Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-19
THEY KILL WORKMEN|SUGGESTS A GRUDGE
Charge Against Steel Plant Brandeis Asks LawIer About
Hospitals by Labor. Claws Complaint.
CONGRESS ASKED TO PROBE MATTER THREE YEARS OLD
of Ohio Cross Examination
Factory Cited. torney General Ends.
PUBLIC HEALTH BILL HEARING REQUEST PAPERS DENIED
Balnger
tive ment Committee Bran
House deis-Dennett Recalled.
BrandeiS Asks laWler About
CLAWS Complaint.
MATTER THREE YEARS OLD
Cross Examination of Assistant A.
torney General Ends.
REQUEST FOR PAPERS DENIED
Ballinger Pinchot- Investigating
Committee Rules Against Bran
deis-Dennett Recalled.

Assistant Attorney General Oscar Law
Ter continued under cross-examination by
Attorney Brandeis, counsel for l.. X.
Claws. at the Ballinger- -Pinchot investi-
cation today. Mr.. Lawler already had
tod the committee thai he prepared. un
assisted, the memorandum which Presl-
dent Taft had before him when he wrote
his letter exonerating Secretary Ballnger
and dismissing l.. r. CLAWS, thus contra
dieting the testimony OF Stenographsr
Frederick NJ. Kerby to the effect that
officials OF Mr. Balinsers Office helped
to prepare II.
1t was expected when today's hearings
began that the entire day would be oc-
cupied on the subject of the LAWYER men,
orandum. Stenographer Massey, who
helped to typewrite the document, PROB
ably will be caIIed to relate the circum-
stances under which the matter was pre-
pared.
Counsel for both sides hope to have all
the testimony oelore the committee BY
next Saturday night, in which case argu-
ment would begin next week.
Anticipating another interesting session.
large crowd besleged the doors OF the
hearing room in the Senate office build
ing today, but owing to the limited Ca
pacity of the chamber many persons were
disappointed.
Ruling on Perkins Letters.
The committee held an executive ses-
sion before the public hearing opened.
When the open hearing began, Chair
man Nelson instructed the clerk to read
letter from Secretary Ballinger. in
which the latter stated that In response
to the verbal request of the committee
his assistant, Mr.. Finney. had gone
through his personal and confidential flle
index in an effort to locate any letters
not already made pu0lic between him
self and George w. Perkins of j. +. Nor
gan and Company. Mr. Ballinger wrote
tnat Mr.. Finney had found nine letters
between himself and Perkins regal ding
the naming Of two glaciers and fiord
which Perkins thought he had discovered
while on a trip to Alaska last summer
Mr.. BAllinger wrote that no other letter
mad been fotfld. -
Chairman Nelson announced that the
conimittee had decided tnat the letters
were not of such importance as to way-
rant their beng made public.
Mr.. Brandeis inquired the date OF the
letters and was informed that the frst
from Perkins was. dated December ~,
1919. and the others were written sub
seque ntiy.
Brandeis Explains Object.
Senator Suth N.and protested that Mr.
Brandeis was consuming time on an un-
important matter. but the attorney ex-
planned that his purpose was TO locate
two other letters from Perkins to Balm
ger. one dated June ~, 1863. and the
other written some time In September
last. The first letter, ne said. was one
IN response to which Ballinger wrote one
ON the following day. expressing regret
that his son. edward, would De unable
to accompany Perkins on his trip 10
Alaska.
air Brandeis said he had reason to be-
lieve there was another written by Per-
nins to balhnger. In Septenotr, but he
diu not indicate Its natuae..
Mr. Finney promised to make further
search of the files In an effort to locate
the two letters.
Questioning of Lawler Resumed.
The cross-examination of Lawler then
was resumed.
Mr. Brandeis asked the witness why In
his letter responding to bis BrandeisD
last request to the Interior Department
for a copy Of the Lawler memorandum he
had not stated that he had delivered the
original or a copy to the Presidents Sec
retary. In his letter MIR. Lawler said he
had delivered the memorandum to the
Attorney General and had retained NO
copy.
Il didn't think it material"
Mr. Brandes asked the witness IL he
thought he had been frank in his answer.
Mr.. Lawler said his confidential relations
with the President had been considered
py him.
why did you accompany Ballinger on
his trip to Beverly"
II was directed by Secretary Ballin-
ger
Ibid the Secretary say why he de-
sired you to accompany him?"
HE didn't say
Mr.. Brandeis called to the attention OF
the witness a telegram sent from Seattle
by Mr.. Ballinger to Assistant Secretary
Pierce August - last. which read: Must
see Lawler before his departure. Hold
reports Cunningham matter" Asked why
Rallinger wanted to see him, the witness
said ne did not recall.
Did IL have anything TO do with Harry
White an Alaskan coal claimant?"
1T did not.
.Did it have anything to do with Per-
kins?'
mo. I had never heard of Perkins in
connection with the matter"
Considered Himself Qualified.
aWhen you were requested by the Pres
ident to write an opinion were you re-
ouired to perform a duty quasi-judicial
in its nature?'
'I realized fully the responsibility placed
upon me-
The witness admitted that he consid-
cred it quasi-judicial in a sense.
Mr. Brandeis asked If in beginning
that task he felt he was qualified to
make a judicial inquiry into the matter
in view of his relations with the In
terror Department. Lawier said he had
the fullest confidence in Ballinger. and
the men under him. but he did not think
that disqualified him.
Mr. Brandeis inquired il he was not
prejudiced in favor of Ballinger.
II had only the natural prejudice any
one would have I'm favor OF an honest
man as against dishonest man."
The attorney asked the witness II he
had considered. IN writing an opinion las
though he were President whether
CLAWS had had an opportunity to know
that charges had been made against him.
Witness replied that as far as he knew
he was the only man who had made any
against CLAWS and he had made
them after carefully weighing the facts