The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-08-12
CONTINUED. from page Il ,

danger mat tn0yrW0ub0 De <t0keHN L.
by the power trust. Herbert NaNi
Smith of the bureau OF corp1ra
tions, explained Director New4t
had found evidence that q gigaaHt
pool of the water power intereafi
was in process Of formation ADD
government engineers had reported
that surveyorss-of the power trust
already had their maps made and
weer ready to grab the power
Ballinger replied that there was
too much agricultural land con
tanned In the Withdrawals. Newell
explained that Roosevelt had
thought it best to "lock the barn
door before the horse was stolen
and that Garfield had planned to
eliminate these agricultural lands
as fast as field examination
could be made, but that, in the
meantime, he wanted to be sure the
door was locked. Z
technical GROUNDS
Ballinger retorted that he
thought as a lawyer that the lands
had not been withdrawn legally
and that his advisers had agreed
with him, and ended the interview
by demanding the lists with the rec
ommendation for the restoration OF
the lands.
Again, on March 8, Ballinger
called Director Newell and Arthur
P. Davis of the reclamation service
to his office and wanted to know
why the lists had not been sent
over. Both Davis and Newell
pleaded with the secretary of the
interior to allow the lands to re-
main out of reach of the monopoly
and to restore only agricultural
lands IL any. Ballinger retorted
again that there was no such thing
as the supervisory authority" OF
the secretary of the interior under
which Garfield had withdrawn the
lands. Garfield's theory was that
as supervisor of the public domain
in the interests of he people, he
was right in taking the action.
Baiiinger Hurries 'n'
Again, on March IL, Ballinger
rang up Newell and Davis on tie
telephone and demanded to kn6w
why the lists had not been Sent
over. They had another conference
and Ballinger again told them he
could find no authority in law. FOR
the Withdrawals. The reclamation
service had no funds to make an
examination of the lands, he said.
and anyhow he wanted the lands
thrown open at once.
On March IS Secretary Balm
ger took Engineer Davis to dihnaar'
in the basement of the Shorem 10
tel in Washington and they talk
ed for two hours on the matter.
Ballinger insisted that the lists be
sent. over.
On March Is, another conference
was held and Ballinger was In
sistent and demanded hurry.
A Ride With Tom
On March IS, Senator Tom Car
ter of Montana. who had been a
constant visitor to Ballinger's Of
flee since he took office, took Sec
rotary Ballinger for a ride in Rock
Creek park and they talked about
the restoration of the water power
sites.
On March % Ballinger called
Newell to his office and demanded
the lists forthwith. Newell replied
that he was not willing to take the
responsibility of recommending the
restoration and asked that Balm
ger write him a letter directing
him to recommend the power sites
for withdrawal. Ballinger told
Newell to get the letter ready for
his (Ballinger's) signature and he
would sign it. The letter was pre-
pared and taken to Ballinger on
April /. 1t was never signed and
never sent to Newell or to the rec
lamation service. Ballinger did not
affiX his name to the paper.
On April Director Newell eft
Washington for the west. He had
been unable to confer with his
chief. the new secretary of the in
terror, In a satisfactory manner.
Stories had leaked out that Bal
linger wanted City Engineer Tom
son of Seattle for the job, and Bal
finger had intimated to several Of
his friends in Washington that he
would not retain Newell.
Engineers in the reclamation
service in the west had heard of
these stories and wer disheartened.
Most Of them are working for the
government for much less tlfSM
they could get from a private cor
poration because of their loyaAAe