The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-05-16
Tells About Framing Letter to
Secretary BaIlinger
ADDRESSED TO NELSON
He Says That He Cave to the Matter
All the Time That Could Be
Spared from Other En-
gagements

Pa the situation which has arisen cons
corning the inside history Of his letter
of September IS, generating Secretary
Bellinger from tile charges Of special
agent !. r. CLAWS and authorizing the
dismissal Of Glayis
over his own signature, he addressed a
long letter TO senatar Knnte Nelson,
chairman Of The Ballinger Pinehot inyes-
tigation committee, setting forth III de.
tail the sequence Of events following
lis receipt at Beverly on August IS last,
Of the charges Of CLAWS
The text Of tie letter followsi--
The White House, Washington,
May Is. 1910.
My Dear Senator Nelson n The hear
ings before the committee to investigate
the interior department. and forestry
service, reference has been made to my
decision upon Che complaint and charges
81 i. ri CLAWS. filed with me On the
18TH az August last. against Secretary
Ballinger ana certain other officials -of
tile interior department. The majority
Of the committee have decided that my
action ia tlis regard was not within the
Jurisdiction Of the committee to inyesti-
gate. III spite oi this ruling. reference
10 the matter has erept into the record.
For this reason, I deem Il proper 20
write YOU and state with such accuracy
as my memory permits what the facts
are.
Giavif statement and charges were
left with me by him On August is, 1909.
turned them over to the attorney
general, who happened to &c ia the neigh
b0rhood. and Be made notes upon bis
reading. vie both had personal knowi-
efae in respect ID Secretary Balimgers
attitude toward the Alaskan coal claim
which was the chief subject Of innuendo
and complaint, for MT. Baliinger had
very early III the administration con-
suited Us both In regard to them.
Within two 81 three days after the
filing of the charges in a meeting at
which the secretary Of the treasury, the
attorney genera and the secretary Of the
navy were present a full discussion ri
the CLAWS statement Was had Copies
OF tie statement were sent 70 Secretary
BaliinreF. "a Assistant Secretary Pierce,
20 Commissioner lAaHett and to Chief
0f Field Service Schwartz.
Mr. HaIIiHaer Was at Seattle but upon
receipt Of the charges he came to Wash.
ington 10 prepare his answer Ca Nom
dav September 9 Mr. BaIinaer reached
Beverly, accompanied 81 Mr. Iawier the
assistant attorney general of the depart.
ment of iusfiee assigned % tho interior
department Mr. Ballinger sent % my
house o. thzl day the answers eff the
various persons concerned, together with
the VoluminoHs record of exhibits ! had
b conference with him, Tie evening af
the day he came. September 3 and then
on the following evening, September I,
talked over the charges with Air Bal
finger tha first evening and aked such
questions an suggested Themselves, with
oat intimating aug conclusion and said
that would examine tbe answers and
The record and would Zee him Tie next
day
I'll the discus sians II tlla second even
ing. Nif. Iawler who Was present II
ms slggestion, discussed The evidence ct
Some length I said % Mr. Eawier that
/ was garv anxious til write Ii full state
Inant I'll tbe case and set 6ut TIE reasons
for NV decision hpt that the time for
nv departure 81 long western tYfp.
lasting two months was lust one week
from fhat dav. that ha8 some sig n
seven sei speeches II deliver Fl the be.
ginning IL fhat Journey. and that could
8of i've fbe tine I'll fha preparation II
sneb i astailea statement ana opipian
ri wanId INA III render II tha matter
/ therefore reanesfed NH Iawler t5 pre-
pare "a opinion IT IL re- were president.
During fhe stb afh ana 10fb cave
sneh consideration Us the CLAWS record
rs was consistent with pfevioas enqaae.
menfs. BIC paia ~ attantinn ID the
spaeehaa On the 9TH. teievfaphed the
II FaYrat General FL eome rs Revarlp H
or4er ANA j miaht consult hjm ii resnpet
n tha ease He arrived there saturday
afternoon ,geptember and pursuant
IA aa anpoinfmsnt made IN telephone
be came III INV house oarlv SUNDAY morn
me- septen,ber hi TIA tken deliYeFed
" n.e Fbe draft opinion prenarad hv Nlr
TaUier apd saia that nj ina an epnor.
fnaifv on coming from New York IA
1901 M answers III MI R81linoer ana
others then said ID him that / ma
made up mv mind as to nv conclusions
sna ba5 aFafEed nar4 1T ay oniHiag ma
fhaf wisha8 Nm ~ examide fbe mi
geeard 8ad brine NE III conclusions ii.
fare t stated mine ITS took ths whole