The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-05-05
R. A. BALLINGER
TAKES The STAND
Secretary of the Interior Makes An
Swer To Grave Charges Made by
CLAWS and PinchOt

WASHINGTON, ID. c. Special
Richard A. Ballinger, Secretary of the
Interior, took the witness stand Friday
morning before the special Senate
ana House Investigating Committee
and began the narration of his side
OF the conservation controversy and
TO make answer to the charges made
against him by Pinchot. CLAWS and
others.
The room was crowded when Mr..
BalliEger stood up and was sworn,
and there was deep interest in the
proceedings.
Mr.. Bal1inger was sworn by Chair
man Nelson in the formal way.
This is r. A. Ballinger. Secretary
OF the INTERIOR" was Mr.. Vertree's
first question.
Yes. sir" replied Mr.. Ballinger.
Sketch of Himself
lie then proceeded to give a brief
biographical sketch of himself He
had been judge on the bench, had
written a textbook and was elected
Mayor of Seattle. When he took the
office the city was a wide-open town
he enforced the laws. he said, and
put the city in a decent condition.
The city has remained in wholesome
condition since he left the office. he
said.
Mr.. Ballinger then proceeded to tell
now IL happened that he came to be
ice in President Roosevelt's admins
tration. He read first a telegram from
senator Piles, OF Washington. suggest
confer the cOmmissionership upon him
Later there came request from Sec
rotary Garfield. and following that an
! offer from President Roosevelt. The
correspondence was read, and Mr.. Bal
fingers replies.
Didn't Seek Omce.
They ali went TO show that Mr.. Bal
linger had not sought the office, but
mat ne accepted IL after consulting
tation OF Secretary Garfieid and Pres
ident Roosevelt. He had been an in
innate friend Of Secretary Garheld's
brother. and was fairly we'll acquainted
with Secretary Garfield himself They
had attended the same college. He was
one year ahead OF Garfield.
Mr.. Ballinger said that his law firm
| had practically no business with the
land office. and with the exception OF
ents who were interested in land cases.
, He had no interest in Alaska anyway.
sisted in orgenizine the Pionee eao MAS as
/ ing Company. OF Nome. Alaska, in 1904
That was the extent OF his firms bust
ness in Alaska. He considered that he
| made a great personal sacrifice in be-
| coming COMMISSIONS OF the Land Of
| did so because President Roosevelt had
! expressed a desire to have such a man
as the head OF the land Office
| offered No Apology.
! Ballinger said that when he came
L
| II am glad that you are here. and I
] don't offer any apology for your COM
! ing. Anybody who could clean Seat
tie as you did can clean up the, land
| office"
THAT was my introduction into the
| land Office" said Mr.. Ballinger, and
understood that would have to carry
| on some heroic methods"
| He then went on to tell of condi-
| tons which prevailed in the land office
when he took charge and what he had
done to correct abuses, and to inaugu-
rate new and up-to-date business
methods.
He told of several new regulations
! which he had put in force, and dis
covered that there was about $500, 900
| in the hands of receivers of public
moneys which was not properly pro-
tected. He had this money brought
into the treasury. Mr.. Ballinger said
he did not know Clarence Cunning
| ham when he came into office, and
had no knowledge of coal lands in
/ Alaska; in fact, that the land Office
knew very little of the actual field con-
ditions. In the fall of 1907 Mr.. Bal
| linger said he learned much of af-
| fairs in Alaska from the delegation
that was here from the territory. In
/ regard to coal lands the complaint was
that a claim of 160 acres could not be
successfully worked. In the States
the limit was $40 acres and he said
he sought to improve the land laws
of Alaska.