The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-30

10 secure the influence of certain men TO
bring about his reappointment. He ad-
mitted that he knew Of no reason fer
Secretary Ballinger being unduly iniiu-
enced in the matter.
rs it not true that Secretary Ballinger
said in several of the letters that have
been introduced in evidence here that he
did not want to take part in the Alaska
coal cases?' inquired Representative
DENLY.
Yes" replied CLAWS slowly, but he
did take part in the cases"
CLAWS testimony covered the last few
months of his official connection with the
Alaska coal claims. He accounted for
his actions in great deail up TO the time
he was dismissed by order OF President
Taft He explained that his visit to
Beverley was at the suggestion Of Gif-
ford Pinchot, then Chief Forester, and ex-
Gov Pardee, Of California. who called
on him at Seattle and asked 10 see the
documentary evidence concerning the
Alaska cases.
Relations with shaw.
At CLAWS. suggestion Chief Forester
Pluchot detailed Alexander c. Shaw. as
sistaut officer Of the Forest Service, TO
assist CLAWS in the preparation of his
case. He told of meeting Shaw is Chicago
and Of hearing complaints from the law
Office of the Forest Service, that he had
been unable 10 get access 10 the official
files in the Land Office containing intor-
nation as TO the Cunningham claims. He
said that Shaw made several suggestions
10 him. both as to the form and the sub
stance Of his report to the President II
accepted his suggestions as 10 the form,
but / rejected what he offered as 10 the
substance" said the witness. He told OF
the visit 20 Beverly and OF the concern
President Taft expressed in regard 10
water power matters. After leaving Bcv-
erIy and going To Boston ne wired Shaw
10 get together information relating to
water power sites from the Forest Serv-
ice files and lay It before the President
4 little later Fred W. Carpenter. SeCre-
tary 10 the President, called up by tele-
phone and advised CLAWS that his state
ment had been laid before Secretary Bal
lnger, and an explanation asked. and
directed CLAWS 20 return 20 Seattle. In
New York, witness said he tried 10 see
Attorney General Wickersham. and finally
saw the latter's secretary and told him
he could get some valuable Information
by applying 10 the Forest Service in
Washington. Attorney General Wicker
sham declined TO have anything 10 do
with the matter on the ground that #
was outside Of his immediate department.
Public Letters az Evidence.
A number Of letters We're read in the
afternoon which appear I'm the published
correspondence sent TO Congress by the
President. Most were written by Com
missioner DeRpett while ON a visit TO
sSeattle in JuIy. when the Alaska coal
cases were at white heat One of the
most amusing communications passed be
tween Schwartz. then Acting Commits
sioner of the Land Office. In Washington,
and the special agent in Seattle. II was
a telegram, I'm which Schwartz directed
his Seattle subordinate 10 get a scare
head story" into the newspapers and
press associations telling Of the sudden
determination of Secretary Bauinger 10
sift the coal scandal TO the bottom and
Of how powerful interests were COnSplr-
ing 10 influence the Secretary. but that
they would be unsuccessful. and winding
up with the instruction that Schwartz had
information that newspaper attack was
TO be made on Judge Bauinger and he
wanted 10 forestau it with his own pub
Lefty.
At the afternoon hearing CLAWS was
asked by Representative James whether
there was a law or regulation Of the
Interior Department which forbids a for
mer officer reappearing in two years after
severing his official relations as the at
t0rney for claimants. CLAWS started 10
explain the statute, and before the Incl
dent closed an order had been made for
inserting in the record the statute and
a decision by former Secretary Of the
Interior Hoke Smith, which held that
the statute covered only money claims
against the government and another
opinion, inserted at the request OF Repre-
sentative James, showing that former
Secretary Lamar had held that the stat
ute covered all forms of claims.
Attorney BraHdies thereupon made a
statement. I've have raised no question
as 10 the Legality Of Judge RaIIinger ap-
pearing as attorney for these coal claim
ants, but we have questioned the pro
priety of his doing So, He had acted for
the government i'm these cases, and pos
sessed all the knowledge OF one side, and
we hold that there is a question Of the
propriety Of his taking employment as
attorney on the other side"