The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-03-04
Oeposed Millionaire Chief For
ester Took the Witness
Stand Today for a Cross
Examination.
PiNCHOT PRESENTED
ALlST OF CHARGES
Ex-forester Alleges That Let
ter Written by BaIIinger to
Taft in November Deceived
Executive.
tAmcrican News Servicsl


Washington. March i.-The person
al popularity and the high social
of Clifford Pinchot has drawn
throngs of stylish woman and many
prominent men 10 attend the Balling-
er-Pinchot investigation and today
the crowds were even greater than
before. The Millionaire deposed chief
forester took the stand this morning
to undergo a severe cross-examinaton
by Attorney Vertrees. Mr.. Vertrees
began by asking the witness what
there was of his own personal know
ledge barring all hearsay Inference
and conclusion. which showed official
misconduct on the part of Ballinger as
secretary or commissioner in refer
replied that his knowledge came to
him principally through statements OF
others, including Ballinger himself.
Presents His Charges.
Pressed for a direct answer. Pinchot
asked permission to refer to the list
of charges which he had prepared
against Ballinger. Permission was
pers Pinchot said that his first hand
knowledge of Ballinger's conduct in
the matter of the coal claims was con-
tanned in Ballinger's letter Of Novem-
ber fifteenth TO the president. This
letter Pinchot contended deceived the
president. vertrees then took up Mr..
PinchOt's "reprimand" OF Price and
Shaw. which the attorney referred to
as solemn and painful on the part Of
Pinchot. Tell u.s. said Mr.. vertrees.
what YOU did"
Il called Mr.. Price in," replied Pin
chot, land asked him to describe what
he had done and what Shaw had done
He did so at some length. told him
his action was not defcnsible from the
point of view of relations between the
departments. and I did not approve of
it. l administered to him a repri-
mand and il extended to Shaw. whose
activity was that of 4 subordinate to
Price,
Really" said Vertrees. 'in your
heart you did approve OF what he did,"
Approved Of Motive.
Il approved of his motive. not Of
what he did
Didn't you justify ii in your letter
to Senator Dolliver:'
Il justified the motive. but not his
official conduct"
Wasn't the reprimand the business
of the secretary of agricultureY'
Decidedly not Pinchot replied
In answer to questions. Pinchot said
that his relations with Ballinger had
been fairly friendly They had no
personal quarrel. except they differed
! on political points of the conservation
policy.
| We were not particularly friendly"
said Pinchot. but I distrusted him.
According to his testimony that Bal
| linger. as commissioner of the land Of
flee protested against an appropriation
IF the Chugach forest in Alaska.
| where the Cunnip~ham claims are 10
Gated, Mr.. Pinchot said he never read
| Mr.. Ballinger's letter of protest ana
did not know the reasons he gave. Pin
chot read a letter and said in his opin-
ION it was prejrdicial TO conservation.
| vertrees questioned the witness at
length on the withdrawal Of power
sites Mr. Pinchot said he did not de-
ny that much more land was with
drawn by Secretary Garfield than was
needed for ranger sites. but il was
found that power sites could be pre-
served in that way. He explained
that under his contention. such with
drawaIs excluded all forms OF entry.
while BaIIinger maintained that these
Withdrawals were legal; that mineral
entries were not debarred- The issue
ne said was finally presented to the
Attorney General and had been pend
ing there for year.