New-York tribune., 1910-05-11
WOULDCALL NPRES|DENT
BrandeiS Takes New Line in
Ballinger Inquiry.
HIS REQUEST DENIED
Senator Piles's Name Brought
1n-Sharp Rebuke from
Chairman Nelson.
TFrom TIE Tribune Bureaa.l

TFrona TIE Tribune Bureau.
Washington. May 1e.-Further evidence
tending 10 show that the critics Of the In
terror Department are really aiming at
President Taft and seeking 10 discredit
him the members OF his Cabinet and other
prominent Republicans. Nas given at TO-
oey's session Of the BalliIger- -Pinchot
committee Louis u. Brandeis. attorney
for CLAWS. who has sought unsuccessfully
IN various ways 20 show that the President
knew little about the CLAWS charges when
ne dismissed Claws and eXonerated Secre-
tary BalIinger. and that the Attorney Gen
era! did not advise the President. adopted
g new line Of attack to-day. He requested
the committee TO call on the President, and
through hin on Oscar Lawler, Assistant
Attorney General for the Interior Depart
rent for the nemora ndun which Mr.
LAWYER took TO Beverly relating to the
CLAWS charges. The committee voted
unanimously to deny the request in so far
ss il related 20 President Taft and by the
same vote granted the request that MI
Lawler he asked 10 furnish a copy Of the
memorandum. provided he had one.
AT the morning hearing Mr.. Brandeis un-
dtrtoclS 10 show that the election Of Sen
stor Piles. five years ago. was in further
prominent men IN the state Of Washington.
who desired 10 acquire valuable holdings in
Alaska He attempted to make this show
ing by reading extracts from a newspaper
which contained an account of festivities
ct Seattle. following the election Of Mr..
Piles. Mr. Ballinger was then Mayor OF
Seattle. and, although he took no part in
the election OF the Senator. he attended
several affairs celebrating the election of
the new Senator. According TO the news
paper account. one of Senator Piles's
stanchest advocates in his campaign for
the Senate was Charles Sweeney. one OF
the Cunningham coal claimants. With this
ss his foundation Mr.. Brandeis wanted 10
show that powerful interests IN Seattle
mere instrumental in having AiT- Balinger
appointed Commissioner OF the General
Land Office. The committee decided that
inasmuch as the record showed that MIR.
BaHinger had refused to accept the ap-
pcintment as Commissioner until President
Roosevelt ard Secretary Garfield had in
sisted that II was his patriotic duty" 10
come 10 Washington, nothing would be
gained by pursuing this line of inquiry.
Several members Of the committee pro-
tested that il was entirely outside the prov
ince of the committee to investigate the
election OF United States Sena tors.
Committee Losing Patience.
The growing impatience OF the commit
tee At the methods of Mr.. Brandeis was
manifested many times to-day Appar-
emily. the committee has reached the con-
clUsion that the critics of the Interior De-
rsrtment are merely fishing for campaign
material. and the conservation propaganda
has heen overlooked in the quest for polit-
teal capital This view was emphasized
in the comment OF one of the most
prominent members of the committee at
the afternoon session. A note was handed
ever from the press table suggesting an
carly adjournment, as a circus is now in
Washington. The note came hack in
doTsed; What circus can equal this op-
Tortrnitt for the donkey to kick the
elephant"
The clashes between Mr.. Brandeis and
the committee were frequent to-day. AT
the foreneen- session Senator Root point
edly tod tf4e CLAWS lawyer that he was
not asking E--for facts and that his Ques-
tions were "a perfectly frivolous waste Of
time" Mr. Root said that the questions
o. Mr.. Brandeis were purely argumenta-
tive and there was 'suhtlety of disputa-
ton in his methods.
Senator Nelson has frequently expressed
his disapprovaI Of the tactics Of Mr.
Brandeis. He became greatly irrftated
this afternoon when Mr.. Brandeis replied
10 the chairman in loud tones, exhibiting
decided impaJence with the Senator.
Raising his voice and bringing his fist
Gown the table with force Mr. Nelson
said that My. Brandeis need not snap at
the committee He referred to the in
sulting and overbearing manner of Mr.
Brandeis toward witnesses, which had now
led him 10 the point of insulting the COM
mittee- We won't stand for it," said
Mr.. Nelson with great Vehemence
This sharp rebuke from Mr. Nelson, who
is one Of the most intense and earnest
uttered than q woman in the audience
called out: The committee has no right
20 insult him, either This unexpected
interruption, instead OF adding 10 the up
rosr. #ss like oil on the troubled waters
a general laugh came from the audience,
in which the committee joined. Later it
~ss found that the excited woman who
wss so overcome By her feelings that she
hlurted oHt z defence Of Mr. Brandeis is
cne Of the regulars and has not missed
single meeting Of the committee
Following Senator Nelson's criticism Mir
BraBdeis adopted a new mode Of cross-ex-
animation. lie mad several clashes with
Secretary Ballinger, who accused him of
picking out sentences in letters and reports
and seeking 10 draw inferences not war