Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-20
BALLINGER ENEMY
TO RECLAMATION
WITNESS SAYS SECRETARY
AIDED S. P. INTERESTS
DECLARES ADVERTISING OF RAIL
WAY LANDS APPROVED
Federal Prosecution Expects to Conn
pIete Its CAGE Next Saturday.
Scant Attendance Yes
terday

WASHINGTON, March 10. - The
prosecution" in the Ballinger-Pinchot
Investigation will be concluded next
Saturday, according to an announce
ment made at todays hearing by At
torney Brandeis.
Director Frederick II. Newell of the
reclamation service occupied the stand
all day He was the last witness by
which Clifford Pinchot promised 10
prove his statement that Mr. Ballinger
had made a misstatement when ne SAID
the reclamation service had recon
mended the restoration Of public lands
withdrawn under the administration Oh
Secretary Garfield.
Mr. Newell's testimony was largely
of a corrOboratiVe character. lie de-
MED he had ever recommended the
restoration of any lands on his own
account, although he had done so when
ordered by Secretary Ballinger.
Mr. Newell discussed the so-called
"black tent" affair, and said he re
gretted that Secretary Ballinger ap-
parentty had sustained E. 7. ParSings,
Chicago purchasing agent. in what ne
considered a wonderful act in accept
ing $500 month from the Hartman
interests for advertising lands along
their routes during his lecture tours.
Attorney Nertrces cross-eXamlned
the witness closely regarding news
paper reports that there was to be
shakeup in the reclamation service. 1t
was apparently Mr.. Nertrees purpose
to show the animus OF Mr.. Newell by
extracting from him an admission that
he had expected to be dismissed by
Mr.. Ballinger. Newell insisted re-
peatedly that he did not know what
Mr.. Balinger thought of him
T411rrb and Steel of the Chg
genheim syndicate will be called to
the stand next Friday.
caoe Practically Completed
Attorney Pepper announced today
that his case was practically COM
peted. although he expected to call
number of witnesses in rebuttaL
During the greater part of today's
hearing only senate members of the
committee were present The proVis-
ion of the resolution under which the
inquiry is being held, allowing sub
committees to hear testimony, made il
possible for the hearing TO continue
without a quorum of the full commit
tee
Mr.. Newell corroborated the testi-
mony given by Mr. Davis of the rccla-
nation service concerning conferences
he and Davis had with Secretary Bal
linger in March, 1909. in which the lat
Ter expressed his opinion that with
drawals made by Secretary Garfield
were Illegal and that he intended to
restore them.
Mr.. Newell said he tried TO dissuade
the secretary from this policy and pro-
tested against the secretarys un-
friendly attitude toward the reclama-
tion service and particularly what he
regarded as inspired newspaper stories
in which It was said there was to be
"shakeup" in the service.
MIR. Newell said he told Mr.. Bal
linger the giving out Of such informa-
tion would have to stop or their Of
fetal relations would have to termin-
ate.
MIR. Newell denied tho accuracy of
statements made by Secretary Bal
linger in letters explaining his action
i'm restoring water power sites. He
declared he had done SO because the
reclamation service had recommended
it, He said he protested strongly
against throwing back all power
sites"
Withdrawals Made
Attorney Pepper read from a letter
from Secretary Ballnger TO Senator La
Toilette, May % 1903, in which he
said reWithdraWals We're made after
surveys of the ground.
MI Newell said no new surveys had
been made, as the letters would in
dicate
one by one, the house members Of the
committee began TO straggle out of the
rooms as the hour for the house TO re-
convene approached. Representative
Olmstead, one Of the Republican regu-
lars, was first TO leave Mr. Mccall,
another regular; Mr.. James of Ken
lucky, a Democrat, and Mr.. Graham Of
Illinois followed soon
Attorney Pepper then questioned the
witness regarding the so-called "black
tent" affair. He corroborated Mr.
Davis statement that Secretary Bal
lnger had become very angry because
he had written a letter TO n. Il. Perkins,
Chicago purchasing agent of the serv-
ice, suggesting that he resign because
he had accepted $500 a month for four
months from the Hartman railroads
for advertising lands along their lines
I'm his "back tent" lecture tour.
Mr.. Newell said the secretary sub
sequently placed the stamp of approval
on Perkins conduct.
Attorney Vertrecs. in cross -eXamina-
ton, sought to ascertain from him
whether the witness thought Secretary
Ballnger felt he (NewelD was deficient
10 a certain extent i'm qualifications for
the office of director of the recama-
tion service, The witness replied that
if Mr.. BalIiuger felt that way he had
not indicated it.
es