Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-30

MI ASHIN&TON, Jan. 29.-Surprls-
w ing letters, alleged to have been
written by Commissioner Dem
nett to the chief of the field service OF
the forestry bureau, H. H. Schwartz,
declaring. that "Glavis suspected him"
and that'"the air was not good at all.
and statements by the deposed field
chief, Louis CLAWS, who charged that
Secretary Ballinger, after acting as
general land office commissioner, had
become an attorney for Representative
Kinkaid of Nebraska, who, with Rep
resentative McLachlan of California,
was extensively interested in the Alas
kan coal lands claims, and that he
(Ballinger) had urged CLAWS not to
pursue an investigation against Con-
gresham McLachlan, were some of the
interesting developments of the con-
gressional inquiry into the affairs of
Secretary Ballinger today.
CLAWS concluded his testimony late
tonight. He will be recalled at the re-
sumption of the hearing Monday after
noon for examination by any per-
sons against whom he has made
charges.
Claws last day on the stand was full
of interest. 1t developed the animus
which long existed between the land
office and the forestry bureau and the
resentment of the land office people
IelI Wnen NTidVlS called II the ioT-
estry," as he termed it.
McLachlan Interested
The witness positively declared Rep
resentatives McLachlan of California
and Kinkaid of Nebraska were in
tereSted in Alaskan claims and that
Mr.. Ballinger, after retiring as COM
missioner of the land office, had acted
as attorney for Mr. Kinkaid.
AI,0A I'll
had suggested to him not to pursue an
investigation against Congressman Nc
Lachlan, saying there had been too
much of that sort of thing in the past"
| When CLAWS was asked the direct
question if he thought Secretary Bal
linger and Commissioner bennett We're
| in league to do wrong in the Alaska
1 cases, he replied:
.s'Well, I thought the cases would be
better protected with them out of the
way"
! Claws attack seemed to center more
today on Commissioner bennett. He
said he became convinced in the sum
mer of 1909 that bennett was "crooked"
and took steps to get carbon copies of
| letters bennett was writing back to
| Washington. Several of these letters
were introduced in evidence.
| One was from Commissioner Den
nett to H. H. Schwartz. chief of the
field service. 1t was dated July 20.
1909, at Seattle, and said, among other
things:
Letter to Schwartz
"My Dear Schwartz: The worst sit
uation on the line is the find here.
Our friend CLAWS regarded me with
| suspicion and, after talking awhile.
showed me your telegram assigning
the coal cases to Sheridan. Now, I
fioI1rp that Ola ic
a cushion for himself to fall back on.
and also putting himself in shape to
have a great story in case Sheridan
does not make good and succeed in
canceling the Cunningham cases.
''While he looks innocently at me.
yet I can see that his heart is bad.
though why it should be 1 cannot tell.
except that he wanted to drag the case
out He may be sincere, of course. in
his idea that he has not been given
time and opportunity.
"He asserts that he will help Sher-
idan all he can, but it is not human
nature, or, at least, his human nature.
The atmosphere is not good at all.
"That he is playing the forestry
there is no question; the innocent look
he gave me when l told him he was
| dragging in Shaw, etc. when there
was no necessity. was beautiful. He
also talked conservation very strongly.
CLAWS talking conservation All round
he is ugly and he is preparing TO be
as unpleasant as he can-at least that
is my solution of the situation.
"Glavis processes the greatest friend
ship to you, and think you know him
better than any one else, and this is
certainly the worst situation we have.
He will make about forty favorable
and about 500 unfavorable reports;
the way things will commence to drop
will be amusing"
In a second letter from Dcnnett 70
Schwartz, dated Seattle, July %, 1909.
occurs this paragraph:
Coal Cases on Brain
"Glavis has these coal cases on the
brain and cannot see anything but
lust one line. I have told him how u
looks to us and have reminded him Of
everything we have done for him. and
that it looks as If he were returning
our favor by not standing by us as
he ought to. He has not acted a. you
or ] would act under similar circum-
stances. 1t looks a little treacheroua
to me- this calling in the forestry.
There was also introduced In this
| connection this telegram from
| Schwartz to bennett, dated Wishing
4 ton, July 21:
"Department has letter from secre-
| tary of agriculture originating In for
est service, asking postponement or
| the Cunningham hearings until NO
vennber. Shaw says CLAWS wrote or
/ wired him recently in matter. Re-
ouire CLAWS to show you copy or hi1
| letter to Shaw. 1t being necc slry tn
| determine motive behind agriculture 8
request for such long delay"
CLAWS explained he had asl,cu shaw
nv telegram to come to Seattle TO co..
/ onerate with him on the Cunningham
/ claims as several were in Forest re-
serves. This was how the forestry
bureau first came into the controvcrsy
officially.
Another letter from Secretary Baiiin-
ger to Mr. Schwartz, dated Boise. Ida
no, July 25. 1909. IN which the secretary
of the Interior said
81 am just advised by Commi1sioner
bennett OF your telegram In reference
10, the increase in the number OF sreci8l
(Csnttnued ON Page rwoi