquiry and as the
result OF t tendency to argue his View
Of the testimony 10 be adduced, the
special counsel for Gmyis Louis b.
Bnndcis, Of Boston. had some diff
oply in reducing his statement ia a
brief recital of tie charges but Finally
he summed al the ease for the pros
ecution" IN this way
That prior ~ entering the govern
menl service in amy capacity, Il a.
llallinger acted as attorney IN drawing
al an agreement ia escrow and deeds
W the Wilson Coal eonipauy cases In
Lewis county. Wash, these cases be-
Ing gn alleged fraud upon the land
mws Mr. Ballingers name did not
appear IN the court records OF the
case
That Mr. Ballinger. as commits
sioner of the land office IN 1907. did
not show due diligence IN inyestigat-
Ing The alleged frauds connected with
the Cunningham coal land claims in
Alaska that he had knowledge OF all
the circumstances surrounding these
claims and Ia spite of this entered the
employ of one of the claimants after
leaving Tho land office and after be-
coming secretary Of the interior that
he ordered these claims to be clear
listed" for patent without investiga-
tion and that they would have gone
% patent n CLAWS and 0ihors had not
interviewed
Z" il Is MOI any one, but a series Of
acts and circumstances, declared Mr.
Brandeis, adding that il was for the
committee 20 determine whether the
lands that should be held for the
benefit of the people and Of posterity
are in safe hands
senators Nelson. Root AND Suther-
mud ana Representatives Olmstead
and Madison were the more active Of
the committeeman in plying the Wit
ness and his attorney with questions
and many times they referred to Sec
rotary Balllnger's denials and sought
explanation OF what they considered
discrepancies in statements.
The democratic members were not
much in evidence Representative
James asked only q question OF two
and Ia each Instance TO clarity some
point nt issue
Tho inquiry VIII be resumed Friday
morning and hereafter there VIII be
morning and afternoon slthngs every
Friday and saturday.
with senator Nelson IN the chair
and Mr CLAWS on the witness stand
the inquiry began in earnest at 2s31
ghis afternoon.
Claws Was sworn ana Senator Ncl-
son asked d few preliminary ques-
lions
What il anything do you claim TO
have seen amiss in the administration
of the public laudse asked senator
Nelson
CLAWS said he could not answer tire
question briefly
Go ahead and ten it al in your
own way, directed the senator
CLAWS commenced 10y going back To-
the thac SIS hen he began work as Il
field assent Of the land office on the
81 ilson Cesi company cases IN Lewis
count Wash in 1891 and 1902. Bal
ing,r d, uid was attorney for tho
~ ison company
CLAWS said ic referred 20 these
asss as ioad.ng llp To the Alaska
'laimE which formed the principal
.ubieci So the inquiry
CLAWS declared that Ballinger's
iame did not appear in the court
records uf the Washington coal claims
and that he did not appear in court
any time The witness said Mr..
3ailinger however. drew up an
-scrow agreement and prepared tho
leeds FOR the claimants in the Wilson
asses
BaHinger had no government con-
lection az the time CLAWS charged
hat when the escrow agreement in
ne Wilson case was drawn up by
3aflnger II was an unlawful proceed
ng end the ontrymen had no right at
be- time to enter into this agreement
(coutlucd on page 3. column -.