The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-03
JEFF, DAVIS WORDS
STAND IN RECORD
Committee Refuses Arkansas
Senator Permission to Change
His Evidence.
HAD ADMITTED GOOD FEE
He Is Attorney for Lcvce Board,
Which Is Seeking
Legislation.
HAD ADMITTED GOOD FEE

tor left. Davis Of Arkansas, failed to-
dav in an effort to have stricken from
the records OF the House Committee
on Public Lands statement which
he made before the committee several
days ago, when he appeared there III
advocacy of bill introduced by KEEP
resentative Oldheld. of Arkansas,
quoting title to about 100000 acres OF
swamp lands in the eastern part OIL
Arkansas, known as sunk lands.
Senator Daviss statement was to the
effect that he was to receive a zee
for his services as attorney for the
St. Francis levee board in -.tigation
in connection with the lands. 1he
lands in dispute are claimed in part
by the United States. the ST. farncls
levee board and private individuals.
1t has been admitted by Senator Da-
Wis that he was attorney for the ~.
Francis lcvee board OF the state OF
Arkansas, which claimed title TO the
lands under. State grant, ana LOT
which board he brought suit against
number of persons who hold cut TIM
Der on the lands. The land was sold
in many cases. 1t is stated, Tor sl5o
an acre. but the timber was reported
| TO be worth from $40 TO SIS per acre.
"Big Fee" In 1t.
In his first appearance peiore the
committee, the records showed that
| senator Davis made the following
statement:
I 1--WE could not prove our title. l
| confess that there Is Just that tnucn
of selnshness in 1T to me. because
| aa
| the price of that timber. do not
care who it goes to, whether 1T goes
| to the state OF Arkansas or the St
| Francis levee board. but ! would rath-
| er ii should go to the ST. Francis levee
| board because that is just and right.
In correcting his testimony, Senator
! Davis struck the words because there
is a good fee If can recover the
price of that timber" and substituted
the following: Because l am the at
torney for the st. Francis leEee board
for the recovery OF this timber
/ senator Davis asserted before the
. committee that he had not used the
words attributed to him. but several
4 members of the committee disagreed
with him. and declared that he did
. make the statement.
: Following the Senator's appearance
before the committee to-day the mem
bers held an extended executive ses-
sion and finally voted by practically
unanimous vote that they would
not allow Senator Davis TO make the
change desired. II was held that no
one had a right TO change the records
OF the committee further than to make
necessary changes in verbiase
senator Clarke, OF Arkansas, also
i appeared before the committee to-day
and declared that Senator Davis had
misrepresented him before the com
nittee al the previous hearing, when
he stated that ne (Ciarke) was in Ia
t vor OF the bill. senator Clarke de-
clared that he was opposed to the bill!
Oldfeld Not sponsor.
representative Oldheld said regard
ing the bill:
II introduced the bill in question al
the request of United States Senate!
: Davis, and had no interest whatever il
e the matter / have not at any tins
J. stood sponsor for the measure
During Senator pavis's appearance
u before the committee to-day Represen
:. tative Robinson, OF Arkansas, mem
a Der of the committee, inquired:
;, as this contingent fee?"
a II have an absolute as we'll as ;
- contingent fee" replied the Senator.
h Representative Pickett: Does IN
=. contingent fee involve favorable con
- sheraton by Congress-"
Senator Davis: u can't say. If III
!, title is conferred upon the state o
~ Arkansas, 1t gives the levee board
T., T., much better standing"
- 1t is said the 81. Francis Leve
Board is a State board appointed b
~ the Governor of the State of Arkan
!. sas. The board bases It's claim t
ie the land on a grant from the stat
= which received its title from the Fed
y eral government under the swamp &C
=, of 1850.