New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-12
PINCHOT'.S WITNESS
ASSAIL,S SECRETARY.
Says He Told Ballinger He
Vas Demoralizing Rec
ldmotiOn Serrice.
From The Tribune Bureau.l

w aShin9ton, March 1.-THE Ballinger
committee heard a long story to-day on the
work of the Reclamation Service under
James r. Garfield and Secretary Ballinger,
Most OF IT was irrelevant 10 he purposes
of the inquiry. but the committee was pa
( tient and permitted the witness, Arthur Z.
Davis. chief engineer of the Reclamation
Service 10 explain and amplify the tale
that Mr.. Pinchot's attorneys desired him
TO unfold. From time to time Mr.. Davis in.
sisted that he was not attacking Secretary
Baliinser. 4 have made no charges against
Mr.. Ballinger and do not intend to make
any" he said
One of the interesting developments was
the admission by Mr. Davis that all is not
peace and harmony between the Reclama-
ton Service and the Geological Survey. Mir.
Davis was called by Mr.. Pinchot's attorney
for the purpose of disputing Mr.. Ballinger' s
statement to the President that certain
lands had been restored to entry on the
I recommendation of the Reclamation Service.
Mr.. Davis said that in preparing lists of
lands for restoration he felt that he was
acting under ma ndatory orders from Secre-
tarv Balinger. lie said he regarded the
lands restored TO entry as necessary to pro
tect water power sites. but added that this
was a question on which he and Mr.. Bal
linger might honestly differ
Senator Nelson wanted TO know if it was
not the duty of Secretary Ballinger, under
the express language Of the reclamation
act. to restore to entry lands not needed
for reclamation purposes The witness re-
piled in the affirmative. and said that there
was no doubt that Mr.. Balinger acted
within the law both In making reservations
and Withdrawals
Feud Between Services.
II was apparent from the testimony Of
Mr.. Davis that the friction between the
Reclamation Service and the Geological
Survey is responsible for much of the
trouble over the water power question. II
appears that Secretary Ballinger felt that
the Geological Survey had better facilities
than the Reclamation Service for furnish
ing him with accurate and up-to-date in
formation relating to stream flow, lands
suitable for water powers, etc Accordingly,
in his reservations and rewithdrawas he
acted for the most part information fur
nished TO him by the survey officials.
Under the Garfield administration of the
Interior Department there intimate
cooperation between the Forest Service
and the Reclamation Service. and Secretary
Garfield took advice from Director Newell
and Mr.. Pinchot, the Geological Survey Of
ficials playing only minor role in the exc
cution Of the Garfield programme.
When Secretary Ballinger began getting
advice from the Geological Survey there
was an immediate storm signal displayed
at the Reclamation Service. Mr.. Davis tes-
titled that when he returned from Porto
Rico, about two weeks after Mr.. Ballnger
became Secretary of the Interior. he heard
that the new Secretary was deeply preiu-
diced against the service and intended TO
reorgaDiZe il. On June TO- 1909, Mr.. Davis
said he had an interview with Secretary
Ballinger, who told him he was thinking Of
making a change in the dictatorship of the
Reclamation Service. He said Mr. Balinger
disclaimed any desire to harm Director
Newell and suggested that he might be APP
pointed a consulting engineer or given
some other place. Mr. Davis said he told
the Secretary that his course was sub
versive of the efficiency of the service and
would result in disintegration as it would
mean the abandonment of the merit system
Strong Language to BaIIinger.
Mr.. Ballinger made frequent statements
TO me-" said Mr. Davis. that he was con-
tempiatng changes in the service. On
June 10, 1909, he told me he had definitely
decided on a change in the head of the ser
vice. In language strong polteness
and proper respect would permit [ told
him that his entire course ev-r since he
had been mentioned for Secretary OF the
Interior had been subversive of the best
interests of the Reclamation Service and
had tended to its disintegration.
He asked me what | meant. l told i'm
referred to the many rumors of changes
Z hot had hasp do In 10 Ia
said the statements We're not authorized
told him that nevertheless they We're true
for he had made the same statements TO
me. I told him the public regarded these
sta tements true"
With regard 10 statement by Mr. Bal
linger to the President that he had re-
stored many lands withdrawn by Secretary
Garfield on the strength OF recommended
tons from the Reclamation Service that
these lands were no longer needed for
reclamation purposes, Mr.. Davis declared
that all the recommendations made by the
Reclamation Service were in response to
direct orders from Mr. Ballnger. These
orders were repeated, he said. many times,
but were never put in writing. Director
Newell. of the Reclamation Service pro-
tested vigorously against the, Secretary's
action.
! He also said Secretary Ia linger had
written letter to Br Thomas T.. Will of
| this city, repeating the statements that
! lands had been restored on recommendation
! of the acting director of the Reclamation
| Service that they We're no longer needed
! The witness said he was the acting direc-
tor referred to. and re mad never made
any such recommendation.
Just before the adjournment of the COM
| mittee yesterday afternoon the members
engaged in a discussion as to whether or
/ cover the partc affidavit of Clarence
( Cunningham. which includes the statement
| by him May 6, 1905, reiterated on Sep
! TENDER 4, 1908. that the Guggenheim syndi-
/ cate had no interest, direct indirect. in
| the Cunningham group OF coal land claims
III Alaska. A hearing before the Senate
Committee on Territories recently devel-
/ oped the fact that an option by the Gug-
genheims on half the Cunningham claims
was accepted by the claimants on Decem-
Der :. 1907
! When to-days session began Mr.. Bran
ccis said he desired 10 call the committee 5
! attention to the revised statutes regarding
perjury and suhornation of perjury, which
| he thought covered the case. The Cunning
| ham affidavit of September & 1908, was left
with Secretary GARFIELD by Mr.. Ballinger.
A GARFIELD STATEMENT DENIED