The Globe-republican., 1910-01-20
ACCUSED OF IMPROPER USE OF
PUBLIC FUNDS.
ALSO INCREASED CLERK STAFF
Representative, Hitchcock Of Nebraska
Declares Secretary Of Interior
Paid Private Travelling Ex-
penses of His Nephew.

Ing interest in the investigation Of
the Ballinger-Pinchot controversy was
revived in congress by sensational
charges against Secretary Ballinger
filed by Representative Hitchcock
(Nebraska), and incidentally by tue
senate's adoption Of the investigation
resolution as agreed upon in confer
ence.
The most important allegation OF
Mr.. Hitchcock is that funds of the in
terror department were improperly
used in paying private travelling ex-
penses of Secretary Ballinger's
nephew. The secretary and other Of
ficials of the interior department will
be subpoenaed before the house COM
mittee on expenditures, to which Mr..
Hitchcock's charges were addressed.
The Republican caucus to select
members of the joint investigating
committee probably will be held We'd
nesday evening. The Democrats have
selected Rainey (Ill.) and James (Ky)
The senate members of the committee
will be selected by Vice President
Sherman as president Of the senate.
Statement to Committee.
The statement was presented by
Mr.. Hitchcock at a meeting of the
committee called TO substantiate his
charge of extravaganza in the inter.
ior department. The committee de-
cided to subpoena Commissioner Den
nett, of the general land office, and all
others to appear before the commit
tee next Wednesday.
The statement alleges improper use
of the million dollar appropriation
''for the protection of the public do
main against frauds by the purchase
of expensive furniture, amounting into
the tens of thousands of dollars, the
erection of certain large brick
chimney for land office at consider
able expense" the employment OF
some so additional clerks, salaries
increased, and in one case at least
doubled, out of this million dollar
fund" Getting the case of Chief of the
Field Service Swartz as this instance),
long telegraph bills which cover long
extracts from the newspapers sent in
by travelling representatives of the
general land office" selection of spe-
cial agents not at all qualified, etc.
Nephew Private Adviser.
The statement asserts that when
Mr.. Ballinger became commissioner
OF the general land office he reduced
the salary of Law Clerk Wright so
that Judge Wright's $4,000 salary
could be given to Jack Ballinger, his
nephew, not under the title of law
clerk, but under the title, created by
Mr.. Ballinger's order, of confidential
clerk | have been told that Wright
died of disappointment and humiia-
tion soon thereafter"
Mr. Hitchcock suggested to the
committee that the following govern
ment employments be called to fur
nish specific information, explaining
that he was persona non grata' with
the interior department, and that the
committee was in better position to
obtain the facts: j. ID. Yelverton, chief
of Division p, or his assistant, Bert
Marshall, or Irving Rittenhouse, chief
of the accounts division, general land
office, concerning the purchase OF
desks, filing cases, etc, out OF the
million dollar fund; Frank Bond,
chief clerk of the general land office,
concerning so odd clerks performing
ordinary clerical duties not connected
In any way with the protection of the
public domain, though so paid