Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-26
''H0T AIR." SAYS [AFEAN
LIVELY TILT AT BALL1NGER
HEARING TODAY.
PENNSYLVANIA Questions the Re-
liability Of the Hitchcock
Charges and Latter Replies.

The hearing on the charges made py
Representative Hitchcock of Nebraska
against Secretary of the Interior Ballinger
and the general administration OF the
land office was resumed today before the
House committee on expenditures In the
Department Of the Interior. Incidentally,
there was testimony given at TO-DAY
hearing which in measure substantlates
the Hitchcock charge that Jack Balhnger,
a relative of the Secretary, was handed
a government job for the sole purpose or
enabling him to travel from Washington
to Seattle at government expense and I'M
der government pay. He resigned in Sc
attic two weeks after his arrival
But the lveliest portion of the proceed
ings resulted from tilt between MI
Hitchcock and Representative Lafean or
Pennsylvania. member of the commit
tee.
TT is quite apparent" said Mr.. Lafean,
during the course of todays hearing
that some one has been giving out lot
of hot air in this matter, as these
charges seem to be general in character
and based entirely on rumor We should
deal with them warily. l have heard
there are members of Congress who do
not employ clerks, but who put their
hands into the United States treasury Tor
clerk hire. but l would not make such a
charge on the floor of the House, because
it only comes to me by rumor.
Not Borne Out by Testimony.
This made Mr. Hitchcock good and
mad. He started to remark. Il made
speech on the floor of the House in
but Mr.. Lafean interrupted.
Based entirely on rumor,' he cried.
mot So" angrily retorted Mr.. Hitch
cock. Based on facts. ! object to the
| introduction here of the personal feel
ings of either memi.er of this commit
tee or a witness. VIII a member OF this
committee be permitted to put raise
construction on my Statements!
We'll" growled Mr.. Lafean, mot one
of them has been borne out by the testl-
mony heard by this committee so Tar.
Representatives Hardy and Page, MI
nority members of the committee, Oh
| iected at this point against Mr.. Lafean
disposition to PREJUDICE the case, as they
put il, and Chairman Mcguire mace
| lively effortjto establish harmony IN the
hearing.
THE rest of us have not Yet reached =
conclusion in this matter, if you have.
| said Mr. Hardy to Mr.. Lafean
But the Pennsylvania member was not
to be put down. - -.
ANY one VINO Is noneSt VIII agree Will
me-" he replied, tartly
Then. in order to put an end to the
| row. Representative Page moved that the
| committee adjourn, and it did
One Witness Examined.
Commissioner OF the Land Office Dem
nett was the only witness examined by
the committee at this mornings session.
and the most important testimony given
by him had to do with the employment
| of the aforesaid Jack Ballinger as con-
| fidential clerk to his relative. the Secre-
tary, when the latter was commissioner
of the land office. One of the agree
ments made by Mr.. Ballinger when he
| became land commissioner. Mr.. bennett
| said, was that he was to have the selec-
ton of his own confidential clerk. There
is no statutory position Of this title and