The Sentinel=record., 1911-08-01
WICKERSHAMS
 IN A CLASH
ALASKA HEARING ENLlvENED BY BITTER CHARGES AND
 STRENUOUS DENlALS.
Committee Win Turn Matter Over to the House for Final Settlement The Administration Is
 Criticised.

Washington, D. C., July Sl.--Fol' lowing geneiS~~ charges and den'a.s between the two Wickersha.ns Of Inc Rovernmertt-fhe attorney general and the delegate from Alaska the house committee on judiciary declu- ed late today that it had no powe' to do anything but report the evi dence to the house. It will reply to- morrow to Delegate Vlckersham res olution calling on the attorney gen eral to furnish all the papers and data bearing on the alleged fra ids in connection with government coa contracts.
 The committee will not recommend that the house investigate Delegate Wickersham's charges that Attorney General Wickersham has shifted anu -.otected Alaska syndicate crimIn- ais."
 in a nearing enlivened with fre- quent and bitter clashes between tas two Wickershams,, it developed that ine delegate from Alaska had offere1 his legal services in 1908 to the Gug genheims interests in the Northwest crn Commercial Company for sal ary of s15.co0. and the maintenance of office headquarters in Seattle.
 Were you ever in the emp!oye of the Guggenheim fnterest?' -asked Rep. Stirling of Illinois.
 "Never," said Delegate Wicker sham.
 Did they ever seek to employ you?"
 "Yes,' said the delegate. stephen Birch wrote me in 1908 and asked if l would take position as counsel for the Northwestern Commercial Company,
 What did you say.s asked Mr. Stirling.
 "lesaid I would take a place as their counsel for an annual salary of $l5,000, they to equip offices in Seattle" said MT. Wickersham.
 After I answered the letter. notn- ing more was said about it and they employed other attorneys. If they had paid me what l asked would have been their attorney and think that would have saved them a whole lot of trouble"
 ''How?" asked Littleton of New York.
 Through my advice to them to keep away from criminal practices.
 The Alaskan delegate renewed hls statement thai rthe attorney general had shielded and protected breakers of the law who represented the Gug- genneIm interests in Alaska.
 Members of the judiciary commit tee frequently called on him to prove statements he made and in some cases challenged the efficiency of ms proof.
 Attorney Cvneral Wickersham de- clared thst the Alaskan delegates .eharges called Sfor vigorous denial from the government officials. He has seen fit to make charges Sagainst me which it was his duty to kprove before this committee if he 5could do SOL said the attorney gen eral. and submit to the committee fthat lie has not proved his state 2ments.
 The Alaskan delegate rspeatedly Ncriticssc- the officials of Alaska and 6said the Guggenheims owned the gov <ernment there and made general fcharges of the officials being inilu- Fenced by them.
 He sought to prove that United States Marshal II. K. Love had ex Etorted money from his deputy mar shals by making them divide tho graft" contained in the profit from boarding prisoners. The government allows $3 per day for each prisoner Attorney General Wickesham produc- ed two official reports to show that the whole matter had been inves S- gated and the system of -faRing pr1>~ out of the prisoners per diem allow ance was fully recognized and con sidered form of "legalized graft.
 it was a bad practice and abolished 1t as soon as found ou about it." said the attorney gener al, ebut 1t was not Illegal. ]"
 Delegate Wickersnam criticised tns attorney general because he had no brought prosecutions on the Cun- ufl.sham coal cla<ms and tic. Iattel