The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-30
CLAWS, on the Stand in Bal.
Iinger-Pinchot Hearing,
Gives Some Interesting
Facts to Public.
LONG DAY WAS PUT IN
PROBERS WERE WEARY
Much Questioning Featured
the Period That CLAWS Was
On the Stand - Interest
Shown in Affair.

Washington. Jan. 29.-Iouis II. CLAW.
is again took the witness stand when
the special joint committee of the sen.
ate and house. which is investigating
the Ballinger- Pinchot controversy, re-
sumed its hearing today. Attorney
Brandeis began by reminding Mr..
CLAWS that he had testified that he
had been instructed in May, 1907. to
discontinue work on the Alaskan coal
claims. and did nothing in that con-
nection until next October. During
that period CLAWS said he received no
letters or kilograms relating to taking
up the work again. and that although
he had several conferences with land
office officials, nothing was said about
resuming the investigation.
Did they indicate that they wanted
TO hinder you in carrying out your in
vestigation in any of these conversa-
tions:" asked Chairman Nelson.
Tried to Hinder Inquiry.
Mr.. bennett said." replied CLAWS.
he thought We should not prosecute
the coal claimants criminally: that il
their claims were Cancelled it would be
sufficient"
That IS not responsive to my ques-
tion," interrupted Chairman Nelson.
rather sharply. II asked II they
sought to interfere with the investiga-
tion''
They did" answered CLAWS. and he
then proceeded to narrate this CONVEX
sations with bennett and other off
cials of the land office.
One telegram from bennett To
CLAWS in April. 1909, told him the in
vestigation must be completed i'm sixty
days and asking for more help" said
Representative DENLY. but in your re-
plies to the department which have
been read, you don't say what the char
acter of your investigation was"
Il want to say right here" inter
rupted Attorney Brandeis, that this
ney General WickershamD does no.
contain all of the letters in the case.
There arc quite a number of communi-
cations which have been omitted and
we have asked to have them produc-
ed
MIR. B:andeis intimafed that they
had been Intentionally left ont. and
that if supplied they would be respon
sive to tae question of Representative
DENLY.
Obtained Affidavits.
Answering questions by Representa-
tive Madison, CLAWS said that follow
ing instructions to close up the inves-
tigation in sixty days he had his
agents obtain affidavits from claim
ants. This did not complete the in
vestigation as he thought field in
vestigaticn was necessary.
I'VE did not think the government
had all the evidence required before
going to trial" said CLAWS.
Il was told to make my report. but
that | could continue my investiga-
ton"
What was then done:" asked Chair
man Nelson.
Special Agent Sheridan was sent
out and he made an examination OF
the evidence obtained"
MIR. Sheridan superseded you, did
he mott" asked Senator Nelson.
Yes sir
Wasn't it then that it occurred to
you to apply to Mr.. Pinchot to help
you, and to get your case before the
PRESIDENT" said Senator Nelson.
"Oh, no sir" replied CLAWS Il was
not worried at all about Mr.. Sheridan
He agreed with me that there should
be field investigation. That could
only have been done in the summer
owing to the climate OF Alaska
This reference to Mr.. Pinchot was
the first mention of the former chief
forester before the committee since
the special hearing began.
CLAWS explained that the field ex-
animation was desirable because it
would show that the preliminary work
which the claimants were going TO
perfect their claims was being done i'm
common.
That would be evidence, he said, OF
collusion.
This fact" said he, taken in con-
nection with the journal kept by Ciar-
ence Cunningham showing that agree
ments had been entered into by the
claimants to combine, would have con-
| stituted a case"
He said there was a field examin-
alton during July and August.
Senator Nelson Takes Part.
Senator Nelson then started to ask
some questions. He asked CLAWS how
he came to Washington CLAWS repli-
ed that he came to get an affidavit
from a Congressman who had q claim
in the Green Group" The congress
man was Representative Mclaughlin.
of California, said CLAWS, but he did