The San Francisco call., 1908-03-31
P|NCHOT TARGET
FOR AN ATTACK
BYCALIFORN|AN
Representative Smith Assails
Chief of the Federal For
estry Bureau
Charges Collision With Los
Angeles to MOnopolize
Water RIGHTS
Also Denounces Roosevelt Be-
cause of His Recent Tax
Recommendation

WASHINGTON, March 3d.
Charges of a serious nature against
Clifford Pinchot, chief of the forestry
bureau, were made in the house today
by Smith of California and Mondell of
Wyoming during consideration of the
agricultural appropriation BILL Smith
accused Pinchot of having entered
into secret understanding with the
city of Los Angeles with the view
to securing to that city valuable water
rights in the Owens river valley, as
against the interests of private parties
having prior claims. Mondell de-
nounced him for having, as he
charged, illegally paid the expenses
of forest officials in attending conven-
tons in the west in which the govern
ment had no part, and also of having
spent government money to boost his
bureau in the newspapers. Pinchot
was defended by Pollard of Nebraska
and Scott of Kansas.
Smith of California denounced the
forestry service for having attempted
to acquire the Owens river valley in
California.
IT. he said. Il should state to the
house the ultimate purpose. the house
would be shocked. In many ways the
service is doing a great good, but it is
working some outrages upon certain
interests in the westeFs part Of the
country
He was referring. he said. TO the
manipulation of water rights under
the laws of California. He openly
charged that~Pinchot, the chief for
ester was trying to secure the water
rights for the use of certain persons
against others who had made earlier
application for the water. There was
not, he insisted, a single element of
forestry in the proposition. and it
would be sin to give the forest sery-
ice the great privilege it sought.
ASsAILS Los ANGELES
Pressed by Weeks of Massachusetts
to explain more in detail his serious
charge against Pinchot, Smith said
that the party he referred to as de-
string to obtain the water monopoly
was the, city of Los Angeles. He in
sisted that the city did not desire the
water, it had not claimed the water
and it had not asserted any intention
of using the water for municipal pur-
poses. The city already, he said, had
perfect water system, and simply
desired ito sweep in all the water there
and carry it out of the valley ESQ
miles, through 20 miles of mountain
tunnels, for the irrigation of land ad-
jacent to Los Angeles
While the debate was going on Pol
lard of Nebraska went to the telephone
booth and had a talk with Pinchot.
When he came back into the chamber
he declared that Pinchot had said that
the entire California delegation, lin
cIuding Smith," had gone to the de-
partment and requested and almost
demanded that this reserve be created
for the purpose of furnishing a water
supply to Los Angeles and that the
city was entirely dependent on this
supply.
Now" he charged. Mr.. Smith comes
here and tries to show that the depart
ment is trying to create a monopoly 2
The policy of the department, Pol
lard declared, was to prevent monopo-
lies rather than to create them.
Smith denied that Pinchot's state
nent was true. He asked the house
to call on his colleagues to bear him
out.
.'I never did, said Kahn.
eI did not" said Knowland.
Nor did IT, remarked Needham
Nor T." added Englebright
Smith said he would hunt UP the
rest of the delegation and get them
also to deny Pinchot's statement
ATTACK ON ROOSEVELT
Smith of California took the floor
later and, speaking of the recommends
tion of the president that water rights
should be taxed. denounced him for it
The federal government" he de-
clared ought to be ashamed of it.
self If it undertakes to extort a tax
by way of right of way over a piece
of land that is not worth 81 an acre
Mondell offered an amendment pro.
viding that the money for transports.
ton or travelling expenses OF forest
off1cers or agents should not be paid
unless such oficials travelled on busi-
ness directly connected with the forest
service. Mondeli charged that such
ofiicers and agents had attended a con.
vention in Denver last year with which
the government had nothing to do. and