The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-05-10
BALL|NGER
is GUARDED
he Continues to Refuse
to Answer Question
by Brandeis

Washington. May 10-Secrctary
Ballinger continued under cross cX-
animation by Attorney Brandeis. coun-
sci Tor l.. II. CLAWS and others. when
the Ballinger.Pinchot investigation
Was resumed today. The congress-
ional committee will meet on Friday
In the hope that the attorneys Will
conclude their questioning OF the sec
rotary OF the interior by that time.
Commissioner bennett. of the general
land office. and Chief OF Field Dlyi-
sion Schwartz Will be the next VII
nesseS 10 take the stand for the de-
fense.
Attorney Brandeis had requested
the committee to call on President
Taft and through him on Oscar Law
Ter. assistant attorney general. Mr..
Brandeis, at the opening of hearing
today, asked what disposition had been
made of his request Chairman Mel
son replied that IL had not been act
cd upon owing to the limited mem.
bers present when executive sessions
were held.
Mr.. Brandeis strongly intimated dur
ing his cross examination OF Mr., Bal
linger last Friday that the President
had not carefully weighed the CLAWS
charges himself. but had taken action
on memoranda prepared for him by
Mr.. Lawler.
a spirited controversy among NOM
bers of the committee was precipl.
tated by Mr. Brandeis, asking Secrc,
tary Balllnger If he had not heard II
stated In most public manner by
/ Samuel H Piles that Charles
/ Sweeney, one of the Cunningham
claimants and president of the Fed
eral Smelling company. subsidiary
company OF the Guggenhcim Syndi-
cate, had been instrumental in mis-
/ (PilesJ election as United States sea-
ator
/ Senator Sutherland objected TO NJ
Brandeis dragging a senator into
! this investigation He said the COM
mittee had not been authorized TO In
yestigate a senator
, Mr.. Brandels explained that he had
no desire 10 reflect on Mr. Piles,
other than to show that he had been
| Inc instrument In the hands of tho
| powerful interests OF the northwest
to bring about the election OF a man
for commissioner of the land office,
who held different Views on Alaskan
matters from Secretary Garfield
Chairman Nelson put the question
TO vote and by party vote OF 2 to
4. the committee decided Secretary
Ballinger would not be allowed TO ans
wer the question
Mr. Ballinger had previously admit.
ted that. as a matter OF common
rumor In Seattle. he had heard that
M ho Il fob A.,
election.
Mr.. Brandcis read transcript of an
article published In a Seattle news
paper, In January, 1905. just after
Piles election as senator 1t told of
a celebration held in Seattle hotel
and. later at a social club in which
Mr. Balllnger then mayor. c. ]. Smith.
e. E. Todd, United States District At.
torney at Seattle; II. c. Henry and
Z. j. Smith. two of the Cunningham
claimants, participated
Mr.. Piles was quoted as saving in
speech on that occasion that, 81
owe my election to Charles Sweeney
He made me senator"
District Attorney Todd was quoted
as saving
We are all Sweeney men now
MIR. BallInger said he had some rec.
objection OF the celebration that he
had attended simply in his capacity as
mayor and did not recall and did
not intend TO attempt to recall what
was said on that OCCASION
\ My appointment as commissioner
was accepted under protest" said Mr.
Ballinger TT was declined by me
when Mr.. Piles wired me, urging me
10 accept ] accepted only on the ur.
gent effort OF President Roosevelt anu
Secretary Garfield and then only ait.
er full consideration Of what | con.
celved public duty"
MT. Brandeis questioned the secre.
tary at great length regarding the
clear listing OF the Cunningham Alas.
Kan claims"
He asked nim whether he thought
the clear-listlng was In effect a dec.
! laration that the necessary exam,nn.
lion for claims had been made and
there was no reason why they should
not be patented.
Mr' Ballinger did not answer speci.
ilcaliy as required by Mr.. BallInger.