Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-17
ASLEEP At HEARING
Spectators Find BalIinger-
Pinchot Inquiry Dull.
TESTIMONY is TEDIOUS
Technical Information Regarding
Land Office Methods.
E. C. FINNEY IS QUESTIONED
No Decision as to Deferring Cross.
Examination of Secretary Bal
fingers Subordinates.

H. u CIlIley, assistant 10 the cccIetdIy
Of the Interior. occupied the stand through
out both sessions Of the Ballinger-P Pin
chot investigating committee yesterday.
Most of the time was taken up in cross
examinations by Attorney Brandeis. rep
resenting Louis r. CLAWS. and Attorney
Pepper, counsel for Mr.. Pinchot.
Because of his long service in the In
terror Department Mr.. Finney proved to
be a prolific witness. In that Mr.. Bran
deis was enabled to get into the record
much technical testimony as to the gen.
eral course of business in the land office.
The attorney spent much time on the
various methods of passing land claims
through the various stages to patent.
This line of questioning proved rather
tedious, and the hearing dragged percep-
tibly. In fact, an attack OF spring fever
seemed to strike nearly every one con-
nected with the investigation. Chairman
Nelson was absent, and Vice Chairman
Mccall had difficulty In keeping a quo
rum together. During the long afternoon
session several spectators fell asleep. A
door slamming with loud report woke
them up. much to the amusement Of the
others who were not mapping at the time.
Various members of the committee
dropped out of their places from time to
time for little periods OF rest in the coun-
ell chamber. Every time Representative
Ollie James. the massive Kentuckian, left
his big armchair the other House men,
bers made dive for it. Representatives
Madison and Graham divided the honors
as a rule.
The absence of so many members of
the committee prevented ruling yester-
day on the request of Mr.. Brandeis that
he be allowed to defer a general cross
examination Of subordinate officials of the
Interior Department until after he has
had an opportunity to question Mr., Bal
linger himself. A decision probably will
be reached when the sessions are resumed
next Friday.
Cunningham Claims Excepted.
Mr. Brandeis drew from Mr.. Finney the
statement that in the memorandum SUBJ
mitted to the Attorney General with a
request for an Interpretation of the new
Alaskan coal land law Of 1908 the Gun
bingham claims were excepted.
''Then why asked the attorney, docs
Secretary Ballinger say in letter to
Miles c. Moore. one of the Cunningham
claimants. that he is referring the matter
to the Attorney General?"
Il didn't write that letter." replied the
witness.
But didn't you say yesterday that
you wrote it?'
Il said wrote two of the letters that
were sent to Gov. Moore, l was mistaken
wrote
mfr. Finney does the Attorney General
in his report to the President mention the
fact that Mr.. Hoyt, special counsel for
CLAWS suggestion In connection with the
Importance of this opinion?''
Il don't believe he does"
Attorney PEPPER had not finished his
adjourned He asked the witness par
ticularly about the Ballinger replies to
letters written by Senator La Toilette
asking for an explanation of certain
restoration of water power sites made
by Mr.. Ballinger.
Mr. Finney said he wrote these letters.
He denied that he had specifically con-
suited Secretary Ballinger as to what he
should say.
Rewithdrawal of Lands.
Mr.. Finney'' said Mr.. Pepper, why
didn't you say in your replies that the
real reason for the reservations was the
fact that Secretary Ballinger did not
believe the Withdrawals had been legal?'
Because there had been conference
at the White House and Mr.. Ballinger
had decided to rewithdraw the lands
Then you. tried to make your replies
harmonic these differences"
mo, it wasn't that exactly"
An effort was made to get John w.
Dudley, formerly connected with the
land Office at Juneau, on the stand late
yesterday. Dudley had been brought all
Of the way from Alaska to testify as to
an alleged offer of 5000 from Golfers
Weekly to come to Washington and
testify against Mr.. Ballinger. When the
opportunity came to sandwich Dudley in
while Mr.. F1npey temporarily was ex-
cused the witness had left the room
and his examination was put over until
this week.