The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-03-31
PINCH0T IS
ATTACKED.
GRAVE CHARGES AGAINST CHIEF
OF FOREST SERVICE MADE
IN LOWER HOUSE.
MUCH CRITICISM.

Congressman Smith Accuses Him Of
Entering Into Secret Understanding
With City of Los Angeles to Secure
Valuable Water Rights In Owens
River Valley scott Defends Him.
Washington, March 30.-Charges OF
a serious nature against Ginofd Pin
iichot, chief Of the forestry bureau.
were made In the house today BY
Messrs, Smith Of California and Mon
dell Of Wyoming during consideration
OF the agricultural appropriation bill.
Mr. Smith accused him Of entering
into a secret understanding with the
city Of Los Angeles with the view OF
securing to the city valuable water
rights in the Ownes river valley as
against the interests OF private parties
having prior claims. Mr.. Mondell de-
nounced him for as he charged, IL
legally paving the expenses of. forest
officials in attending. conventions !. in
the west in which the government had
no part and also Of spending govern
ment money to boost his bureau in
the newspapers. Mr.. Pinehot was de-
Tended by Mr.. Pollard Of Nebraska
and Mr.. Scott Of Kansas.
Mr.. Smith Of California denounced
the forestry service for attempting
to acquire the Owens river valley in
California.
"If," he said. q should state to the
house the ultimate purpose the house
would be shocked. IN many ways the
service is doing . great good, but it
is working some outrages upon GER.
tain interests in the western part Of
the country" &
He was referring. he said, to the
manipulation OF water rights under
the laws 81 Caltfouia. He openly
charged that Mr.. Pinchot, the chief
forester. was trying to secure the
water rights for the use Of certain
persons against others. which had
made earlier application Of the water.
There was not, he insisted, single
element OF forestry in the PROPOSE
ton. and It. would be sin to give
the forest service the great privilege
it sought.
Smith Explains Charge.
He was asked by Me. Weeks Of
Massachusetts, to explain more in de-
tail his "serious charge against Mr,
Pichot. Mr.. Smith said that the party
he referred to as desiring to obtain
the water monopoly was the city Of
Los Angeles. He insisted. that the
city did not desire the water, "it has
not claimed the water and It has not
asserted any intention Of using the
water for municipal purposes."
The city already, he said, had q per.
feet water system. and simply de-
sired ito sweep in all the water there
and carry It out Of the valley $50
miles through 20 miles Of mountain
tunnels for the irrigation Of land ad-.
jacent to Los Angeles.''
4 While the debate was going on Mr..
Pollard Of Nebraska went to the tele-
phone and had talk with Mr.. Pinchot.
When he came back into the cham
ber he declared that Mr.. Pinchot had
said that the entire California dele
cation. including Mr.. Smith, had gone
to the department and requested
and almost demanded that this re.
serve be created for the purpose Of
furnishing q water supply to Los An
geles." and that the city was en-
tirely dependent on this supply.
Now" he charged, '.Mr. Smith comes
Aere and tries to show that the de-
partment was trying to create q mo
nopoly." The policy Of the depart
bent, Mr.. Pollard declared, was to
prevent monopolies rather than ere.
ate them.
Plnehot Statement Dspied.
Mr.. Smith denied that Mr.. Pinchot's
statement was true. He asked the
house to call on his colleagues to
bear him out. 81 never did," said
Mr.. Kahn. 81 didn't" answered Mr..
Kirkland. Nor did l." remarked Mr..
Needham. "Nor T. added Mr.. Engle-
bright. Mr.. Smith said he would hunt |
up the rest Of the delegation and get |
them also to rise and deny Mr.. Pin
chot's statement.
On objection by Mr.. Mondell, the
clause authorizing the secretary of
agriculture "to advise and assist own.
ers Of lands within and adjacent to
the national forests in the proper care
Of the same" was stricken out.
That vast tracts Of untimbered
1