The sun., 1910-02-17
wRANGLING OVER CLAWS.
slew Progress In the Investigation Of the
Hanlnger-Ptnch0t Case

slew Progress In the Investigation sr the
Bsninger-Ptnchst Case
WASHINGTON. Feb. TO- Members Of the
Ballinger-Pinchot investigating commit
20 got TO wrangiing to-day. Louis r.
Gls Wis. who was oeing cross-exsmined by
J. J. Vertrees. counsel for Secretary Bal
linger. had answered at considers bic
length a question about the manner IN
which he was relieved Of the coal investi-
gations. Mr.. vertrees declared .hat his
question had not been answered. MIR.
Brandeis. counsel FOR CLAWS. insisted
that il had.
Read the question and the answer.
said Mr.. Brandeis to the stcnographer.
at is unnecessary remarked Senator
Root.
Il would like to have the question and
answer read reiterated Mr.. Brandeis
with considerable heat.
Il object, = replied Mr.. Root shortly.
Il submit remarked Representative
James, that counsel has a right to have
make a motion that they he read by the
stenogra pheT.
Il second tho motion" ssid Mr.. Grs-
ham.
Chairman Nelson put the motion. and
onlv James and Graham voted for it.
onIv a short time previously there had
been a tilt between Mr.. Graham and MIR.
vertrees. due again TO a declaration by
Claws that he did not wish Mr.. vertrees
to interrupt him.
There 10 too much lecturing Of the
witness and too much faultfinding,' said
Mr.. Graham. coming to the rescue OF
Claws. 4
Chairman Nelson.
Wei. I believe there is" persisted Mr..
Graham.
the chairman.
Mr.. Vertrees then announced with con-
sidera BILE feeling that he was entitled to
an answer TO his questions and that IL was
unfair for CLAWS to lug in arguments
to anticipate what wish to bring out
Senator Fletcher joined the irritable
members OF the committee by lecturinR q
MIR. Vsrtrees for spending half an hour
questioning CLAWS about the dates OF
letters and telegrams which we're already
in the record.
Claws once more displayed his clever
ness as a witness when Mr.. Vortrees
endea vored to show that the witness was
dilatory In resuming his investi CATION
OF the Alaska coal cases after he had been
ordered TO suspend it because the Depart
ment appropriation was running low.
Mr.. vertrees spent nearly half an hour
on this point and quoted a letter from
Comrnissio oner Dennett written on MAY 2s
ioOs, informing CLAWS that a new appro-
priation was available and instructing him
10 push the work" Mr.. Vertrees insisted
that this was virtually a blanket order
and embraced tho Alaska GOAL cases, but
finally CLAWS called attention to letter
written by II. H. Schwartz to Comfnis-
sioner bennett on September % OF the
kame year expressing his belief that the
Clmnin CHAM claims were fraudulent and
asking that CLAWS be allowed to resume
his Investigation OF them.
When adjournment was taken until
Friday morning Glavis was being oiies-
toned about the change in the rules OF
the Departnnent relating 70 coal land cases.
He dsclared that SANDING alone the
changes rnede would not appear significa Mt
Or wrong, but viewed In connecsi0n with
the manner In which the dcreral Land
onacs handled the coal land csses during
p long period the changes were partlcu-
lArly Hnuincant, He declineA TO stAts,
kc%svsf. that the changes invcl clsed wrcns.
doing on the part Of any cns ID tine land