The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-03-12

The direct examination had not been
concluded when adjournment was taxi
en- until tomorrow morning.
During his testimony today Chief
Engineer Davis went over most of
the wholesale Withdrawals of
power site lands by Mr.. Garfield. He
any time.
The policy of Withdrawals. Mr..
Davis stated, was not initiated by the
reclamation service. but was ordered
by Secretary Garfield. Attorney Pep
per took up with Mr.. Davis the de-
tails OF every water power withdrawal
made by Secretary Garfields orders
and asked for comment on each.
do you want me to draw infer
ences?" asked Mr.. Davis.
THAT has been the style here to
date" remarked Senator Nelson.
Mr.. Davis said he thought the Gar
field plan of making wholesale with
drawals could be pared down by sub
sequent examination. was preferable
to the Ballnger plan of restoring all
the lands and later withdrawing the
smaller areas actually necessary for
power site purposes. He thought the
first method better protection of
the governments interests.
When the technical features of his
testimony had been exhausted, Mr..
Davis was asked to tell of an inter
view he had with Secretary Ballingcr.
March H. 1909.
BalIinger's Criticisms.
"The secretary telephoned me to
come to his hotel" said the witness.
1--WE talked for two hours discussing,
principally power site Withdrawals
He criticized the conduct of the rec
lamation service and declared that the
withdrawal of the large areas was IL
legal. He also said there were many
settlers on lands In the west who had
been promised water and had nothing
but promises to live on. He criticised
the system of force accounts" or
the direct employment of labor, and
said We ought to have everything done
by contract.
"He criticized our publicity bureau
! told him 1t was for the purpose of
disseminating information. as to va
rious projects. and that II saved time
of offices and prevented inaccuracy in
newspaper accounts. He criticised
what he termed our oppression of con-
tractors and said he had heard much
complaint on that score. / told him
| was entirely responsible for any op-
preston. but that | had always tried
to do justice to them.
Defended Service.
II defended all the things he crit
iclzed to the best of my ability Mr..
Ballinger did not show any great ia
miliarity with the work OF the serv-
Ice. He seemed interested In all of It,
however He wanted me to help him
to get acquainted with the work and
| promised to do So"
Did you know he had previously
gone over these matters with your su-
perior, Director Newell?" asked At
torney Pepper.
II did"
did Mr.. Ballinger make any ref
erence to Mr. Newell?"
He expressed a lack of confidence
I'm him ] had also seen newspaper
clippings which said Secretary Bal
linger intended to reorganize the rec
lamation service and to eliminate Mr..
Newell"
What impression did Mr.. Ballin-
gers comment on the power site with
drawals leave with you"
As Though Great Crime.
"He spoke as though great crime
had been committed by these with
drawals l said did not think 1t was
so serious. the lands could be re-
stored and no great harm could be
done. He asked me specifically II
could segregate the Withdrawals made
for conservation of power from the
others. | said l could. He told me to
go ahead, but that he did not care
to have 1t done suddenly. l got the
Impression that he wanted it done
slowly, but | did not attach any sig
nificance to It,"
Didn't Mr. Ballinger say he want
ed it done slowly so as not to attract
public attention."
Yes; that Is my recollection"
did Mr.. Balllnger. in speaking of
his intention to restore the withdrawn
lands, say anything further of With
drawals?'
Called Them Entirely illegal.
NO; he said the Withdrawals were
entirely illegal, and could not be sus-
tanned"
Mr.. Davis said that on March IS
he and Mr. Newell had further in
teryieW.
Mr.. Balinger," continued the witt
ness, again said the Withdrawals
were Illegal Mr.. Newell defended the
Withdrawals and said many Of them
had been made under the supervisory
power of the secretary to which Mr..
Ballinger added: Which he doesn't
have declaring the Withdrawals were
all in violation of the law, and must
be restored"