The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-25

ger-Pinchot inquiry took an expected
turn today when Special Agent Horace
T. Jones OF the land Office took tho
stand for the prosecution" and made
sensational attack on James VI.
Sheridan. who was sent by the land
office TO Seattle lest year to take
charge of the governments case in
hearings on the Cunningham coal
claims on Alaska
Jones declared that Sheridan had
been graduated in law only a year or
two, that his conduct OF the case was
incompetent, and that he had opposed
to him two of the leading lawyers OF
Seattle.
Testifying for an hour or more as
TO Sheridan's conduct OF the case. md
giving Instances from which he wished
the committee to draw Its own con-
clusions. Jones said he did not desire
TO criticise Sheridan In any way
He said Louis B. CLAWS wac not a
lawyer. but knew more law than
Sheridan did, and he thought II was
q reflection on CLAWS for the land
Office to send Sheridan out there 10
take charge of case which CLAWS
had worked up.
Under cross-eXamlnation. Jones ap-
peared defiant and aggressive to mem
bers OF the committee and counsel
alike, and said he did not caro- what
inferences we're drawn from his tesu-
mony.
Jones was still under cross-examl-
nation when luncheon recess was
taken, and 1t appeared that Clifford
Pinchot would not be reached as Wit
| ness until late in the afternoon.
Jones was eXamined by Mr.. Bran
deIs as TO his work on the coal cascs
In 1907. The witness said he con
suited freely with Commissioner Bal"
lInger when the latter was in Seattle
in July, 1891. He told Mr. Ballinger
that Special Agent Love in Alaska
was only half-hearted in his work. be-
/ cause he was q candidate for United
States marshal.
IL told the Commissioner" h.
added. that Love did not have the
proper spirit for an investigator, and
he agreed with me, Tho commits
sioner asked me TO make an inVesti-
! CATION Of all the claims as soon az
possible. as he wanted to be In a posi-"
! ton to appear before congress to ad-
vocate remedial legislation. He wanted
to know lust what the conditions were
in the various Alaska groups, SO he
could speak intelliyently. / told him
II would be sufficient to interview two
or three claimants in each group"
The witness said he had never seen
the report made oy Love on the Gun
ningham cases. dated Aug .. 1907. un-
Ill December oil that year, when CLAWS
! told him about 1t. II was claimed on
this report OF Aug 2 that Commto-
sloner Balllnger. in January. 1908, or
dered the Cunningham claims to be
clear listed for patent
Jones corroborated Claws testi-
mony as to his efforts TO get the
Alaska cases takeo up by the grand
jury at Seattle. Claws was criticised
In Wickersham's report to the Presi-
dent for having done nothing toward
a criminal prosecution. Jones said he
went 10 District Attorney Todd at
| Seattle by direction OF CLAWS. who
was then his chief.
Todd said IL was useless to take
| the cases up at Seattle. for Judge
| Hanford was constitutionally opposed
| TO land fraud cases. and he did not
want to be humiliated by being turned
| down." the witness said.
Todd suggested that We Take tho
matter up with the attorney general
, az Washington, and get the attorney
general to direct him TO take up the
matter at Seattle"
Jones corroborated what CLAWS had
testified 10 as TO the otaJement made
| by Donald A Mckenzie. that the rem
son jones r, Garfield was not re-
| tanned In Mr.. Taft's cabinet was be-
cause OF his hostility to tho Alaska
coal claims
The affidavit made by Jones and
! CLAWS Us a lobby.et. was introduced
| I'm evidence and read
Washington, Feb. 25.-Interest In
the resumption of the Ballinger-Pin-
chot congressional inquiry today, after
an adjournment from Saturday last,
centered In the announcement that
| clifford Pichot would be called to tho
| stand as the third important witness
for the prosecution
Just what MIR Pinchot would say
was problematical After the avowal
OF Louis r CLAWS that he sought Mr..
! Pinchot's assistance. and that Mr.. Pin
| chOt had sent nlm 10 inc f1esluent,
the former forester seems TO have had
| less 10 do with the matters under In
vestigation by the committee than had
| been popularity supposed.
There was rumor before the days
session began that an effort would be
made TO hold Mr. Pinchot strictly to
| testimony dealing with the Alaska
coal lands, or matters concerning the
inquiry. and this might materially cur
tall his recital
The Inquiry was inaugurated for the
purpose of delving into both the inte-
rior department and the forestry serv-
Ice, but after the resolution passed
congress Mr.. Pinchot and his two sub
ordinates. who were active In the
CLAWS matter. were dismissed from
the service.
When Mr.. Pincbot was asked by the
committee some time ago as 10 what
angle OF the case his testimony would
have to do with. he answered that he
proposed TO tell the story of his con-
nection with conservation.
Followers of the inquiry have