The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-05-06

timating that the Attorney-Goror,l
months after that date. had drawn ~,
the summary in an effort to iustffy
an error of the President, ana in Dr.
der to make the deception comnlata
had dated it two days before the
Presidents action was taken
In answering Brandeis, ATTORNEY
Vertrees, counsel for Ballinpar &c
serted that the report showed the av-
lstence of a conspiracy directed At
persons close to the President and
prompted by the resentment of the
former Secretary of the Interior
who was not retained, and the re-
Venge of man who was removed for
misconduct"
Vertrees said three ex-offcials
were now endeavoring to 'lay their
hands on the Acknowledgement he
cause he stands as one of THE advis-
ers to President who is distaEteful
to them"
Representative Graham (Demu.
craft sought to question Vertees
after he had ceased speaking, but
Senator Root objected, declaring that
the committee had already spent too
much time in this absurd question
Senator Root had previously ex-
pressed the opinion that it was a
matter with which the committee
mad nothing to do, unless it intend
ed to launch into an investigation of
the Attorney-General. When DENLY.
(Republican) moved that Graham be
allowed to ask his questions. Root
withdrew his objection and Graham
inquired:
If the President has based his re
moval of CLAWS and his exhonora-
ton of Ballinger, on the Attorney
Generals summary, would it not be
important for the committee to know
whether that summary was prepared
before or after the Presidents letter
was written, inasmuch as the Presi-
dents letter has been offered here
in evidence, and great weight is at
tached to it?"
Request Granted In Part,
Il neither agree with your premis-
es nor your conclusions" sharply re-
torted Vertrees.
THAT settles it," exclaimed Chair
man Nelson, as the committee filed
out of the room to decide the ques-
ton in executive session.
Secretary Ballinger told the COM
mittee, following its decision to grant
portion of his request, that there
had been no communication between
his department and the Attorney
General regarding the summary, but
the committee did not change it's de-
cision,
Mr.. Ballinger told of his visit into
the West during the summer of 1909
and his meeting with CLAWS in Spo-
kane just before the Spokane Irri-
cation Congress. He said he Told
CLAWS that he would have nothing
to do with the Cunningham claims
and that he (Glavis) should talk to
Schwartz, chief of the field division,
about the matter.
Had you any indication at that
time that CLAWS was hostile to you?"
asked Vertrees.
Yes. | had a suspicion when in
Spokane that CLAWS was Industrious
ly active in trying to injure me and
blacken my character" replied Sec
rotary Ballinger.
Story Deliberately False.
Passing on to the exciting events
of the Irrigation Congress, Mr.. Bal
llnger spoke of the newspaper story
where a man named Evans was the
autho., in which it was stated thai
through the negligence of his depart,
ment a monopoly had been permitted
to "gobble up $1,000 acres of valu
able power site land.
1T was false, and looked to me al
If it was deliberately false" ex
claimed Mr.. Ballinger.
At the opening of the afternoon
session, MIR. Vertrees asked Bal
lingcr If he was friendly to tho recla
nation policy he found in operation
when no became Secretary, The wit
ess said he was, aad that ho regard
cd II important In order to secure III
great development of Western state'
ms possible,
Mr.. Balllnger expressed his con
fldcnee In Charles T.. Davis, Chief o
pleased with tho boards action.
i Greatness.
| Nh, ,raat Fnnn 10 he who does moi