Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-13
TELLS ABOUT PERKINS,
BLACK TENT" AFFAIR
Says Purchasing Agent Went About
Advertising Reclamation Work and
Getting Pay from Railways Under
Orders OF Secretary-chairman OF
Committee and Lawyer Clash.

tiiN Associated l-TfSS.l
WASHINGTON. ID. c. March IL
A sharp clash occurred between Sena-
tor Nelson. chairman of the Balm
ger-PinchOt committee and Attorney
Pepper, counsel for Clifford Pinchot.
near the close OF today's session "i
the inquiry, when MIR. Nelson accused
the lawyer with "trtiins' with the
committee.
While with anger. Mr.. Pepper de-
manded TO know If that was the jndg-
ment of the committee and wnen sew
eral members exclaimed Let it pass.
he said a reflection, which he resent
ed had been cast upon him and he
questioned the senator's right 10 make
such an accusation.
Mr.. Pepper was referring to sever
al letters in the record in an endeavor
20 have Chief Engineer Davis. of the
reclamation service. VINO was on ,he
stand, refute several statements attrl-
buted to Secretary Ballinger to the
effect that restOrations of certain
lands in the west 10 public entry al
ter they had been withdrawn under
Secretary Garfield. had been made on
recommendation OF the reclamation
service
Objects to Leading Reading.
Chairman Nelson thought II vase
of time TO go over ground already
covered and objected to the reading
of the letters. In each instance IN
which the question was put the WIT
ness replied that Mr.. Ballinger had
made mistatement.
Now | have come to the point !
was after said Attorney Pepper, at
the conclusion of your direct exami-
nation this morning you said: i want
it understood that ! do not wish 10
insinuate in anything that have said
that Secretary Ballinger has intend
tionally or consciously done a wrong
act. I do not believe he has. VIII
you explain -FOUR statement more full
ly?'"
Mr.. Davis said he merely meant
to disclaim any intlmatiOn that Mr..
Ballinger had done wrong He re.er-
red only to his acts. he continued,
and not his statements. for many OF
them were wrong He did not in
dictate whether he thought Mr. Bal
linger had intentional or conscious
ly'' made a mistatement.
contradicts RsIIinaer.
Mr.. Davis concluded his testimony
today and was excused at the end OF
the afternoon session He fatty con-
tradicted Secretary Ballinger in sew
eral statements and said the two did
not agree on many reclamation mat
tiers, although they had been and he
hoped still were good friends.
The so-ca'led black tent" afair
figured cOnspicuously in Mr.. Davis
testimony lie said that r. T. Per
kins. purchasing against for the recla-
nation service at Chicago, went
through the west lecturing in a black
tent 20 advertise reclamation wo-
under orders OF Secretary Baliiuger.
The officials OF the service were sub
sequentIy informed he said, that Per
kins was getting an allowance OF 5000
a month from the Hartman raiiw~y
lines in addition to his $500 salary
Loyal to Hartman Lines
Mr.. Davis said Perkins proved hts
fidelity to the Hartman lines BY ship
ping 80 per cent OF material from Chr
cago 10 Mezs. Arizona. where the rec
lamation service had been engaged IN
a project. by way Of their lines. which
made the longest and most expensive
rOrte
The committee will be in session
next Friday and Saturday.
u is said that Director Newell. Of
the reclamation service. will be called
a. the next witness.