Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-20
Of tls Tirss !! Ballingsr-
Pinehot Investigation.
Nj. laHleT Asserts That CLAWS.
Is UniruihtuI.
Taking Of Evidence At an End The
BLACK Tent Episode.

Pinchoti investigation is likely to end
tomorrow-so far at least, as the TAX
ing of evidence is concerned.
The defence practically rested when
the days hearings ended and Attorney
Brandeis for the prosecution was quot
ed tonight as having said that his side
would consume but little time in the
examination of witnesses in rebuttal.
Attorney Vertrees, counsel for the
Rallinger defence" will call one or
two more witnesses tomorrow. but ex-
poets that contributions to be brief.
Both sides today appeared anxious
to wind up the investigation. of which
1t is no violation of confidence to say,
all parties have become we'll wearieo.
In furtherance of this desire, they
lave decided to dispense with num-
her CT witnesses they had expected to
call. 1t is probable that sthe depar-
ture of Senator Root, one Of the lead
ing Republican members of the COM
mittee, who left today for The Hague
Arbitration Tribunal, had a good deal
to do with the decision to bring the
hearings to a close.
The committee has not yet decided
whether counsel shall make their clos
ing arguments orally or by written
briefs. In either event, it is expected
that such arguments will be made VI
by Mr.. Vertrees for Ballinger Mr..
Brandeis for CLAWS and Mr.. Pepper
for Pinchot.
In contrast with the lively and at
times sensational interchanges of re-
cent sessions of the Investigating COM
I,r11
uninterestind. Mr.. Brendeis concluded
his REORGANIZATION of Oscar Lawler,
assistant attorney general for the in
terror department and author of the
COW famous tentative draft for the
President of letter discussing and
dismissing both Special Agent L. r.
CLAWS and his charges against Secre-
tary Ballinger. and there were no ext
plosions such as enlivened his early
testimony Commissioner Fred Dem
nett of the general land Office also FIN
ished his testimony. f. T. Perkins of
the Chicago Office of the reclamation
service. was the last witness of the
day.
What was regarded by the ''PrOsecu-
ton" as an important admission. was
obtained from Lawler. Brandeis was
endeavoring to show that Lawler en-
tertained an old grudge against CLAWS
which untitled him for the preparation
of judicial finding.
He was questioning Lawler along
that line when the latter unexpectedly
volunteered the allegation that CLAWS
demonstrated himself to be untruth-
full. This" he said, was three years
ago when CLAWS made complaint to
the land Office that Lawler was in
competent to conduct the governments
prosecution of certain land fraud cases
in Southern California"
Lawler was then United States at
torney for the southern district of Cal
ifornia and CLAWS was chief of the
field division at Oakland. LAWYER said
the charges were investigated by the
department of justice and were found
baseless. He went to trial with the
cases and obtained convictions.
An attempt by Brandeis to obtain the
production of all papers and documents
relating to this matter on file at the land
office. was blocked by the committee as
involving collateral investigation
Brandeis said he desired to show wheth-
er Secretary Ballinger knew Lawler en-
tertained such grievance against Gla-
Wis.
In cross-examination of bennett the
fact was brought out that the interior
department had employed two of its spe-
cial agents on detective work" in an
effort to connect forest service officials
with the preparation of Claws affidavit
and to trace the motives of other critics
of the department.
A conversation Perkins said he had in
Chicago on Oct. 20 last with F. II. New
ell. director of the reclamation service,
whom. it has been alleged. Secretary Bal
linger intended to supplant with r. II.
Thomson of Seattle. Wash. was the most
interesting feature of Perkins testimo-
ny. Perkins detailed IL as follows:
You should not try to vindicate Balm
ger in the black tent NATTER said New
Tell. II want to make Ballinger the
goat"
You can't do it, replied Perkins.
He's too big a man.
Never mind" replied Newell, Il am
going to do it anyhow" Perkins told
of attending, at the request of Clifford
Pinchot, a conference at the home of
Elk Secretary Garfield in West Mentor,
Ohio on July IS. He said that Pinchot.
Garfield and Thomas r. Ship, of the
conservation society were at the con-
ference, the purpose of which was to
insure the retention of Newell in office.
Perkins said he promised to work for
Newell and did so to the extent of in
ducing number of railroad officials
to write to Ballinger in Newelrs be-
half. Attorney Vertrees introduced a
number of letters and kilograms writ
ten by Ship and Garfield regarding a
trip Our friend" (who. Perkins said.
was Pinchot) was to make to Wash
ington to see Newell. The evident
purpose of the defence" was to show
by the testimony of Perkins and these
documents that conspiracy which the
defence charges exists against Bal
linger had it's beginning at the home
of Garfield and that Pinchot came to
Washington to try to induce Newell
and other subordinates of Ballinger to
participate in it.
Perkins contradicted much of the
testimony Of DR.. Newell and Chief En-
gineer Davis of the reclamation SER
vice, as to black tent lectures and
denied the charge made by Newell and
TN-,,s - -