The Elbert County tribune., 1911-08-04
WICKERSHAMS
BEFORE HOUSE
ALASKAN DELEGATE cRITicisEs
ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
OTHER OFFICIALS.
CHARGES ARE DENIED
DELEGATE wickERsHAm SAYS
THE "ouooENHEIMs OWN
THE oovERNMENT.-

Western Newspaper Union News Service
WashingtoD.--The House committee
on Judiciary. following charges and
deniais between the two Wickershams
OF the government-the attorney gen.
erai and the delegate from Alaska, de-
cided that 1t had no power to do any
thing but report the evidence to the
House.
1t will report Delegate Wicker
sham's resolution calling on the at
torney general to furnish all the
papers and data bearing on the al.
legged frauds In connection with gov.
ernment coal contracts.
The committee will not recommend
that the House investigate Delegate
Wickersham's charges that Attorney
General Wickersnam has shielded and
protected Alaska Syndicate crimi-
nals.'
Ia hearing enlivened with frequent
and bitter clashes between the two
Wickershams, It developed that the
delegate from Alaska had offered his
legal services in 1908 to the Guggen-
helm interests in the Northwestern
Commercial Company for d salary OF
$4,000 year and the maintenance
of office headquarters in Seattle.
Were you ever in the employ of
the Guggenhem interests?" asked
Representative Sterling of Illinois.
Never" said Delegate Wickersham.
Did they ever seek to employ
your"
tn laIa
Burch wrote to me In 1908 and asked
II would take a position as counsel
for the Northwestern Commercial
Company"
what did you say?" asked Mr.. Ster-
ling.
II said would take place as their
counsel for an annual salary of $751;
900. they to equip offices in Seattle
said Mr.. Wickersham. after l an
swered the letter nothing more was
said about 1t and they employed other
attorneys. II they had paid me what
asked. would have been their at
torney and l think that would have
saved them whole lot of trouble"
How" asked Representative Little
ton OF New York.
Through my advice to them to keep
away from criminal practices"
The Alaskan delegate renewed his
statements that the attorney general
had shielded and protected lawbreak-
ers who represented the Guggenheim
interests in Alaska Members of the
Judiciary committee frequently called
upon him to prove statements he
made. and in some cases challenged
the efficiency of his proof.
Attorney General Wickersham de-
clared that the charges of the Alaskan
delegate called for vigorous denial
from the government officials.
The Alaskan delegate repeatedly
criticised the officials of Alaska. said
the Guggenheims "owned the gov
ernment" there. and made general
charges of the officials being influ
enced by them.
He sought to prove that United
States Marshal H. X. Love had ex-
torted money from his deputy mar
shals by making them divide the
graft" contained in the profit from
boarding prisoners. The government
allows 50 per day for each prisoner.
Attorney General Wickersham pro-
duced two official reports to show
that the whole matter had been in
vestigated. and that the system of TAX
ing profit out of the prisoners per
diem allowance was fully recognized
and considered form of 'legalized
graft"
1T was bad practice. and I aboi-
ished Il as soon as found out about
IT, said the attorney general. but it
was not Illegal"