Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-26
bALL|NGER-P|NCHOT
INQUIRY HAS BEGUN
Congressional Committee Makes
Its Procedure Plain by Sum-
moning L. R. CLAWS.
MOST IMPORTANT WITNESS.
He Made Charges Against Secretary
He and PinchOt Represented
BY Attorneys.

Washington. Jan. 26-With Senator
Nelson of Minnesota, presiding, the
congressional inquiry into the matters
Pinchot controversy began In earnest
this afternoon at 2;37 p. m. with Louis
r. CLAWS on the witness stand.
CLAWS is the dismissed field agent
who preferred charges against Secy.
Balllnger in connection with the Cum
ningham coal claims in Alaska.
He sent the charges direct to Presi-
dent Taft. and the latter after consid-
ering them, wrote to Mr.. Ballinger,
declaring he had been unjustly attack
cd and that CLAWS should be i'm
mediately separated from the service,
Since his dismissal. CLAWS has car
ried on an unfelentmg campaign
against Secy. Ballinger by means of in
terviews and signed articles in various
publications.
1t was in connection with the prepar-
alton of the CLAWS charges against
Secy. Ballinger that Clifford Pinchot
was drawn directly into the eontro-
versy. Mr.. Pinchot directed Associate
Forester Price and Asst. Law officer
Shaw of his bureau to assist CLAWS in
framing the charges These facts. pro-
claimed by Mr.. Pinchot in a letter to
Senator Dolliver, together with the
letter itself. led to the dismissal OF
forestry service.
CLAWS CENTER OF INTEREST
CLAWS being the man around whom
the greater part of the tempest has
turned his appearance on the witness
stand naturally tended to center in
terest In the inquiry from the very
start, and although the proceedings
were not scheduled to open until 1880
p. m. a demand for seats in the senate
office building. where the sessions are
to be held, set in early In the fore
noon.
1t was reported that following to-
days session, the committee would
meet for the present on Fridays and
Saturdays, This arrangement. 1t is
believed, will give the senators and
representatives plenty of time to at
tend to their executive duties and carry
forward the inquiry at the same time.
The committee is starting with an
absolutely clean slate. All that has
been said and written in the past Is.
so far as possible. forgotten, and the
case against Secy. Ballinger or any
one else upon whom the attack may
turn, must be developed "in court" al
though, in this court of investigation.
there will be none of the strict rules OF
evidence to exclude any character of
testimony which may be presented by
the principals In the controversy
REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL.
Mr.. CLAWS announced that he would
be represented throughout the hear
ing by two attorneys. Louis D. Bran
deis of Boston. and Joseph B. Cotton
of New York.
Messrs. Pinchot, Price and Shaw are
collectively represented by George w.
Pepper, an attorney OF Philadelphia.
Mr.. Pepper and the CLAWS attorneys
Will cooperate regarding the conduct
of the investigation.
Secy. Ballinger and Commissioner
bennett, of the land office, have both
stated that they have no desire to be
represented by counsel, asking only that
the inquiry be thrown wide open"
The Friday and Saturday sessions
will be held from 10 a. m. to 1 p. M.
and p. m. to p. m