Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-01
ELIOT ADVISES TAFT HOT ROW AT INQUIRY
Urges Civil Service Extension Chairman Provokes Clash at
for Postal EMPLOYEES. BaIInger Investigation.
CLERKS AND ASSISTANTS LAWYER TAKES EXCEPTION
National Reform Motion to Withdraw Nelson's C
atives Support His Plea. cism Is Tabled.
KROCKE YORK PARTY CLOSELY DRAWN
Lieutenant He Was Agent Jones'
Chairman Provokes Clash at
BaIIinger Investigation.
LAWYER TAKES EXCEPTION
Motion to Withdraw Nelson's Criti.
cism Is Tabled.
PARTY LINES CLOSELY DRAWN
United States District Attorney
to Him by Special Agent Jones.

The taking Of testimony before the
BallingerPinchot investigating commit
tee was interrupted today by the most
serious clash among the senator's and
representatives that has yet marked the
proceedings.
Chairman Nelson accused Attorney
Brandeis of concealing certain facts. and
brought from the latter a demand that
the remarks be stricken from the record.
together with the intimation that IL the
chairman followed the proceedings more
closely he would see where hts remark
was unjust.
Some of the democratic members OF the
committee moved to direct the chairman
to withdraw his remarks. 1t was this
motion that brought on the quarrel. which
lasted for nearly a. hour.
Senator Nelson refused to withdraw his
statement. A motion to lay the whole
matter on the table finally was adopted
by vote of 6 to 3, the democrats de-
manding g. roll call.
Elmer E. Todd. United States district
attorney at Seattle, was the witness at
the morning session. testifying in behalf
of Mr.. Ballinger. Mr.. Todd contradicted
a number of statements made by Special
Agent Jones as to efforts TO secure crtmi-
nal proceedings in the Alaska coal fraud
cases.
Party Lines Closely Drawn.
The taking of testimony in behalf Of
the cabinet officers began last Saturday
afternoon, after Attorney Vertrees had
made his opening statement, In which No
declared that much of the testimony
ho of0va frN
be false, and sharply criticised James r.
Garfield and Clifford Pinchot for their
share in the attack upon the Secretary Of
the Interior.
AS the hearing progresses indications
multiply that the congressional commit
tee is so seriously split along party lines
that a unanimous report Is beyond the
bounds OF possibility. The democratic
members have gone so far as to notify
their republican colleagues that they will
participate in the executive seSsions OF
the committee only upon the understand
ing that they shall be free to announce
their votes and their contentious during
the public sittings.
Discord in Closed Meetings.
The executive sessions have not bean
very harmonious. especially the one
"
compelling Secretary Ballinger to testify
as the first witness for the defense" was
under consideration.
Following this session the democrats an
nounced that, with the exception of Sen
ator Purcell of South Dakota, they had
voted in favor of compelling the Secretary
of the Interior to appear at once. Rep
resentative Madison of Kansas. insur-
gent, voted with the democrats.
Whether or not MIR. Madison will vote
with the democratic members when the
verdict comes to be taken Is q question.
His course during the examination of
witnesses has given but slight intimation
of his position.
Senator Purcell voted with the repubIi-
cans last Saturday. simply because as .
lawyer, he declared, the defense"
should have the right to call its witnesses
at its pleasure. the same privilege having
been granted to the prosecution"
Todd Contradicts Jones.
Elmer f. Todd. United States district
attorney at Seattle. Wash, was the first
witness called today. Mr.. Todd con-
tradicted certain statements made by
Special Agent H T. Jones when he was
testifying for Louis R. CLAWS.
The witness declared that Jones state
ment that he had advised against crimi-
nal action in the Alaska cases, because
Judge Hanford was constttutionally op-
posed to land fraud trials generally was
absolutely false.
Mr. Vertrees asked Mr.. Todd IL he had
been consulted, some time ago. regard
ing a possible prosecution against Claws
for letters missing from his office when
he turned It over to his successor, Chris
tensen. 1t is claimed these letters after
ward were found in box belonging to
CLAWS.
Mr. Todd said Mr.. Christensen came to
him In December and complained that the
letters were missing. About this same
time copies Of these missing letters began
to appear in a weekly paper with the an
nouncsment that moro were to follow.
No Conference, Says Todd.
During hts cross-examination Of the W.T.
ness Attorney Brandeis showed him some
of Jones daily reports. one OF which said
he had conferred with District Attorney
Todd in regard to criminal prosecution In
the Christopher group.
Didn't Jones have q conference with
you at that timer asked the attorney.
NO: he may have dropped into the Of
over the papers before giving an opinion"
Cant you conceive conference with
Il can conceive a good deal Of Mp.
what object would he have In making
these reports II he didn't have the con-
ference?''
ITO show that he was working when he
was not" retorted the witness.
We'll, what was he doing?
He was running around here and there
making daily reports"
HE presented this matter 70 you. DIDN'T
her.
"Yes. but not fully: not 20 funny 40 he
ought to-"
Partisan Feeling to Top.
The cross-examination Of the witness
as to a letter CLAWS had written to tbs
department at Washington urging cyfm-
inal prosecution in certain cases scoa
led the committee into q Quarrsl. whScA
lasted nearly an hour and bfouS44 o.
anew the strength of the psstisAn TOD
ing which has grown up-
ATTORNEY Brandeis read q cory OF ~
Claws letter, which he said had oDct1
from the files OF the forestry service.
"Rut that letter was never eents oogD-
mented District Attorney TODD.
"How do you know that's? dsnaAndeA
CLAWS SO testified before this eou-
mittee."