The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-01
ne Delegate Charges the Attorney General With
 Protecting Crime
WILL TAKE MATTER
 BEFORE THE HOUSE
House Judiciary Committee Refuses to Make Any Recommendations Regarding Charges-Offered
 Services to Guggenkeims

washington. July 31.-Following general charges and denials between the two lWickersrams of the government, the AL torney General and the delegate from Alaska. the House committee on Judiciary decided late today that it had no power h do anything but report the evidence to the House. It will report early tomorrow Delegate Wickershams resolution call ing on the Attorney General to furnish al. the papers and data bearing on the alleged frauds in connection with govern ment coal contracts.
 The committee will not recommend that the House investigate Delegate Wicker sham's charges that Attorney General yyickersham has shielded and perfected "Alaska syndicate chiminals.'
 In a hearing enlivened with frequent and bitter clashes between the two Wick ershams, 1t developed that she delegate rom Alaska had offered his legal services Tn 1908 to the Guggenheim interests Tn the Northwestern Commercial company Tor sl5,ooo year and the maintenance of of- flee headquarters in Seattle.
 'Were you ever in the employ or the Guggenhim interests?" asked Representa- tive Sterling of Illinois.
 'NeVeT, SalO DeleBdlo w "Dd they ever seek to employ you?'
 'Yes," said the delegate. Stephen Birch wrote to me in 1908 and asked if would take a position as counsel Tor the Northwestern Commercial company
 What did you say?'' asked MT. Ster- ling.
 Would Accept '.I said I would take a place as their counsel for an annual salary of $l5,0OO. they to equip offices in Seattle said MT. Wickersham. After I answered the letter nothing more was said about it and they employed other attorneys. If they had paid me what I asked I would have been their attorney, and I think that would have saved them a whole lot of trouble"
 %, 'How?" asked Representative Littleton of New York.
 'Through my advice to them to keep away from criminal practices.'A
 The Alaskan delegate renewed his statements that the Attorney General had shielded and protected brokers of the law 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 declared that the Alaskan delegates charges called for vigorous denial from the gov ernment officials
 He has seen fit to make charges against me which it was his duty to prove before this committee. if he could do so,' said the Attorney General, and submit to the committee that he has not proved his statements
 The Alaskan delegate repeatedly criti- cised the officials of Alaska, said the Guggenheims owned the government there, and made general charges of the officials being influenced by them He sought to prove that United States Marshal H. K. Love had extorted money from his deputy marshals by making them "divide the graft contained in the profit from boarding prisoners. The gov ernment allows $3 per day for each pris oner Attorney General Wickersnam produced two of the reports to shaw that the whole matter had been investigated and the system of taking profit out of the prisoners per diem allowance was fully recognized and considered a form of 'legalized graft
 Bad Practice Tt was a bad practice, and I abol- [ ished 1t as soon as 1 found out about It. said tisc Attorney General, but 1t was not illegal"
 Delegate Wickersham criticised the 
 brought prosecutions on the Cunning ham coal claims and the latter retorted that no proof had been furnished him upon which he could proceed.
 The delegate declared everybody was against him in Alaska. that the Taft administration had taken away his of 1icfal patronage and bbat the Guggen- helm interests voted 500 railroad men illegally in Cordova in an attempt to defeat him.
 Do you believe the evidence you have submitted is proof that the Attor- ney General shielded these people?' asked Representative Littleton of New York. democrat
 q do. Don't you?'
 No. l ado not" Mr. Littleton em- phatcally replied.
 Several members of the judiciary committee objected to the wide range of Delegate Wick ersham's testimony
 His charges against the Attorney General were publicly made" said MT. Lttleton and the failure or success of his attempt to prove his charges ought to be just as public.
 The committee decided to let the del : egate submit all possible evidence de- signed to substantitate his accusations against the Attorney General.
 Representative Sterling suggested that Delegate Wickersham's charges indicated only failure of the depart ment of justice to prosecute.
 oh he has gone way beyond that said Attorney General Wickersham.
 Yes, said Delegate Wickersham, "I insist there was deliberate attempt to protect"
 The delegate declared that United States Marshal II. K. Love, who figured in the Cunningham coal land cases, had discharged deputy named Powers, who was also at Kodiak, because he w nn oriv graft
 Bowers would not pay Love slOO a month out of what he received for the boarding of prisoners the delegate explained.
 Delegate Wickersham reviewed his attempts to have the department oi justice move against D. H. Charvis oi the Alaska syndicate and J. H Bullocl of the John J. Sesnor company for al leged conspiracy on government coal contracts, whereby he alleges the gov ernment lost $50.000.
 The delegate charged that fede ral of- ficials in Alaska had been bribed. Rep resentative Rowland of Ohio demanded that he prove that statement.
 II will before I finish" declared the delegate.
 Ine delegate discussed the attitude VI the Attorney General on the charges oi coal frauds. upon which he said he Hau submitted proof to the Attorney Senerats department in 1908.