The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-08-01
WiCkERSHAM INVESTIGATING
COMMITTEE TO MAKE NO
RECOMMENDATIONS.
IS BITTER
Acrimony Is Shown at Hearing Of
Charges Against Attorney General
Made by Alaskan Representative
Latter Claims the Cugssnheinns
"Own the Government"

Washington, July 31.-Following gen
eral charges and denials between the
twos wickershams of the government
the attorney general and the delegate
from Alaska--the house committee on
judiciary decided late today that 1t had
no power to do anything but report
the evidence To the house.
II will report early tomorrow Dele
gate Wickershams resolution calling
on the attorney general TO furnish all
the papers and data bearing on the al
legged frauds in connection with gov
ernment coal contracts. The commit
tee viii not recommend that the house
investigate Delegate wickeYsham's
charges that Attorney General Wick
ersham has shielded and protected
Alaskan syndicate criminals
In hearing enlivened with frequent
and bitter clashes between the two
Wickershams, II developed that the
delegate from Alaska had offered his
legal services In 1908 to the Guggen-
helm interests In the Northwestern
Commercial company, for salary of
$4,000 year and the maintenance Of
office headquarters in Seattle.
Never Employed by Gugsenheins.
Were you ever In the employ OF the
Guggenheim interests" asked Repre-
sentative Sterling of Illinois.
Never" said Delegate Wickersham
did they ever seek to employ your"
YES" said the delegate. stephen
Burch wrote to me In 1908 and asked
IL would take a position as counsel
for the Northwestern Commercial COM
pany."
What did you say?" asked Mr..
Sterling.
| II said would take a place as their
counsel for an annual salary of $4,000.
they to equip offices In Seattle" said
Mr. Wickersham. after / answered
the letter nothing more was said about
1t and they employed other attorneys.
II they had paid me what l asked
would have been their attorney and
think that I would have saved them a
lot OF trouble"
How" asked Representative Little
ton OF New York.
Through my advice to them to keer
away from criminal practices"
Shielded Law Breakers.
The Alaskan delegate renewed his
statements that the attorney genera
had shielded and protected law-break'
ers who represented the Guggenhein
interests In Alaska. Members OF tn,
judiciary committee frequently called
upon him to prove statements he mad'
and in some cases challenged the suf
ficiency OF his proof
Attorney General Wickersham de
clared that the charges OF the Alaskan
delegate called for vigorous denia
from the government officials.
. He has seen fit to make charge
against me which II Is his duty t
prove before this committee II he ca
: do So" said the attorney general; IAN
, submit to the committee that he ha
. not proved his statements"
' The Alaskan delegate repeated
criticised the officials OF Alaska; sal
:, the Guggenheims "owned the govern
: ment' there. and made general charge
1 of the officials being Influenced b
I them. He sought to prove tha
. United States Marshal Fl. X. Love ha
4 extorted money from his deputy MAJ
A shals by making them divide tn
graft" collected In the profit frol
h boarding prisoners. The governmer
d allows $500 per day for each prisone
e "legalizsd Graft"
= Attorney General Wickersham prt
duced two official reports to sho
that the whole matter had been inve'
|, tigated and that the system of takir
profit out of the prisoners per die
. allowance was fully recognized az
:, considered a form OF "legalized graft
: "It was a bad practice, and l abo
> ished 1t as soon as found out abo
It," said the attorney general, but
was not Illegal"
Delegate Wickersham criticised Il
attorney general because he had n
IS brought prosecutions on the Cunning
At ham coal claims, and the latter r
ID torted that no proof had been furnish
ut him upon which he could proceed. r.
er delegate declared everybody w
ss against him in Alaska; that the TIA
s. administration had taken away his q
s. ficial patronage and that the Gugge
ed helm interests voted 500 railroad m
illegally In Cordoya in an attempt
defeat him.