Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-19
ion of the new coal land law of May Is

ton of the new coal land law Of May %
1905.
Didn't Discuss CLAWS Charges.
LAWYER said he had never discussed the
CLAWS charges with Wickersham before
September II. 1909. two days before the
PRONUNCIATION of the Presidents letter.
when did you first become acquainted
with Glavisc"
II never did.
the witness about his legal connection
before he became assistant attorney gem
erai. He asked him about cases in VIII 'ch
he had been engaged in behalf OF western
railroads when he lived in Los Angeles.
Il know what you are driving At. re-
torted the witness. when / was United
States attorney for the southern district
Of California, about three years ago. l
engaged in the prosecution OF persons for
land frauds i'm the Imperial valley, in
southern California.
The witness paused. And the parties
were convicted" be added amid laugh
ter.
CLAWS Complained of Lawler.
1T the inception OF those cases." he
continued. Mr.. CLAWS, who was then
chief of field division for the Oakland
district. made complaint to the commits
sioner OF the general land office that
was not qualified to conduct those cases.
Claws had made the complaint on the
report of subordinate He said that
an examination had been made by the
Department of Justice and he was per-
united to conduct the cases to a sue
cessful close.
Did you not have some reason then to
be prejudiced against Mr.. GAvis?' asked
I:randeis.
Il had no prejudice. I knew he was
absolutely untruthfui''
Don't You think that opinion disaual-
fled you to write a letter as if you were
1T was not an opinion but a demon
stration.''
Brandeis' Request Denied.
Mr. Brandeis precipitated a long wran-
gle among counsel and members Of the
committee when he asked Mr.. LAWYER to
collect all papers and reports in connec-
lion with the matter.
MIR. Brandeis said he thought it impor-
tant To try to establish whether Secretary
Ballinger knew when he introduced Law
Ter TO the President that he was ''preju-
diced to the point OF hatred against
Claws
Strenuous objection was made BY the
republican members of the committee
~ceAice eHS ouiuciiiHEs Va tuc TeCOICS Will
mass OF papers which they thought
Gould not be of Importance
Ny. Brandeis said he would not press
hIs request. but would reserve the right
he recalled and should attempt to assert
that he knew nothing about the charges
Claws had made against Lawler
Mr.. DENLY lad previously moved that
Mr.: Brand"is request be refused. and he
insisted upon q vote when the attorney
said he might renew his request later
Mr.. Graham protested that there was no
necessity to vote. but Chairman Nelson
put the motion. and the result vas prac-
tically unanimous against Mr.. Brandeis'
request.
Senator Fletcher voted with the repub-
'icans. Representative Madison. the '.in-
snrsent member. voted present. as did
also Senator Purcell and Representatives
James and Graham.
Resumins the cross-examination. Mr.
Grandeis asked:
Were any of the members OF your law
f:,n In Los Angeles interested in any way
with the Imperial Valley Water Com
pany?"
Never in any way
This ended the cross-examination, and
after some further interrosations by
members of the committee Mr.. LAWYER
was excused.
Attorney Vertrees, counsel for Secretary
Baiiinger, offered in evidence q, letter
which he said would show that Secretary
Garfield had recommended StenoErapher
kerby for promotion just before his re-
tirement and that the relations between
them were cordial. The letter was not
read, but will be printed.
MI bennett Recalled.
Fred bennett, commissioner Of the gen.
erai land Office, then was recalled for
cross-exanination.
Mr.. Brandeis asked Commissioner Dem
nett II he had authorized special agents
of the Interior Department to do detective
work in an EFFORT to find something
against magazine writer's who had made
attacks upon Secretary Ballinger and the
land ONCE.
Special Agents Investigate.
Mr.. bennett said that two agents. Coul-
ter and Harrison, had been instructed as
a side issue to make some investigations
into the proposition Of the Mississippi Val
ley Transportation Company Of St. Louis,
OF which j. \. Mathews was secretary
lie said Mathews was the author of q
series of articles in Hampton's Magazine,
in which some reflections were made upon
the department.
The letters of instructions sent over
his signature TO the two agents were
read. They had been produced from the
department files at Mr.. Brandeis' re-
quest.
bennett said he did not write the let
tiers himself. but apparently Mr.. Schwartz
improperly in the agents making this
investigation SO long as II did not in
rerfere with government work.