The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-01
MEMBERS CLASH,
Row Breaks Out in PinchOt-
Ballinger Committee.
Much Partisanship Manifested
in the Proceedings.
MADISON is A PUZZLE.
Course of the Kansan Regarded
as Uncertain.
Voted With the Democrats at
the Last Session.

!
investigating committee was interrupt
| ed today by the most serious clash
among the senators and representa-
tives that has yet marked the proceed
| ing.
Chairman Nelson accused Attorney
Brandeis # concealing certain facts
| and brought from the latter a demand
that the remarks be stricken from the
| record together with the intimation
| that if the chairman followed the pro-
| ceedings more closely he would see
where his remarks were unjust.
Some of the Democratic members Jf
the committee moved to direct the
chairman to withdraw his remarks and
it was this motion that brought out the
quarrel which lasted for nearly an
hour. Senator Nelson refused to with
draw his statement. A motion to lay
the whole matter the table was
finally adopted by a vote of six to
three, the Democrats demanding a roll
call
Elmer E. Todd, United States distric.
attorney at Seattle, was the witness at
the morning session, testifying in be-
half of Mr.. Ballinger. Mr.. Todd con-
tradicted a number of statements
made by Special Agent Jones as to ef-
forts to secure criminal proceedings i'll
the Alaska fraud cases.
AS the hearing progresses. indica-
committee 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 COL
leagues that the Democrats will partic-
ipate in the executive sessions of the
committee, but only on the under
standing that the Democrats shall be
free to announce in the public meet
ings the votes and their contentious
that take place during the private sit
tings.
The executive sessions have not been
very harmonious, especially the one of
Saturday last, when the question of
compelling Secretary Ballinger to tes-
tify as the first witness for the de
fensen was under consideration Fol-
lowing this session the Democrats an
nounCed that with the exception Of
Senator Purcell of South Dakota, they
had voted in favor of compelling the
secretary of the interior to appear at
once. Representative Madison of Kan
sas, insurgent, voted with the Demo-
Gratis.
Whether Mr.. Madison will vote with
the Democratic members when the YER
dict comes to be taken, is a question.
His course during the examination Of
tion of his position. Senator Purcell
voted with the Republicans last Satur-
day simply because as a lawyer he de-
clared the defense should have the
i
ure. the same privilege having been
granted to the prosecution"
Todd Is Called.
Elmer f. Todd. United States dis |
trict attorney at Seattle. IVES the first
" Witness Mr.. Todd contradicted GER
tain statements made by Special Agent |
L. H. Jones. when he was testifying for
L. r. CLAWS. He said Jones statement |
that he had advised against criminal
action in the Alaska cases because
Judge Hanford was constitutiHnally |
c,I posed to land fraud trials generally |
was absolutely false.
Mr.. Vertrees asked Mr.. Todd if he |
had been consulted sometime regal ding /
a possible prosecution against CLAWS
for letters missing from the case when |
he turned it over to his successor, |
Christensen. 1t is claimed the letters /
afterward were found in box belong |
ing to CLAWS.
Mr.. Todd said Christensen complain
ters were missing. About this time |
cSpies of the n issing letters began to .
appear in a weekly paper with the |
announcement that more were to follow.
During his cross-examiaatlon Attorney
BrandeiS showed him some of Jones'
daily reports. ore of which said he had |
conferred with Todd in regard to
cr ninal prosecution ia the Christopher
group.
Didn't Mr. Jones have a conference
" ith you at that timer asked the at
torney.
mo. sir. He may have dropped into
the offic to leave a letter. 1 said I
had to look over the papers before CIV
ing an opinion
'Can't you conceive of a conference
without giving an opinion?''
ct car conceive of a good deal of
Mr.. Jones' testimony
Whit object would he have IL max
pg these reports if he did not have
he conference?''
ITO show that he was working when
re was not retorted the witness
well, what was he doing?"
He was running around here and
here making daily reports
He presented this matter to you,
iidn't her
Yes, but not fully: hot so fully as
1e ought to have done"
Committee QuarreIs.
The cross examination as to a letter
9lavis had written to the department
1t Washington regarding beginning
criminal Iros secution in certain cases
oon led the committee into a quarrel
which lasted nearly an hour and
out anew the strength of the
artisan feeling which has grown up.
Attorney Brandeis read a copy of the
Slavis letter which he said had come
rom the files of the forestry service.
But that letter was never sent, COM
nented Mr.. Todd. +
How do you know that?" demanded
3randeis. Is
CLAWS so testified before this con-
nittee'' II
Chairman Nelson here asked Mr.
3randeis if there was anything to show ]
Rat the letter had been sent. Il
There is no direct evidence" replied
he attorney. II
sBut it is the letter CLAWS testified
le never sent" persisted the chairman. i
ut is the letter which this witness I