The Washington times., 1910-02-15
Appointment of Special
Agents Subject TO His
Approval.
CHARGE SPECIFIED
AGAINST BENNETT
Misinterpretation of Law Basis OF
Allegation Against
Pierce.

The fact that Postmaster General
Hitchcock was to be consulted in the
matter OF special agents OF the General
Land Office in connection with the in
vestigation OF the Alaska ooaI land
cases was emphasized today during the
denomination Of Louis R. Claws BY
J. J Vertress. counsel for Secretary
Bauinger
Claws was pressed by Mr. vertresS
TO specify in what manner Fred Den
nett, commission Of the General Land
Office, was guilty Of Official niscon-
duct The witness declared that his
correspondence furnished evidence 10
that effect Mr. Vertress rea da num-
Der Of letters and teIeerams written
by bennett 10 demonstrate that the
commissioner was anxious 20 thorough
~ investigate the Alaska coal cases.
lie then read a brief portion Of a let
ter written by Secretary BaIIingsr TO
show that that official also was anxious
20 push the cases
Read all the letter. suggested M
Brludeis.
1T IS unimportaHt.- responded Mr.
Nertrees-
Let Us have All OF the letter inter
jectcd Mr Graham, a member OF the
committee
Hitchcock to Be Consulted
Mr. Vertrees then read the entire let
Ter written By Nr- BaInser 10 II. II.
Schwartz. chief OF the feId service. in
s+rFctlnE him II consult T7stuss
General HitchcocA about the appoint
ment Of ten special agents in the ex-
cepted class who were to be appointed.
IN addition 20 consulting the wishes OF
the President
At the hearing this morning Mr. Yer
trees again had Claws declare that his
only charge against Assistant Secretary
Pierce was that he acted wrongly in his
Interpretation OF the Law Of 1915 The
witness was next told 10 specify in what
manner bennett mad been guilty OF mis-
conduct. hut he had not made much
progress when the committee took re-
cess for lunch
It is expected that NIr- Eertrees viii
conclude mis- cross-exami1at5on Of Claws
curing the afternoon session and that
Henry n FIovt, attorney general fo-
by MI Brandeis- Hoyt was The conf
daut Of Claws Turing the investigation
OF tbs ccaI land cases and vas respon-
siTIe fcT having CLAWS present MS csse
TO the Attorney GelsrlI- Mr. Brandefs
is depending upon Hoyt 20 corro5orate
practically all OF the testimony given
by CLAWS
Details Of Hearing
Louis r CLAWS was caIIeS 10 the
witness stand fer further cross-eNami-
nation Jv J. J. Vertrpes. counsel for
Secretary BaIlinger- when the i'm esti-
cation OF the Interior Department vss
resumed today \ majority of the
spectators Who crowded into the hear
ing room we're fsshiona5ly dressed
women
Before the hearing began. Air- Yer
trees expressed the opinion that hs
would conclude his CroSs-examinatlon
Of CLAWS today CLAWS viii be follow
ed on the stand by Henry n. Hoy5,
attorney general for Porto Rico
Louis Brandeis, counsel for Claw =.
IS confident that Hoyt viii corToborate
many OF the statements male oy CLAWS
IN regard 10 MS investigation OF the
Alaska coal lands.
Mr.. Verfrees asked that the Forest
received by It from CLAWS bearing on
5hc Alaska coal lands He also asked
that sEbpoeuas be issued for ~ Chris
Jensen, successor OF CLAWS at Seattle.
anI G. O-Ne'u. custodian Of she Federal
building al Seattle, with the accompany
inc order thar tie box IN which pape-s
arc alleged TO have been hidden 10y
CLAWS. BE brought to Washington.
Chairman Nelson announced that the
sUbpOeaas would be issued.
Claws Explains Answer.
The cross examination had not pro-
ceedcd far This morning when Giavis
once more locked horns with AR Yer
trees lie insisted on answering quCs-
lions l. MS OE1 way and adding an eS-
plSuaTIOn- Nert-ces protested, but TIE
committee ruled that CLAWS could eE-
plaiI1 his answers when he considered it
necessary, the committee reSerVing the
right 20 exclude the explanation II iC
had no direct bearing on The question
asked
Air. vertrees dfreC-ed his opening
Questions with a view to having Claws
explain his criticism Of Assistant Secre-
tary Pierce for hIs Interpretation OF the
law OF 1908
Is tcis The only matter" asked M
Xertrees. which you hold agains- Mr.
Pierce -
Yes. sir replied .5Isvis.
What 10 YOU charge against Com-
missioner Dennect2'
One of the things against him IS
the letters he wrote said Claws re-
ferring 70 Dennett-S letters 10 Schwartz
and others complaining Of the actions
Of Claws In the coal land fnvestiga--
tons
Asked to Specify