The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-05-24
PROBE NEAR END
Last Evidence Submitted
in BaIIinger Case.
NO MORE PERKINS LETTERS
Ballinger Declares Careful Searcl
Fails to Reveal Any Others.
Arguments Take Place
Next Week.

Washington, May 2l.-The taking of
testimony in the Ballinger. Pinchot in.
Nesugation has ended. and the com.
mittee adjourned TO meet again next
FRIDAY 70 hear oral argument by coun-
sci
Two days will be devoted 20 speech.
making. The so-called prosecution
Will open. and for five hours next Fri.
day the committee will listen to the
addresses Of Louis ID. Brandeis. coun-
sci FOR l.. r. CLAWS. and George Whar.
ton Pepper. counsel for Clifford Pin.
chot
The defense" will sum up its case
on Saturday. May 2S. John J. Vertrees.
counsel for Secretary Ballinger. will
have five hours in which to answer
the attorneys for the othN side. Such
time as the attorneys for the prosecu.
ton 'shall have reserved out OF the
TWO and a half hours assigned TO each
may be used in closing.
Both sides will have until Monday
June 10. in which TO file briefs with
the committee to assist Il in reaching
decision on the great mass OF evi.
uence which has been presented.
Mr. Smythe. OF counsel for Mr.. Pin.
chot. made statement 10 the commit.
Tee that he and Mr.. Pepper desired 10
put in the record certain affidavits "a
contradict charges against the forest
service made in a report presented by
Secretary Ballinger regarding the Min.
onomee Indian reservation. Waste OF
the Indians money In numbering oper
ations was charged against the forest
service.
Mr.. Nertrees said he had no obiec.
ton TO the filing OF these afidavits
provided he could have the same privi
lege
lie said he was, opposed to making
any argument before the committee
He said he could not see the necessity
Tor II. II the evidence had been pre-
sented 10 an ordinary jury he would
want 10 argue his case. he said. but the
committee was composed OF legisla.
tors, some Of them judges and all OF
them lawyers who knew as much
about the case as he did.
And In the second place" he added
with a smile. Il don't think there is
anything 20 argue"
The plan finally adopted was the
suggestion Of Mr.. Brandeis. lie said
he desired to present oral argument
and TO follow II with brief in due
course.
Senator Nelson. the chairman. read
letter from Secretary Ballinger in
response To the request OF Mr.. Bran
deis that a further search of the de-
partment files be made for two let.
ters of the ins-Ballinger CORES
pondence.
Mr.. Ballinger wrote that a further
and careful search failed to reveal any
other letters than those already made
public. lie said Mr.. Perkins letter of
June 19. 1909 inviting his son. Ed.
ward. TO accompany him and Mrs.
Perkins on a trip to Alaska during the
summer probably had been enclosed
by Mrs Ballinger In a letter addressed
by her to her son at williams college.
but he would endeavor TO obtain the
letter.
Mr.. Ballinger declared he could not
recall having received any letter from
Perkins in September. and that he had
already furnished the committee with
all letters between Perkins and him
self that could be found.
There was no correspondence be
tween Mr.. Perkins aud myself which
had any business connection" wrote
Mr.. Ballinger "and-it was all purely a
friendly concern"