The Washington times., 1910-01-28
CLAWS MAKES TAFT
LETTERS AN ISSUE
Attorney Declares President
Presented Only Part of
Land Case

Statements made by President TAFT
and Attorney General VVIckersham were
called into Issue today when the BAL
linger investigation was resumed AIr.
Brandeis, counsel for Louis R Claws.
read letters written by Ballinszr. which
indicated that instead Of having only
formal knowledge Of the Cunningham
coal land case, as claimed by the Presi-
dent and Attorney General, he had fun
and intimate knowledge
The letters showed conclusIveIy, said
0ir- Brandeis. that Bauinger was. IN
fact. directing the investigation.
The testimony Of CLAWS at the morn
ing session was TO the effect that Com
missioner BalIinger talked over she en-
tire matter OF the land frauds with
him. ordered him TO make a thorough
investigation. but within two weeks. and
before he had q chance 10 get the In
vesugation vel started. the Cunning
ham claims were cIear-listed- CLAWS
said he Immediately protested against
this action in telegram 20 COmuis-
ssoner Rauinger. as = result OF when
the clear-listing was Withdrawn
Partial View Of Case
In submitting certain letters and teie-
grams dealing with the Cunningham
cases he claimed that, n dispOsing
OF the CLAWS charges last sumner,
President Taft and Attorney General
Wickersham only made a presentation
OF the case
The committee room was well fIIed
when the hearing vas renewed az 1910
O'Clock this morning clifford Pinchot
arrived early and followed the testi-
mouy closely, frequently referring 10
papers as important points were brought
up Claws was more nervous today
than when he first appeared
Even while answering questions his
fingers played with an elastic band
Fully one-third OF the spectators were
women Several members OF the House
were interested followers Of the case.
among them being Representative Nye
OF Minnesota. COviugtOn Of Maryland.
and Martin OF Colorado. the last named
an avowed enemy Of the Pinchot poll
cles
when ths BailinEer Investigation was
resumed today the examination Of Louis
r CLAWS, the chief witness against
Secretary BaIIinger, was continued
The witness chair had been placed on
Of the members OF the committee.
At the opening OF the hearing Mr..
Brandefs, counsel for Claws, called at
tentiOn 70 the decision in favor Of the
Government two days ago IN the Wilson
coal land cases. These cases. CLAWS
charged on the first day Of the hearing.
were fraudulent
Senator Nelson said he had written
to the United States judge who rendered
the decision, asking him to send a COPY
OF his opinion. Counsel for CLAWS ex-
peCt nat the evidence in the Wilson
case VIII have important bearing on
the i-7estigation-
Alaska Cases First.
The Alaska coal land cases we're the
first considered this morning. Claws
said that Assistant United States Attor-
ney HOyt informed him in 1897 that the
coal claimants admitted lat their
claims were fraudulent As 2 result OF
this and other Information in his pos
session relating to these Alaska coal
lands, Claws wrote the Land Office that
he was alarmed by the conditions he
found. and asked to come to Washing
ton to explain the situation
Mr. Brandeis read several letttrs writ
ten by Mr. BaIlinger when the latter
was Land Commissioner, to show that
both President Taft and ATTORNEY Cen
erai Wickersham We're mistaken when
they asserted that Mr.. BaIlinRer's
knowledge Of the Alaska cases WIS
merely formal These letters showed
that Mr.. Ballinger was directing the na-
tUre Of the investigation which the
agents in the field should make
Questions by Chairman Nelson
brought out the fact from Mr.. Brandeis
that Claws was not the first Govern
ment official to detect the pOssibiIfrv OF
frauds IN the Alaska coal lands. Love
and Jones both having made reports on
the subject
Reported To Schwartz.
Upon his arrival in Washington
CLAWS testified, he informed Schwartz
that the Interested parties asserted that
further investigation ii Seattle woui5
cease, and that they would be given
patents TO the land CLAWS told
Schwartz that # the Investigation
stopped a scandal would follow
Sc; -TaTtz agreed, said CLAWS. thar
something should be done. and ne vent
10 COmIussionrr IsaiIiRger, who then
summoned CLAWS before him
The Commissioner told CLAWS that
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