The San Francisco call., 1910-04-09
BRANDF|SFLAYS
BALLINGER FOR
HOLDING
Attorney for Prosecution" Se-
cures Order to Compel Secre-
tary TO Furnish Documents
Defense" Lays Stress on Ale
legged Discovery of Missing
Letters in CLAWS Effects

WASHINGTON. April S.-The Balm
ger-Pinchot investigation dragged
along wearisomely today with more
testimony about the alleged discovery
Of p missing letters among Claws ef-
fects that had been left in the Federal
building at Seattle
The defense" evidently is laying
great store by this discovery, and the
hearings for the last three or four ses-
siOns have been given over almost en-
tirely to this subject. A mass of docu-
mentary evidence was put in while
Andrew Christensen. Claws successor
as chief Of field division at Seattle, was
on the stand
Attorney Brandeis OF the "prosecu-
tion" was admonished concerning his
method Of cross examination by Senator
sutherland
Alfred H Brooks, mineral expert of
the geological survey. took the stand
late in the day 10 testify regarding the
value and extent Of the coal resources
IN Alaska II was evident from his
statement Of the case that the value OF
the coal felds had generally been over
estimated Brooks said the coal in the
katalla field, where the Cunningham
claims are located. is probably not
worth more than half a cent ton.
BALLINGER LAST WITNESS
When the committee assembled TO
consider further evidence in behalf of
Secretary BalIinger there still existed
doubt as 70 the order in which Vor-
lies would present his witnesses. It
has become more and more evident that
81 is the intention Of the defense" to
hold Balinger for the last, for it is
believed that upon his testimony more
than any other factor in the case, the
c0mmittees final determination will
depend.
II. II. Schwartz. chief OF field service,
and Fred Bennett. commissioner of the
general land office, are other witnesses
whose testimony viii have an inti-
mate and important bearing on the
case. Both are likely 10 be cross ex-
auined TO the greatest length If
Brandeis the Claws attorney, follows
the precedent he has already set with
the minor figures for the defense"
As soon as the committee was called
10 order Attorney Brandeis was on his
feet protesting against the letters writ
Ten by Secretary Balinger last week
complaining Of the numerous wholesale
calls for papers made on the depart
ment by the attorney for the prosecu-
tion.
The secretary characterized Bran
deis' course as 'an oblique attempt TO
control the manner in which the evil
dence should be presented, and mere
ushing process
ATTACKS BALLTNGER'S STAND
Brandeis complained Of the delay of
tls interior department in producing
papers requested and he asked that in
Sr-uctiOns be issued calling for the
production Of the papers at once.
Brandeis attacked the position OF Sec
retary Bauinger which he character
5zed as "a remarkable reversal OF
IDEAS He declared that at first the
secretary did not even want counsel
lest il hinder the committee in its
search for the truth" Afterward he
employed counsel, and now was pro-
testing against the production of pa
pers. he said.
Attorney Vertrees, in reply, declared
that counsel for the prosecution was
--dshinE," because the main case put in
against Nr- Ballinger had failed in all
its parts"
@Fishing.~ remarked Representative
Ollie James. amid laughter, don't hurt
anything unless you catch something"
Tie discussion was ended by the
adoption of a motion Of Representative
Denby calling on the secretary Of the
interior 10 produce all papers called for
bv the com mfttee with all due speed -
TROUBLE WITH CLAWS
Andrew Christensen. chief Of field di-
vision Of the land Office. who succeeded
Claws at Seattle when the latter was
dismissed was caued- he said he had
trouble with Claws about turning over
certain official papers in the Seattle
Office. Claws. he said. took a bundle Of
papers away with him, and declined to
let Christensen see them until he had
made copies
Christensen said that on advice OF
the United states attorney az Seattle
he made a demand in writing upon
Claws. saving that as he was no longer
IN the government service he had no
right 70 the papers
IN response CLAWS returned some
papers TO the Office the following day.
After this, the witness said, he found
that q letters mentioned in a receipt Of
- papers were missing from the files
Correspondence read by Christensen
at the afternoon session showed that
CLAWS had sent a large number Of
original papers from the Seattle land
Office 10 the forestry service at Wash
fngton and that there was talk of
prosecuting forestry officials, when A.
C. Shaw, assistant law officer Of the
forestry bureau. returned the docu-
nents. Shaw SAID they had been in
sdvertently'' sent by Claws TO the for
estry service.
The inquiry viii be resumed tomor-
row