The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-05-05
BALL|NCER
ON ST AND
Contradicts Two State.
ments Made by Sec
retary Garfield

Washington. May 5.-Secretary Bal
lingcr took the stand today 10 COM
plete his direct testimony in the Bal
linger-Pinchot inycstikatlon
The inquiry has now reached It's
most interesting stage-tbe cross-eX-
animation OF Mr. Ballinger by the at
torneys for the prosecution.
Lewis Brandeis, attorney for CLAWS.
Will be the flrst to take the witness
in hand He will question Mr Bal
linger about his connection with tho
Cunningham coal claims and his pro-
fessional and official relations with
the claimants. At least three days
arc expected to be occupied IN the
cross-examination OF the secretary.
and he may not be excused until Fri
day or Saturday OF next week.
For moro than an hour the commit
tee questioned Mr. Pallinger this
morning about the methods pursued
in entering on new reclamation pro-
jects. IL was brought out that many
of the states had not had their equit-
able share of these projects.
Senator Flint sought TO ascertain
who was responsible for this condi-
tion. The witness admitted that prob
ably former Secretary Hitchcock. un-
der whose administration most of the
existing projects were initiated. was
responsible. and not Director Newell
OF tho reclamation service. Mr.. Davis
was at that time chief of the service,
A long discussion among members
OF the committee cnsued as to the
feasibility OF various reclamation pro
iDrto Mr. E1iuI n Ennu ~ IN
were not a fact that a great many OF
the projects had been initiated with
ont regard 10 their feasibility. but In
order TO give various states their pro
portion OF the money they had paid
into the reclamation fund through the
sale OF public lands Mr Ballinger
was not able TO give direct answer.
but said. In answer to a question by
Attorney Vertrees. that he had not
been able to get either OF the officials
OF the reclamation service to express
any doubt as to the feasibility of any
projects.
Nh Balllnger contradicted two
statements made by Secretary Gar
field in his letter Of November G. 1908,
TO President Taft In that letter.
which Is In evidence, Mt Garfield said
that the cooperative certificate plan
OF the reclamation service had been
approved By the senate committee on
irrigation. and Mr. Ballinger read a
certificate from the secretary Of that
committee. stating that a careful
search of the minutes OF the commit
tee, since 1903 had failed to show any
reference 10 the cooperative cortih-
cate plan
In tho same letter Mr.. Garfield told
the President that Secretary Ballin-
ger had Instructed Director Newell
and Engineer Davis of the reclama
ton service to make the restoration of
lands. withdrawn under Garfield, slow
ly In order not to reflect on the prev
ious administration. Mr.. Ballinger
said he gave no such order and re-
called that no such suggestion had
been made.
'If there was any suggestion" con-
tinued Mr Ballinger. 1T was at tho
instance OF Mr.. Newell IN a letter to
Senator IyaFollette. suggesting such a
course. The fact is that restoration
was not made slowly but was made in
tho course OF two or three weeks. as
fast as they came down from the re-
c,amation service. IL was not a fair
and truthful statement. ] had no de-
sire tn reflect on the previous admin
istration, however. and did what 1
could TO avoid II"