New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-20
BIG CASE NEAR END
PINCHOT ETIDENCEN
Close of Ballinger's Side VII
Begin Nert Week.

INFAm the LEiuuno bureau
Washington. March le.-GlN0rG Pinchot
concluded HIS case against Secretary Bal
lingsr to-day when Frederick H. Newell.
director Of the reclamation service. testified
about his service under the present and the
former administrations OF the Interior De-
partment. Louis D. Brandels. attorney tor
L. r. CLAWS. announced that when the
committee meets next Friday he win ex-
anime representatives OF the Gusgenheim-
MOTEaa' synSicate who conducted nezOtia-
tiOns with the Cunninghams. looking to the
requirement OF coal lands IN Alaska Nr
Brandeis said he hal one or two other wit
nesses 10 examine also. but that be expect
ed 20 complete his case a week from to-
day. Secretary Bauinser win then take
the stand and VII be followed BY Com
missioner bennett and other officials OF the
Interior Department who have been crIti-
elsed and attacked by CLAWS and PinchOt
The hearing to-day developed little thai
was new and nothing that was sufficiently
striking 20 interest either the spectators or
the committee. At the morning session the
SIX Representatives were excused for the
day. IN order that they might paTtici-
pate In the great fight IN the House.
The six Senators. acting as a sub-eOmTnit-
tee. listened patiently for more than three
hours. while Mr.. Newell went over the
ground covered last week by Arthur r. Da-
Wis. Chief Engineer OF the Reclamation Ser
vice He was not subjected TO \ protracted
crCss-examinatiOu By Judge NeFtrees. at
tOrney for Secretary Ballinger.
In the main Mr.. Newell coFTobOrated the
statements made by Mr.. Davis concerning
the relations between the Reclamation Ser.
vice and Secretary Ballinger. He denied
that the Reclamation Service had made
recommendations 20 Secretary Balhnger tor
the restoration Of Withdrawn lands. exceqt
IN response TO directions given b. Mr.. Bal
linger IN his direct examination the Wit
ness said that he regarded Mr.. Ballirger
as unfriendIy % the Reclamation Service.
and tntimated that the Secretary was large
~ responsible for disOrganized conditions
in the service.
On crOss-examinatiOn Judge VeTtrees
brought out the fact that early IN his adj
mlnistratiOn Secretary BaIlinger drafted a
plan for improving the administrative work
OF the service and submitted = 60 Mr. New
ell for comment and suggestion In this
communication. which was accompanied By
a definite plan for reorganization. the Sec
rotary OF the Interior expressed the hope
that there would be close cooperation be
tween the service and the department. and
said he was anxious 70 promote harmony
IN the interest OF the public service.
One OF the reiterated insinuatiOns here
tofore made against Secretary Ballingsr
was that IL restoring lands Withdrawn
under the former administration he sug-
Eested that these TestOratiOns be made
gradually. 50 as not 20 attract public at
tentiOn- In crOss-examinins Nr. Newell
attention was called by Judge Veutrees % a
letter written BY the Director OF Reclama-
ton Service on July 10. 1893. 20 Senator La
Toilette. In that letter Mr.. Newell referred
10 a conversation he had with Secretary
BallingeT on March -. 1868. At that inter
view Mr.. Newell urged that the original
plan be adhered tO--namely. OF gradually
7 restoring lands which were not found 20
be useful for power sites. I pointed out
that nine-tenths OF the area covered BY
these Segregauons could be eliminated in a
short time. and thar a gradual restoration
seem TO reflect upon the previous admin
/ istratiOE-"
Mr.. Neweu explained that he had used
the words "nine-tenths' In his letter as "a
I figure OF speech" although he admitted
y that more than half OF the land Withdrawn
could be restored without making possible
the requirement OF water power sites By
private interests. Nine-tenths OF the land
he said. could be restored without opening
10 private appropriation the really impOr-
/ tant power sites.