The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-04-17
TEDiouSNESS OF BALLlNGER IN.
CURRY MAKES THE WORK
VERY DIFFICULT.
F|NNEY IS A WITNESS.
Assistant to the Secretary Of the In.
terror Occupies the Stand Most OF the
Day and Considerable Documentary
and Statistical Evidence Is Intro.
duccd Into the Inquiry Records.

Washington. Aprl lG g. a. Finncy,
assistant to the secretary of the inter-
inr. occupied the stand throughout both
sessions IN the Ballinger- Pinchot in
vestigating committee today. Most OF
the time was taken up III cross -ex-
aminations by Attorney Brandeis. rep
rcscnting Louis X. CLAWS and Attor-
noy Pepper, chief counsel for MIR. PIN
chot. Because of his long service in
the interior department. Mr. Finney
proved io bc a prolific witness in that
Mr. Brandcis was enabled u get into
the record much technical testimony
as to the general coure OF business
In the land office This line 81 qucs-
tioning proved rather tedious IN fact.
AN attack OF spring fever" appeared
to strike everyone connected with the
investigation. Chairman Nelson was
absent and Vice Chairman Mccall had
difficulty IN keeping quorum to-
gether
MIR. Brandeis drew from Mr.. Flnney
the statement that in the memoran-
dun submitted to the attorney gem
eral with "A request for an interpre-
!lw of 1908. the Cunningham claims
already were excepted.
Then why" asked the attorney,
does Secretary Bailinger say in "A let
ter to Miles c. Moore. one of the Gun
nlngham claimants. that he liz refer
ring the matter to the attorney-gener-
all"
Il didn't write that letter. replied
the witness
But didn't you say yesterday that
you wrote it?"
II said | wrote two Of the letters
that We're To Governor Moore. | was
mistaken as to this. 1t Is not ithe
one / wrote
Mr. Finney, does the attorney-gen-
eral in his report to the president
mention the fact that Mr.. Hoyt, spe-
clal counsel for the government, called
on him at Mr.. CLAWS suggestion In
connection with the importance of this
opinion"
Il don't believe he does"
Attorney Pepper had not concluded
his cress-examination when the com
mlttee adjourned. He asked the wit
ness particularly about the Balinger
replies to letters written by Senator
LaFoliette asking for an explanation
of certain restoration Of water power
sites made by Mr.. Ballnger
Mr. flnncy said he wrote these let
tiers. He denied that he had specific
ally consulted with Secretary Ballin-
ger as To what he should say.
Mr.. Elnney," said Mr. Pepper
why don't you say in your replies
that the real reason for the restora-
tions WIS the fact that Secretary Bal
linger did not believe the Withdrawals
had been legal"
Because there had been confer
lingor had decided 70 rewthdraw the
lands"
Then you tried 10 make your re-
plies harmonize with those differ
euces?'
No II WIS not that exactly"
An effort was made To get John W
Dudley, formerly connected with the
land office at Juneau on the stand
late today. Dudley had been brought
all the way from Alaska to testify
as 10 AN alleged offer of $1,000 from
Golfers Weekly to come to Washing
ton to testify against Mr.. Ballngcr.
When the opportunity came to sand
wich Dudley in while Mr.. Finney tenn.
porarily was excused, the witness had
left the room and his examination was
put over until next week