The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-16
Former Attorney-Gene
raj Is Accused With
w ickersham
COM MITTEE WILL
BRING FACTS OUT
Department of Justice Apparent
ly Is Unruffled by Threat of
Impeachment and Numerous
Allegations Against Its
Head-Three House Com
mittees After Official.
Especial to The rimes.pispatch.

Especial to The Times ispatch.l
Washington, July l5.-The prompt
investigation of Attorney G neraI
Wickersham. in connection with the
nevis Alaska spoliation scandals was
delayed Unexpectedly to-day by the
absence OF Judge Henry d. Clayton.
chairman OF the Committee on Judi
ciary.
Judge Clayton is to report the res
oiotion OF Delegate James Wicker
sham, calling on Acknowledgement
Wickersham for all information in
connection with the alleged frauds in
the award of coal contracts for use
at the forts in Alaska. and for an ex-
PLANTATION. why no prosecutions were
undertaken until after tho statute of
limitations made criminal action i'm
possible.
The House adjourned to-day until
next Wednesday. Judge Clayton is
expected to push the resolution through
then.
Another important end to this
scandal became known to-day, whom
1t was learned that General Dickinson.
while Secretary OF War. had similar
information as to the frauds in the
War Departments Alaskan coal awards
submitted to him by Delegate Wick
ersham. General Dickinson ignored
the complaint. So far as known, he
never gave any reason why he failed
to investigate these contracts until
proofs OF frauds submitted
Department. Unrunied.
The Department OF Justice is appar-
emily unruffled by the threat of i'm
parchment and the numerous aIleEa-
lions OF crimes and misdemeanors by
Attorney wiceersham
The Attorney General left here this
afternoon on the Congressional Limited
for New York for a weeks absence
which Will be spent personally In the
West. where he will make some
speeches.
It is learned from official sources
at the department that the charges
which are now being laid before the
House committee were exploited he :
fore the Judiciary Committee OF the
Senate, when the President sent to
the Senate the names of new Federal
appotntees for Alaska. The appointees
suggested by the President were in
dorsed by the Judiciary Committee.
and were confirmed by the Senate.
The Department. of Justice points
out that while in all proba bility tho
statute of limitations in the Alaska
syndicate affair has run against prose-
cutions for perjury. it has not run
against the syndicate or it's members
for prosecutions for conspiracy to de,
fraud the government. This charge,
ii pushed. is, OF course. a very seri-
Gus one. and by means of the statute
covering conspiracy. all members OF
the syndicate could be severely pun
ishcd. and it is stated that the IN
vesugation into the AFFAIR has posi-
lively not been concluded.
The Department of Justice admits
that it was advised by Delegate Wick
ersham and others of cases calling for
criminal action. Assistant Attorney
General Mcnamara was instruc ted
specifically by the department to in
vestigate a number of the cases, as
were the Federal authorities at Seat
tie, and the Federal authorities in
Alaska
The Department OF Justice asserts
point blank that in whatever case
there shall be found sufficient evidence
To convict. prosecutions will be insti-
tuted. 1t asserts also that in some
of the cases so far, while there is
evidence in the general sense of the
word. there is such evidence as
would justify the bringing of prose
cutiors.
Complete Statement.
The Attorney General will send to
the House I'm response to its resolu-
ton, a complete statement covering the
charges made by Delegate Wickersham.
The Attorney General, however. himself
referred TO the fact that various aft :
davits. which enter into the con.
troversy at the present time. have
heretofore been paraded before the
country"
Three House committees to-day are
on the trail of the Attorney General.
The Judiciary Committee has taken
cognizance OF the Attorney Generals
alleged breach in the Alaskan case.
The House Committee on Expendi-
lures III the Agricultural Department
took up the part the Attorney General
has played in recommending the dis
missal of DR.. Wiley. This committee
Will attempt to reconcile Mr. Wicker
shams opinion that DR.. Wiley should
be dismissed for hiring $1,000 ex-
pert. with the fact that the Attorney
General himself saw nothing wrong
in paying his own experts sums rum
ming in the thousands. Frank s. KEEL
logs, for instance, received $4,000 in
fees and $4,000 N expenses in lump
sums and untemized accounts
The Committee on Expenditures IN
the Department of Justice. spurred to
additional activity by the DR. Wiley
incident. ana by the disclosures brought
by the House Judiciary Committee. de :
termned to-day to take lip with re-
newed vigor the administration of the
department for several years back, and
to overlook no transaction of the At
torney Generals office. large or small.
INSURGENTS RETIRE