The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1910-02-03
NELSON AND
CLAWS HAVE
FIRST CLASH
SENATOR TELLS WITNESS TO AN
SwER QUESTIONS ASKED AND
NOT MAKE COMMENT.
PiNCt0T'S NAME IS HEARD.
Ex-Forester'a Name Drawn Into Hearing
on the First Day of Ills
Absence
BALLINGER CHARGES CONTINUED

WASHINGTON. d. C.. Jan %
Louis X. CLAWS continued his testimony
today before the joint congressional com
mittee inouiring into the BallingerPn-
chot controversy. He declared, among
other things, that Mr.. Ballinger, on one
occasion instructed him not to pursue an
nvestigatiou against Representative Nc-
Lauchlin of California, who held a claim
in the Green group of coal lands i'll Alas
ka. lie quoted Mr. Balluger as saying
there had been too much of that sort of
hing in the past.
The witness gave further details OF
his work in connection with the fraud
cases. and said he had once though" of
resigning from the service in orde: to
give out the facts TO the press but was
advised not to do that, as it would make
too much of scandal at the beginning
Of President Tatt's administration.
CLAWS Immediately took the stand
when the hearing was resumed. The
witness gave some more details as TO
how he came into possession of the Gun
bingham journal, which, he declared,
contained proof that fraud was cOntem-
plated in this group of coal land entries
in Alaska.
The session had not proceeded far
when Senator Nelson Clashcd with the
witness. who had minated that at
tempts had been made to hinder the in
vestigation of the Alaska cases during
the period from October, 1905 to March,
1909.
In any of your talks with Land Com
missioner Bennett or others was there,
as matter of fact, any attempt to him
der you in your work. asked the chulr-
man.
We'll, / would have"
A lal bp
senator.
We'll, | will have to explain the vari-
Gus interviews"
"Oh, answer it directly, yes or no."
Yes, they did"
Attorney Is Cautioned
Senator Nelson also cautioned Attor-
ney Brandcs against asking leading
questions of the witness. For the first
time since he inquiry started, Clifford
| rinchot was not in the first row of spec
tatorS this morning. lie was expected
later in the day.
Mr.. pinchot's name, oddly enough, was
drawn into the hearing ON the first day
of his absence. CLAWS had got to that
point in his story of the Cunningham
claims where the land office placed Spo-
cal Agent Sheridan in charge of the case
to conduct the hearings.
sheridan was a lawyer of wide OK
YES, sir" replied CLAWS.
''Was the governments interest placed
in jeopardy by his aSSignmcutF'
NO, sir, not by that action. lie took
| the same view of the case that did
WASN'T it the fact that sheridan su.
| perseded you that made you think IT nee
essary to apply to linchOt to introduce
| you to the President and that SO alarmed
you as to the status Of these caSeSE
"a great many things alarmed me be
| sides that: that didn't alarm me very
much. | applied to Mr.. Pnchot after
| had protested against the cases going
| TO hearing in July | wanted first to
make a field examination
Jerome Attends Meeting.
| Former District Attorney Jerome Of
/ New York arrived during tho session and
| was a figure of interest. Representative
/ Madison had some little difficulty in get
| ting direct answer from the witness as
! to whether it was absolutely essential
| that a field examination should be made
| before hearings were held.
Now. Mr. Glavis,' he said finally, 81
am trying in a perfectly kindly and
| sympathetic way to ascertain your 20
| siton in the matter"
CLAWS declared n field examination
was necessary TO establish prima faciC
| case.
"Wen. what so alarmed you about
these cases?' again asked Senator Mel
| son.
AN that l have been tcstifying t.
! alarmed me-" said CLAWS, "and a lo
of testimony | have not given yet"
One of the letters put in evidence was
addressed by Chief of Field Division
! Schwartz to c. w. Woodruff, assiStan
attorney general for the interior depart
mcnt. Mr.. BrandciS then read n lctte,
which after making certain inquiries ~
to the Interpretation of the Alaska Goa
land act of May 2S. 1908, said:
submit this inquiry in no spirit Of criti
cism Of the regulations except that Zee
| that we need every ounce OF power to pre-
! vent Alaska frauds which will, by compnri
son, make past frauds appear as petit lar
ccny. We have pending about 800 coal en-
tries; every man on the coast who know
anything. knows the Guggcnhcms do an
will control the coal situation unless a
| once forestalled; the act Of May 2s, 800
limits its consolidation benefits TO entire
already made CGuggcnheim ana two o
three other corporations, and so shuts on
future competition Exhibits show coal (
from % to 80 feet width blankets Of clca
coal The 800 entries have say 10000 acres
At 10 cents n ton on 20 foot vein the roya
ty alone is StGO, oDO.oD Suppose IN five o
ten wears Guggcuhcim shall have acquire
control of these landsf viii It be charge
TO Secretary Garfield ana COMMISSIONS
| bennett?
Nelson Takes Exception.
Senator Nelson said he was chairma
of the public lands committee when tn
act of May % referred to, was passed.
Secretary Garfield recommended tina
act" he said; Secretary BaIinger la
nothing whatever to do with it."
eve have no fault to find with til
act" said Attorney Brandcis
II don't want you to convey the iu
preston that il was passed for the bcno
fit of the Guggcnhems or anybody else,
remarked Senator Nelson.
"As to the act itself and as to VIII
IT was passed we find no fault" sal
Brandes. "but it was the constructio
given the law, which but for the iute
vention of Mr.. CLAWS would have ben,
Gted those people. Mr.. CLAWS contcstc
tho construction Of Assistant Secretar
Pierce. and had il overruIcd by Alto
ney General Wiokorsham."