New-York tribune., 1910-01-18
BALLlNGER DENIES
BACK At HITCHCOCK
Secretary Calls Malodministra-
hon Charge False.

N4snlisuon, Jan. 17.-Secretarv Ballineer
labe tonight issued a long statement in
which ne denied categorically the charges
% ine administration in the Interior De-
90, lt''ielIt m maoe by Representative Hitch
COCK his denial was sweeping and am,
pHaHe' several OF the charges being char
acterized as ridiculous" while others were
said TO be "ridiculously false
The statement came as a surnrisa as
Alr. Ballinger in the afternoon disclosed
olsposiuon TO let the matter go unan-
I s"ereo until the joint Investigating com
mittee had been organized
answering IN turn each of the charges
mace To-day by Mr.. Hitchcock in his state
ment- Mr. Ballinger asserts that .'in so far
as Ihey allege any extrava gance, wrong
ooihs or favoritism" on his part they
are absolutely without foundation
alse; ridiculously false; equally false:
equally ridiculous; a peculiarly unwarrant-
60 assault upon an efficient government
oii,oer' the latter referring to Mr.
Schwartz. chief of field service. are ex
ptessiohs which he uses in his reputation
OF the various charges
In regard 70 appointing a reia+i,-a Il
balinger, as confidential clerk when he be-
came Commissioner of the Land Office tbe
secretary says this was because he was not
personally acquainted before coming here
Win any officers or clerks in the Land Of
nee, and desired TO have as confidential
clerk some one whom he knew He SAYS
that Judge Wright was removed. not 10
make way for J. H. Ballinger but because
Judge Wright's age. he being nearly
eighty. made him physically disqualified
To perform his duties The vacancy on
the law board, he says. was filled. not by
Jack Ballinger. but by Judge Gray.
he says that the certain large brick
chimney" TO which Mr. Hitchcock alluded
was erected pursuant 70 A specific appro-
prtation for that purpose by Congress:
that the additional clerks in the land office
complained of were made necessary by the
appropriation by Congress Of s.. 100000 for
protecting public lands, and that the charge
in regard TO the purchase of furniture is
on par with that relating to the employ
n1ent Of additional clerks"
The statement was presented by Mr.
Hirchcock at a meeting of the committee
called 10 permit him to substantiate his
charges OF extravaganza in the Interior
Department. The committee decided TO
issue subp9nas on Secretary BaIlinger,
Commissioner bennett OF the General Land
Office and all others interested in the
charges, 70 appear as witnesses before
the committee next Wednesday morning
The statement alleges improper use of
the million dollar appropriation for the
protection of the public domain against
frauds" by the purchase Of expensive flIrnt-
ture. mounting into the tens of thousands
OF dollars" the erection of "a certain large
brick chimney for land Office al consider
able expense the employment of some
eighty additional clerks. salaries increased
and in one case at least doubled out Of
this million dollar fund Citing the case OF
Chief of the Field Service Schwartz as this
instance), long telegraph bills. which cover
long extracts from the newspapers sent In
by travelling representatives Of the General
Land Office. selection of special agents not
al all qualified" etc.
THE WRIGHT NATTER
The statement asserts that when Mr.
Ball!nger became Commissioner of the Cen
eral Land Office. the position he held before
entering the Cabinet, he reduced the salary
Of the law clerk. Judge Wright, so that
Wrtghts 5000 salary could be given 70
Jack Ballinger. his second cousin, not
under the title of law clerk, but under the
title, created by Mr.. Ballingers order, OF
confidential clerk. I have been told Wright
died Of disappointment and humiliation soon
thereafter
Jack Ballinger remained 4 year in the
service. the statement says. his manner
Of living about the time his uncle resigned
IN March, 1908, being alleged 70 illustrate
the reckless expenditures of the Land
Office"
II was announced" the statement goes
On 10 say. that young Jack BalIinger was
leaving the land Office to resume law prac-
tlce in Seattle. IN order that he might re-
ceIve final rake-oh he was designated as
special temporary inspector of Offices, an
evident outrage on the Treasury This
enabled him 70 draw travelling expenses
from Washington 10 Seattle, and d per diem
also Within two weeks after he reached
Seattle he resigned. as understood in ad-
vance. and resumed law practice includ-
ing, Of course, practice before the land
office out there and also in Washington"
HITCHCOCK'S WITNESSES.
Mr.. Hitchcock declared this 10 be-. only
one Of many outrages on the Treasury
which could be found, and suggested TO
the committee that the following govern
ment employees be called 70 furnish specific
information
J Z Yelverton. chief Of Division P. or
his assistant, Bert Marshall, or Irving Rit
tenhouse. schief of the accounts division,
General Land Office concerning the pur-
chase of desks. fling cases, etc OUT of
Of the General Land once. concerning
eighty-odd clerks performing ordinary
clerical duties not connected in anv wav
with the protection OF the public domain.
though so paid
Concerning the offlce of Chief of the
Field Service, occupied by H H Schwartz.
the statement alleges that position was
created for Mr Schwartz, without warrant
Of law, his salary being raised from s. 900
as special agent 70 81 300 as Chief Of Field
Service
Mr- Hitchcock recommended investigation
OF statements made in an ANONYMOUS let
Ter 10 him that declared Mr. Ballinger's
system OF files has so mixed confused, be-
logged the clerks, files and records that
there is now absolutely no one who knows
anything about anything that appertains
70 The of1ce.' requiring over hundred
clerks against fifteen under the old system
Mr. Hitchcock suggests that the commit
tee demand an ltenized statement of ex-
perdituress under the fund. The commit
tee probably will also meet next Saturday
70 continue the investigation.
Mr.. Hitchcocks statement" said Chair
man Mcguire Of the committee was bsssd
solely, as he said 10 the committee on
rumors. We are going 70 the bottom Of the
matter. and l have not detected any dis
position on the part of any members of
the committee 20 be otherwise than en-
tirely fair 20 both sides"