The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-30
CLAWS CONCLUDES
DIRECT EVIDENCE
Accuser of BaIlinger Puts in
Busy Day Before Inyesti-
eating Committee.
CENTERS FINAL ATTACK
ON COMMISSIONER DENNETT
Some Illuminating Letters In,
trOduced in Evidence Dur
ing the Day.
RY Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29s-Lonis K.
CLAWS concluded his testimony before
the Ballinger- -Pinchot congressional IN
veetigation committee late today, lie
will be recalled at the resumption of
the hearing Monday afternoon for cross
examination by any persons against
whom he has made charges.
CLAWS IS last day on the stand was
full of interest. II developed that AMI
mus long existed between the land Of
fec and the forestry bureau and the re-
sentiment the land Office people fell
when CLAWS called in "the forestry
as they termed it,
Further Accusations.
The witness also declared that Rcp,
resentativcs Kncaid of Nebraska and
| McLachlan Of California were lnter'
csted in land claims, and that Mr.. Bal
linger, after being commissioner OF the
land office, had acted as attorney Tor
| Mr.. Kincaid.
CLAWS asserted Mr.. Ballnger had
suggested to him not to pursue an IN
vestigation against Congressman Nc"
Lachlan, saving there had been too
much of that sort of thing IN the
| past.
When CLAWS was asked the direct
question if he thought Secretary Bal
linger and Commissioner bennett Were
| in league to do wrong IN the Alaskl
cases, he replied:
''Wcll. ! thought the cases would be
better protected with them out OF the
way
CLAWS s attack seemed to center
more today upon Commissioner Den
nett He said he became convinced In
the summer of 1909 that bennett was
'crookedb and took steps 10 get car
bon copies Of letters bennett was writ
ing back to Washington. Several OF
these letters were introduced IN evi-
dence,
Letter in Evidence.
One was from Commissioner bennett
TO H. II. Schwartz, chief of the field
service. 1t was dated July 20, 1909.
at Seattle, and said, among other
| things:
"My Dear Schwartz: The worst stu
alton on the line is the find here. Our
friend, CLAWS, regarded me with sns'
picion and, after talking while,
coal cases TO Sheridan. Now, L hgure
that CLAWS is preparing to make a
cushion for himself to fall back on, and
also putting himself in shape to have
great story in case Hermann does
not make good and succeed IN can
ceiling the Cunningham cases.
"While he looked innocently at me,
vet | can see that his heart is bad.
though why it should be ! cannot tell,
except that he wanted TO drag the case
ont He may be sincere, of course, IN
his idea that he has not been given
time and opportunity. lie asserts that
he will do all he can, but it is human
nature. or at least his human nature.
The atmosphere is not good at all.
Gould Look Innocent.
"That he is playing the forestry
there is no question:; the innocent look
he gave me when ] told HIM he was
dragging in Shaw. etc, when there was
no necessity, was beautiful.
He has also talked conservation very
strongly. CLAWS talking conservation!
All around he is ugly and he is pre-
pairing to be as unpleasant as he can;
at least that is my solution of the sit
uation.
HGIavis processes the greatest frien6-
shin TO YOU, and ] think him better
than any one else, and this is certain
" the situation We have. He will
make about forty favorable and about
five hundred unfavorable reports; the
way things will commence to drop VIII
be amusing.
In a second letter from bennett to
Schwartz, dated Seattle, July %, 1909,
occurs this paragraph
Coal on the Brain.
"Glavis has these coal cases on the
brain and cannot see anything but Just
one line j have told him how it looks
TO us and have reminded him of every
thing that we have done for him, and
that it looks as if he were returning our
favors by not standing by us, as he
ought 10. He has not acted as you or
I would act under similar circumstances
r 10 ms hts
calling IN the forestry.
There was also introduced in this con-
nection this telegram from Schwartz to
bennett, dated Washington, July 2l:
department has letter from secre
tary Of agriculture, originated in forest
Cunningham hearings until November
Shaw says CLAWS wrote or wired
him recently in connection with the
matter. Require CLAWS to show you
copy his letter to Shaw. it being ncces
sary to determine motive behind agli-
culture s requirement. for such long
delay
CLAWS explained tha- he had asked
Shaw by telegram to come to Seattle TO
co operate with MIN on the nnnipgham
claims, several were III forest re-
serves. This was now the forestry hui
reau first came into the controversy OF.
6cially.
Ballinger's Letter,
Another letter was from Secretary
Ballinger to Mr. Schwartz, dated Boise.
Idaho. July 90, 1909 The secretary of
the interior said among other things:
81 am Just advised by Commissioner
bennett of your telegram in reference
to the increase in the number of special
agents in the excepted class / desire
that you, In making any of these ap.
pointments, in addition to the president
being consulted, Postmaster General
Hitchcock be also consulted, provided
the appointees are not directly sug.
gested by the president
The last document, read while Claws
was on the stand. called out n great
deal of laughter. 1t was a telegram
from Mr.. Schwartz. dated Washington,
August IL. 1909, at the time attacks
were being made upon Secretary Bal
linger and others and was addressed
to M, B. McEniry, special agent at |
Denver, Colo. 1t read
sect INTO scareheads tonight and
Associated Press if possible that secre-
,S-at ho,-