Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-01-30
BECOMES CONVINCED
OFFICIAL IS CROOKED
Worked Scheme to Save Copy Of Let
tiers the Commissioner Was Writing
Back to Washington and Produces
Epistls to investigating Committee
MAY be Recalled Monday.
fRy Assoclated Press.l

WASHINGTON, L. C., Jan. e.
Louis X. CLAWS concluded his testi-
mony before the Ballinger- Pinchot
congressional investigating commit
tee late today. He will be recalled nj
the resumption of the hearing Mon
day afternoon for cross-exarlination
by any of the persons against whom
he has made charges.
CLAWS last day on the stand was
full OF inter- st. 1t developed the AMI
mus which long has existed between
the land Office and the forestry bu-
reau, and the resentment the land or
fee people felt when CLAWS called IN
the forestry" as they termed II.
The witness also declared that Rop-
resentat.ve MCLAUGHLIN. OF California,
and Repress NATIVE Kincaid, OF Me-
bfaska. were interested In Alaskan
claims aud that Mr. Ballsnger. after
being commissioner of the land Office,
had acted AS attorney sor MIR. KIN.
caid. CLAWS asserted that Mr.. Bah
llnger had suggested TO him not to
pursue an investigation against Con-
gresham Mel 1uchin, saying there
had been too much OF that SOFT OF
thing In the past
CLAWS said he did not see Repre-
sentative MCLAUGHLIN.
CLAWS was asked the direct ques-
ton if be thought Secretary Bailin-
ger and Chief OF the Land Office
bennett were in lelgue to do wrong
in the Alaskan cases. He replied:
We'll. / thought the cases would
be better protected with them out OF
the way"
Claws attack seemed, to center
more today upon Commissioner Dem
nett. He said he became convinced In
the summer OF 1893. that bennett
was crooked" and took steps to Sc
cure carbon copies OF letters Den
nett was writing back 20 Washington.
Several OF these letters were intro
drced. One of these introduced was
from Commissioner bennett to II. H.
Schwartz. chief Of the field service. IL
was dated July 20, 1869 at Seattle,
and said. among other 'hings:
pennett's Letter.
NY Dear Schwartz
The worst situation on the Iiae
Is the one | find here: our friend.
CLAWS He regarded me with sus-
riciou and after talking q while.
showed me your telegram assigning
the coal cases to Sheridan. Now
figure that CLAWS is preparing &c
make a cushion for himself to fall
back on. and also putting himself IN
shape to have great story in csse
Sheridan does not make good end
succeeds in cancelling the Cunning
ham charges.
while he looks innocently af me-
yet can see that his heart Is ban.
though why IL should De / cannot
tell. except that be waited to drag the
cs.se out. He may be sincere. OF
course. In his idea that he has not
been given time ami opportunity. Ne
asserts tina; he will help Sheridan
all he-can but il Is not human nature
or at least his human nature. The
atmosphere Is not good az all
That he IS playing the forestry
there Is not question The innocent
look ne gave me when ! ted him ne
was dragging in Shaw. etc. when
there Is no question. The innocent
fni. He has also talked conservation
VERY strongly Claws talking con-
sefvasion. taloen sli around, he n
ugly and Is preparing 20 Be unpieas-
ant a. he can. AZ least that f. my
soiufion OF the situation.
Claws PROCESSES the greatest
friendship to you and ! think you
know him better than any one else
and this Is csrta-nis the worst situs-
ton We have. tie vii make about
forty favorable and about 500 unfa-
vorsbie reports: the way things vii
commence 70 drop VIII be amusirt T"