The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-30

were 20 pass upon the cAses In the
same record he bad before him in January.
ioA
Referring 60 the free hand given To Z. r,
CLAWS 20 investigate thoroughly the
Alaskan coal Gases and make good hia
charges against the Cunningham claimants
Secretary Ballinger said CLAWS had never
been interfered with IN any way.
CLAWS was never hammered but was
pampered all the way through. he added.
Mr.. Ballinger explained HE Vlsws ~
% the best way Of handling coal lands
by referring tO memorandum ON that
question which he prepared at tho request
Of President Roosevelt.
When the President Rad IT, said the
witness he said 20 me-: When 0arfseld
and Pinchot see that they'll 20 up through
the roof. bat ! guess the roof h strong
enough TO hold them
Mr.. BAllinger rElsssi an issue OF veractty
between former Secretary Garfield and
himself on Mr. GArfield's testimony
that he did not favor the Cale bill. which
embodied the Baliing-r plan OF selling
coal lands instead OF easing them ana
appearance before n committee Of CongreMS
IN support OF the bill
Mr.. Ballinger said that Mr.. Garfield,
"a shown by documentary evidence, had
knOwn all about the Gale biil, had Ap,
proved IL tacitly 10 not directly and had
known that he Ballingerl was 70 APPEAR
before the committee in support Of the
measure and had intsrposed no Oetection
whatever
Led up 20 the time Of his retirement
from the ONCE Of Land Commissioners.
Mr.. BnilInger suddenly RAISED his voice
and addressed the COMMITTEES earnestly.
The aasiduous attempt OF certain
malicious and malignant people % oiron-
late throughout the country the charge
that l carried away informatlol that
could nae To the detTiment Of the Govern
ment- he said. has not the slightest
foundation i'm fact. All the Information
could have been used in all fairness in
any way I desired without possibility Of
preiudice to any Interests OF the United
States. There was nothing pending at
the time against any OF these interests or
q record which was In CONFIRMATION OF
the rights Of these people CUNNINGHAM
claimAntsl TO have their patents further
than the uniqus1protest Of this man CLAWS.
He stated no facts that could have war
rAnted a public officer in holdingplp claims.
except the suspicion that there might have
been something which might have been
investigated
once OF Land Commissioner voluntarily.
In fact. he said. his retirement was de-
hahtfully voluntary. He then read q
letter from former President Roosevelt
expressing regret az his retirensnt and
added by way OF comment:
1t was the frequent remark OF the
President 90 mutual friends that he had
secured a $40 90 man for Land Commits
sioneF for sS.OOO. | was glad 90 go back
and tl-y 10 earn some OF that 80. 600
MIR Ballinger read alAo a letter of regret
90 his retirement from MIR. Garfield. what
had been his chief. and in reDly tai di-
rect question from Ms. Nertr~rs said the
he and Mr. Garfield had parted good
friends. In support of this Mr.. BallinRer
started 20 read a letter he had written
Co MIR Garfield shortly after his return
to Seattle in March. ls0s.
The letter was addressed My Dear
Jim Mr.. Ralling~r read only the open
ing sentence " hon his voice broke and IL
vac apparent that he was laboring under
great emotion Mr. Nertres-S thereupon
took the letter and read 10 while Mr.
BalhnRer regained sef-control There
was a reference in the first paragraph 90
Mr RAllingers mother. who u nov aged
and very feeble. and apparently u vas the
thought IT her that affected the Score |
tary The point In the letter which Mr.
VertreeS wanted 20 bring out was Mr..
BallinGer's statement that he was fairly
besiegei with people who wanted him
20 look after matters for them a. attorney
In the General Land once and Interior
Department Mr. Rallinger ssii that he
did very little Of this and explained such
Gases in which ne had acted as counsel
Cor land claimants.
Mr. Rallinger also declared that Glavis's
testimony 80 the effect that he (RallinRer
had talked with CLAWS about political
contributions in lo0s was n deliberate lie.