New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-10
Pierce HAD FULL CHARGE
Assistant Secretary Tells OF
Cunningham Coal Claims.
ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY
SAYS Ballinger Never Attempted
to Influence His Action-The
CLAWS Letters.
frrom The Trll,nne Rureau

Washington. April s-The groundUork
sse laid to-day for disproving the haste ana
most WIDELY exploited charge made aCainsi
Secretary RallinCer 10y the critics ~ the IN
serio~ Department. Just IS the DAYS ses-
SION was closing Frank Pierce. FIRST As
-ietaut Secretary q the Interior under DON'T
tho Garfield aud RallinEer aCministratlohs'
told the committee that he was entirety -
sfso0S1bIe for the action of the departmeI'
81 tho Cunningham coal cases. We accept"o
fuu ~esporsihiluy. and declared that in no
manner. directly or Indirectly. had Secre-
sarv RaUinger al any time attempted 10 in
nuenoe his judgment or dictate his course.
Mr. pierce took the stand late I'm the
AFTERNOON. and after desert ing the various
cu,ies Of tho Interior Department finally
led up 20 the Cunningham claims lie
knew in p general way about these cases.
but had never been called upon 20 give
them any thought or attention until about
the middle OF May 1903 Soon after Mr.. Bal
Finger assumed Office he told Mr.. Pierce
that after he left the General Land once
H. was called into consultation about these
cases; that he did not wish to have any
rhing 10 do with them A. = public official
snd requested Mr.. Pierce 10 take charge 81
al matters relating 10 them. When one Of
the clainants-Miles =. Moore. eN-tiovernor
az WashIugton-called AZ the department
shout the middle of MAY, 1879 Mr.. Rallinger
Immediately sent for Nj. Pierce and intro
duced Governor Moore. He repeated his
statement that he would have nothing to
90 with the Cunningham cases and told
Mr.. Pierce 10 hear Mr. Moore and do what
ever The situation required.
Following this conversation Mr.. Pierce
called in T. e. Finney. law officer Of the
IN. seT
Pierces Office by Mr.. CLAWS. They dis
russed the cases. and Mr. Pierce reached
e decision that on the face OF the reports
ratents for the claims should not be 81
lowed When Governor Moore returned the
next dav Mr.. Pierce told him his decision.
Governor Moore complained bitterly that
-he government was not treating the Cum
ningham entiymen right. that no specific
charges had been filed against them. that
the government had had for two or three
years more than $1,000 paid by the claim
ants. and was taking no steps toward tho
final disposition Of the claims. He wanted
20 know what could be done. and Mr.
Pierce said that he would direct that formal
charges be made 50 that issue might TO
toiued and the case brought TO settlement
a soon az possible Mr.. Pierce explained
that IL was the policy Of the department.
% bring all suspended cases up to date with
TIE least possible delay. and Informed Gov
ernor Moore that the Cunningham claim
ants were entitled 10 a speedy hearing and
should have it,
5sllinger Never Interfered.
when Judge Vertrees asked Nj Pierce Il
Secretary Balliuger had ever interfered in
his conduct OF these cases the witness
brought his hand down on the table and
said with emphasis that M BaIlinger had
never In any way attempted to influence his
judgment or action. Il am constitutionallv
built to be q pretty positive man." he said.
'snd when things are turned over 10 me
take charge"
A. this point the committee adjourned
uutA Friday. II vas suggested that meet
iags be held tEree DAYS next week. but
several members objected and the motion
Ma not put.
Most ~ the day session was devoted to
III. Brsudeis's cross-eN "a minatiOn Of An
drew Christensen. who succeeded CLAWS as
ahief Of 1ue field division OF the Land ONCE
~ Seattle. Mr. Christensen insisted that
4, was his conviction that CLAWS placed
tho tWeuty-four missing lettc~s i'm the box
containing his personal effects IN the Fed
ersl Building al Seattle. Nj Brandeis de-
voted several hours TO examining Mr..
Christensen on ms state of mind. with a
view 10 finding out the mental processes
which he adopted in reaching the couclu-
sion that CLAWS concealed the missing let
ters. The witness testified that his rela-
ions with CLAWS had always been friendly.
hut DO made il clear that he has not much
confidence in him.