The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-09-01
WATER USERS MAKE
BITTER ATTACK
Charge Zillah Man With Favoritism i'm
Management of Canal and Ask His
Removal Without Prcfcrring For
NAL Charges-Ballinecr and Newell
Oppose Radical Action-Scnator
Carter Thinks Well of Ballingcr.

Sunnyside canal was the storm center
of a most acrim onious meeting of the
senate committee on irrigation with
the Water Users association of the
Sunnyside valley at Sunnyside yester-
day. Granger was accused of dishon-
esty in the management of the Sun
nysde canal, and with being incom-
petent and showing favoritism in the
distribution of water
The meeting was most spirited
one, in which the senators prominent
members of the water users associa-
ton, Secretary Ballinger and Director
Newell, of the reclamation service,
took part. During the discussion Di-
rector Newell engaged in a wordy tilt
with the trustees of the water users
association.
Many Ranchcrs Present.
The Sunnyside meeting was held in
Odd Fellows hall with about one hun
dred business men and ranchers pres
ent. Senator Carter presided, the
other senators present being Paynter,
Chamberlin and Jones. These with
Secretary Ballinger and F. H. Newell
occupied seats at long table in front
of the hall.
Replying to written questions pre-
viously supplied by the senate commit
tee, George Rodman, president of the
water users association said that the
management of the canal was not sat-
isfactory, that it was eXtravagant, that
water was not distributed fairly and
! that no account is made by Granger
of the money spent for maintaining
the canal He demanded that Grang
ed be removed and that the manage
ment of the canal be turned over to
the water users.
DonaI,ue Attacks Granger.
Attorney J. f. Donahue, of Mabton,
in a fifteen minute talk, bitterly at
| tackled Granger. He charged fragrant
favortism, unnecessary expense, and
that Granger was cheating the land
owners. He requested that the COM
mittee take time to hear witnesses who
were present to bear out his state,-
ments.
| Senator Carter was becoming inter-
ested and asked that the witnesses be
sworn.
| Witnesses Examined.
William Bettus, ranch manager,
| form erly in the employ of Granger at
! the government headquarters at Zil-
lah, told of doing personal work for
Granger while being paid by the gov
ernment and of using government sup
plies for Changers personal use. Bet
| tus was closely cross examined by all
Senator Carter and the other members
| of the committee.
John Murray, a rancher near Grand
view, gave testimony purporting to
| show favOritsm on the part of
Granger in distributing the water in
| the canal. He admitted most of his
| testimony was hearsay from his
neighbors.
Newell Joins In.
Director Newell at this point en-
| tered the discussion stating that this
was the first time that formal charges
| akainst Granger had been made to
| his knowledge.
Attorney Donahue called attention
| to a. meeting of the trustees of the
water users association last year at
which Newell was present declaring
that the same charges We're made at
that meeting and that Newell would
not listen to them, characterizing
them as "bosh,' that the secretary of
| the interior WOulu pay Ho dtleHtlon W
them.
| Newell was on his feet Immediately
and vigorously denied having said
| anything of the kind.
"What l did say" said Newell, was
that if the water users would formally
present their charges against Granger
| to the secretary of the interior so that
| the latter could reply to hem, they
would be given a hearing"
President Rodman of the water
users association took the floor in
reply to Newell corroborating the
statements made by Donahue relative
to the conversation with Newell, at
the meeting referred to.
Ballinger Makes Talk.
Secretary Ballinger addressed the
meeting and demanded that formal
charges be made against Granger. He
said loose rumors and stigmas would
not go. He promised that official
charges would be given attention by
his department.
The trustees declared that enough
evidence had already been furnished
and felt that Granger should be re-
moved without further investigation.
Secretary Ballinger told them plain
ly that he would not consider the mat
ter publicly without evidence. He
said, however, that he would grant
their request that they be furnished
with an accounting of the expendi-
lures of Granger in connection with
the canal.
''InSult' Says BalIingcr.
Attorney Mcclure asked if he would
permit an investigation of the books
before Granger had time to doctor
them"
81 consider that an insult to the
government service said Secretary
Ballinger.
At this point, Senator Carter
brought the meeting to a close. He
characterized Ballinger as the best
secretary of the interior in twenty-five
years.
That the meeting with the trustees