The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-03-26
CLAWS ATTORNEY DEMANDS
THAT SECRETARY BE
CALLED TO TESTIFY.
SENSATION IS SPRUNG
Lawyer Declares He Needs Official to
Identify Two Letters introduced in
Would Like to Submit Witness to
Thorough Examination IN Addition.

Washington March 25.-The Ballin-
ger pinchot inquiry was resumed to-
DAY after an adjournment OF practi-
cally two weeks. Az soon az the COM
mittee met this morning, Attorney
Brandeis. representing Louis r. CLAWS
and others. sprang surprise by re-
questing that Secretary Ballinger be
called as one of his witnesses. Mr..
Brandes said nj first he wished TO
identify by Mr.. Ballinger two letters
he desired 10 Introduce in evidence at
this time. Questioned further by
members of the committee as TO his
intent, he admitted he desired to con-
duet general examination OF the ac-
cused cabinet official. Counsel for
Mr. Ballnger objected to this and
called forth from Mr. Brandeis the re-
mark that from his letters he had al
ways supposed Mr.. Ballinger 10 be
ready 10 appear whenever and as
often as anyone connected with the
inquiry desired.
Some members Of the committee
seemed Ia think Mr.. Ballinger az the
person most interested In the inquiry
should have opportunity To make his
statement first In his own way and
not subject himself To cross-ex-
animation before being examined In
chief, The matter was passed over.
to be decided later In executive ses-
sion. The witness stand was occupied
during the entire day by Stephen
Birch. managing director OF the Nor
gan-Guggenheim syndicate in Alaska.
II was thought at first Mr.. BIrch's
testimony would be largely perfume
tory In character and would follow
the lines OF his recent statement made
before the senate committee on ter
ritories. Members of the committee,
became deeply interested In the opera
tions OF the Alaskan syndicate and
they piled the witness with questions
from every possible angle. Much OF
the questioning was intended to show
that the Guggenheims practically con-
trol Alaska. Mr.. Birch stoutly denied
this.
What's Left.
Well" he was asked by Represen-
tative Graham. III the Guggenheims
got control Of the coal lands In Alaska
what would there be left?'
Mr.. Birch said he did not think this
was fair question to ask him. He
admitted that the Guggenheim inter-
ests We're large. that they had in
vested some sl5.00O.000 already and had
contracted for the expenditure OF
other millions. There had been no re-
turns from these investments as yet
But the syndicate had hopes
AZ to the Guggenhem claims. Mr.
Birch produced the option that a COM
mittee OF the claimants had given to
Daniel Guggenhelm July 20. 1907. He
declared this option had been accept
ed by the Guggenheims December Z
OF that year. The claimants, however.
had never lived up to It's terms. Cum
nlngham, he said. in January or Feb
ruary, 1908, had eontended that the
Guggenheims themselves had yoided
the option by changing their railroad
base from Katalla TO cordova ana
furthermore the option was OF no ef-
feet because majority OF the claim
ants had never ratified IT, Mr.. Bran.
, deis sought to show the Morgans and
Guggenheims with their great power
. and Influence In this country" must
nave brought pressure 10 bear during
the last two years to get patents
granted to the Cunningham claimants.
, Mr., Birch declared, however, that he
knew OF no such efforts.
"Wha. could we have done?" he
protested
, All Mr.. Birch. you can answer that
FAR better than L. dramatically ex-
claimed Mr., Brandeis
AS to his estimate that coal I'm
!, Alaska was worth 80 cents a ton and
therefore the Cunningham claims rep
), resented an actual value OF $4,000. .OO0.
. Mr.. Birch declared il was Just as sen /.
sible 10 say the ieebergs In Alaska
=, were of inestmable value. The ice
!, bergs, he said. would be valuable (.
;, they could be brought TO market In
TINS country SO 1t was with the coal.
, put first the transportation facilities
! mad to be provided, 1t was evident
! To-Day members of the committee are
= growing irritable and this irrtability
- extends to counsel. There were fire.
qnent clashes and both Br. Brande,s
and Mr. Vertrees apoiogized at The
- close or the session for impatient re.
- marks