Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-13
PERKINS GOT MONEY
FROM HARTMAN LINE
Admission Regarding the State
ments Made on Witness Stand
by A. p. Davis.

CHICAGO, March 12.-E. T. Perkins.
head Of the United States reclamation
service in Chicago, admitted tonight
that he had received money from the
Hartman railroads while receiving a
$4,000 a year salary from the govern
ment.
The admission was made in reply to
Charges contained in the testimony Of
Chief Engineer A p. Davis Of the re-
clamation service, before the Ballinger-
Pinchot congressional committee at
Washington. Mr.. Davis charged that
Mr.. Perkins had received an allowance
Of $500 a month from the Hartman
roads.
But while admitting he had received
money from the Hartman lines Mr..
Perkins declared the money was paid
to him for lectures delivered outside
OF his regular office hours and asserted
that all that he had done was with the
express authority Of the director OF the
reclamation service.
$1,000 for Lectures.
According to Mr.. Perkins statement
the Hartman people paid him $1,000 on
account OF twenty-four lectures de-
livered in Chico 20 and vicinity from
August to January last and Of this
amount he received about $500 for his
private use And beyond this. Mr.. Per-
kins stated that from August to De-
cember last he conducted a reclamation
publicity office in Chicago at q monthly
expense of 5000 to the hartman lines.
1.-THE director Of the reclamation serv-
ice," said Mr.. Perkins, knew I was de
liyering lectures for the Hartman rail-
roads, and he knew also that / was con-
Quoting publicity Office at the expense
f1Nn To- lima
did was done upon the written authority
of the director of the reclamation serz--
ice.
TT seems to me that Chief Engineer
corning the Black tent lectures, for his
reported testimony in that respect is en-
tirely incorrect and aside from the facts.
Ballinger Not Responsible.
Secretary Ballinger was in no way
responsible for the Black tent lectures.
They were given In accordance with the
long-establisned practice of the reclama-
ton service, and the expense of the lee
lures was borne, not alone by the Harri-
man railroads. but by the Hartman
roads-the Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fe road and the Chicago and Northwest
ern road. The Hill railroads were III
yited to participate in the lectures, but
they declined on the ground that they
did not consider the lectures Soou a"-
vertising.
II never delivered any of the Black
tent lectures and never was absent from
my office in Chicago in connection with
these lectures. l never personally re
ceiyed any money for tho lectures, and
the full expense accounts attaching t.
the lectures were audited and passed.
both by the participating railroad COM
panies and the Secretary of the Interior.
The lectures meant nothing to me in any
way, and took no benefit from them.
No Partially Shown.
mo partially shown the Hartman
roads in these or other lectures. as Sec
rotary Bailinger was particular that
there should be no discrimination in
favor Of any territory or any interest,"
Following this explanation Of the
BLACK Tent" lectures, Mr.. Perkins said
he had delivered other lectures for the
Hartman railroads, and had received
money for so doing.
IT have delivered lectures at other
times and other places" he said. under
an agreement with the Hartman roads
This agreement provided that / should
receive $50 per lecture for course OF
twenty -four lectures. and that the $50
was to be used in defraying all expenses
OF each lecture. / was to receive for my
own use whatever money might be left
after the expenses were paid. This was
done upon the written authority of the
director OF the reclamation service"