The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-02-27


and Attorney Brandeis all stood aside
to make room for Mr.. Pinchot, for
Attorney George Wharton Pepper, his
personal counsel. and for mis- story of
Secretary BalHnger's dealings with the
water power sites of the public domain.
Mr.. PinchOt accused Secretary Balm
ger of having made an explanation of his
conduct to the President that was "es-
seDtially false He charged him with
being a dangerous enemy to cOnseTva-
ton" He charged him with having made
a statement shown by undisputed dOcu-
meutaTy evidence to be absolutely false
in three essential particulars" He
charged him with having 'wilfully de
Ceived the President" and of being dis
loyal to the President
Nervous at the Beginning.
Mr.. Pinchots first hours on the wit
ness stand were as Teplete with sensa-
lions as had been promised, and the suf-
locating crowd IN the hearing room hung
intently upon every word that fell from
his lips. A trifle nervous at first, Mr..
PnChOt soon became accustomed TO his
surroundings and maintained a confident
pOise thereafter.
His recital had not progressed far, how
ever, when there came an objection from
Mr.. BallingeT's attorney as 10 the wit
ness repeating conversations with Pres
lUeLL 1dlts II was CpltlVLUeO LlldL Jlte
relation of these conversations would put
the President in the attitude where he
would either have to remain silent or else
appear before the committee as a wit
ness, which, 1t was declared, would be
undesirable.
The question was argued for some time,
and, in his statement of the matter the
attorney for Mr.. PinchOt admitted thaJ
President Taft, in letter written subse-
quenJ to the conversation. had declared
his recollection Of what had transplred
at the interview differed in some pgTtiC-
ulars from that of Mr.. PinchOt. The mat
ter was put over for consideration by the
committee, and it is expected a decision
will be announced when the next session
is held Tuesday morning.
Has Faith in CLAWS.
Mr.. Pinchot followed up the vigorous
attack made upon Secretary BallingeT in
his opening statement by declaring he
fully believed in Special Agent CLAWS,
and was convinced all along that what
CLAWS said was true. He characterized
CLAWS as a. faithful public servant
and declared the facts which he presented
proved that Mr. Ballinger had been UNI
faithful to his trust as the guardian OF
public property Of enormous value
The conservation movement begun
under the administered of President
Roosevelt was progressing splendidly
up to the time President Taft and Sec
rotary Baliinger took office, declared
Mr.. PinChOt. He charged that in less
than month thereafter. Secretary Bal
linger practically had broken the back
bone of the central idea of the con-
seTyatiOn movement by restoring pre-
vtouSly withdrawn water power sites
to the public domain and laying them
open to private appropriation and mo-
nOpOlistic control
Mr.. PinchOt declared when the restO-
TatOns were made Mr.. Ballinger gave
no hint that he would re-withdraw the
power sites and that, as a matter of
fact, he did not Te-WithdTaW any of
them until after Mr.. PinchOt had gone
to the President and made a vigorous
protest.
Without Investigation.
The reservations by Mr.. BalIinger
were made without any investiga ton
of the subject whatever, said Mr.. Pin
chot, and he charged the secretary
with having deliberately offered Off
GERS OF the reclamation service, against
their VIII, to recommend that some Of
the reservations should be made. Mr..
PinchOt declared Director Newell Of
the reclamation service would be called
as one Of his witnesses to prove his
charges against Secretary BalIinger.
The former secretary of the interior
James r, Garfield, It was announced,