Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-16
CLAWS SCORES
ANOTHER POINT
AT INQUISITION
Deposed Field Chief Told
to Answer Questions
as He Sees Fit
PUBLIC is AROUSED
Exposure of Scheme to
Take Land Control from
Congress Criticised
PUBLIC is AROUSED
Especial to The Herald. ]


Ballinger at the congressional
inquiry into Ballinger's conduct of Of
fee, today resorted to every possible
effort known to the legal profession to
confuse and belittle Louis CLAWS, field
chief of the forestry bureau deposed
by President Taft for his activity in
exposing the questionable methods of
the department of the interior and for
his friendship to Pinchot.
The efforts of Attorney Vertrees,
however, were unavailing, and as "a
climax to the strenuous fight made by
the defense to exclude certain testf-
mony and conceal important facts by
limiting Mr.. CLAWS replies to mono
syllable admissions, the congressional
committee ruled in favor of the de-
posed field chief, stating that he should
be allowed to answer each question
fully and as he deemed best, adher-
ing, of course, to the main essentials
of the question.
AS on every day previous, there was
a large attendance at todays hearing,
the number of spectators undoubtedly
exceeding that of Monday. This was
due, perhaps, to the fact that the ex-
posure yesterday of Ballinger's plan,
sanctioned by Pres 'ent Taft, to take
the control of the Alaskan public lands
away from congress and permit the
proposed Alaskan legislative council to
decide their disposition. called forth
much unfavorable comment and in
creased public interest in the inquiry.
Whitewash Expected
1t is common subject of contro-
versy in Washington that the present
congressional inquiry, unless the DEM
ocratic and Republican insurgents can
assert their power, will result in a
whitewash for Ballinger, and that any
action taken by the congressional COM
mittee in the matter will eventually
be invalidated. 1t is pointed out, on
the other hand however, that although
the Interests" have powerful lobby
and have received the encouragement
of Taft and the regulars" the evil
dence looks dark for Ballinger, and
the president may be forced to act di-
rectly on the findings of the COMMITTEES
| if the latter reports unfavorably for
| Ballinger.
witness almost wholly on the docu-
mentary evidence, and it was neces-
sary to read much of this anew that
he might properly frame his questions.
This required much time and made the
proceedings decidedly dull.
Counsel for Mr.. Ballinger protested
once against Claws RESPONSIVENESS,
but CLAWS appealed to the committee
and it was decided that he could make
his explanations however he desired,
whether they were relevant or not.
Mr.. CLAWS speaks with decided
draWI and some hesitation, and his
long statements seemed greatly to ir-
ritate Vertrees, while Attorney Bran
deis, representing the prosecution
sat with contented grin the whole
day long.
Subpoenas were issued today for a
number of witnesses who, Mr.. YER
trees announced, would give testimony
as to the finding of twenty-four official
letters which had been missing. boxes
left by Mr.. CLAWS in the grand jury
room OF the Seattle federal building.
Lawyers Contention
Mr.. Vertrees devoted a large part of
the day to bringing out the fact that
when Mr.. CLAWS protested against the
clear listing of the Cunningham claims
by telegram on January %, 1903, the
order for clear-listing was Immediate
ly revoked without awaiting further
explanation from CLAWS, and that this
state of affairs has continued down to
the present time.
The inquiry will be resumed tomor-
row afternoon.
Mr.. Vertrees questioned Mr.. CLAWS
about the memorandum he assisted in
preparing on which Assistant Secre-
tary Pierce rendered q construction of
the new coal lands law of May, 1908.
Mr.. CLAWS testified yesterday that this
opinion, to his mind, showed Mr.. Piercs
to be unfit for his office.
Mr.. Vertrees sought to show the
Cunningham claimants, having decided
to stand for patents under the old law,
were specifically excluded from con-
sideration in the Pierce opinion. The
attorney also sought to show that At
torney General Wickersham did not
overrule Mr.. Pierce, but substantially
sustained him in every essential par
ticular.
All Mr.. CLAWS would admit in this
connection was that he certainly did
not intend to exclude the Cunningham
claims from consideration. and that
while fthe attorney general may have
construed the law as Mr.. Pierce did,
the witness did not think SO.
But you condemn Mr.. Pierce on
your construction of the law?'
Eyes, SIR"
The morning session had not pro-
ceeded far when Vertress and the wit
ness had another clash. The attorney
wanted direct answers; CLAWS wanted
to explain every answer by referring
to reports, etc. Vertrees once arose
with:
"If your honor please" then he cor
rected himself by saying, MIR. Chair
man." --r-==.
The committee ruled to let CLAWS
give as many and as long explanations
as he desired.
Alaskan Coal Cases
Vertrees then took up with CLAWS
the character of his instructions as to
| the investigation of the Alaska coal
cases. CLAWS said it was his purpose
to examine all the 800 or 900 cases be-
fore reporting on any.
| Vertrees then read from the record
Ballinger's original instructions to
CLAWS, which was to file separate re-
norts from time to time, to the end
that quick action might be taken
Vertrees sought to show that it was
Claws action in not submitting sep
arate reports from time to time which
caused all the trouble. CLAWS said he
deemed his way of conducting affairs
the best.
At one point of the examination
Brandeis answered for the witness.
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