The Forrest City times., 1910-03-04
JEFF'S VERACITY QUESTIONED
Senator Fails in Effort 10 Have His
Statement Before House Committee
Stricken frem the Records.


i by Representative 0ldheld Of Ark
ansas. quoting the claim 70 about
!. en1 acres OF swamp lands in the
eastern part u Arkansas known as
the sunk .auds.
Tie committee declares and the
records show that Senator Davis said
be w0ald receive a fat fee for his ser
vices as attorney FOR the ST. Francis
Levee board In litigation concerning
the lands. The lands in dispute are
Claimed in part 10y the United States.
7 the ieYee board and private indi-
yidQals.
Senator Clarke. the colleague Of Sen
ator Davis, also appeared before the
committee todVy and declared that
Senator Davis had misrepresented
him before the committee at the pre-
yious hearing when he said that Sen.
ator Clarke was in favor Of the bill
Senator Clarke declared that be was
opposed To the bill and had always
voiced his vigorous opposition.
Following the controversy, Repre-
sentative Oldfeld fastened TO clear
his skirts OF any connection with il,
and declared that he had introduced
the bill only as courtesy TO Senator
DAVIS when the latter had requested
him 10 do 50.
i had been admitted by Senator
DAVIS that he was the attorney for
the st. Francis Leyee Board of the
State Of Arkansas which claimed title
TO the lands under state grant and for
which board he brought suit against a
nun Der Of persons who had cut timber
on the land. The land was sold in
many cases, il is stated for 81 80 an
acre, but the timber was reported to
be worth from $40 To s25 an acre. Ia
Ills trst appearance before the com
mittee the records showed that Sen
ator Davis made the following state
i ment
We could not prove our title. l
confess that there IS just that much
selfishness in it TO ME, because there
Is good fee If | can recover the price
OF that timber. | do not care who il
goes 10, whether il goes to the State
3. OF Arkansas or the St. Francis Leyee
. Board, but | would rather it should
a 20 TO the 81. Francis Leyee Board be
cause that Is just and right
In correcting his testimony Senator
Davis struck out the words, because
: there is good fee if | can recover
. the price Of that timber" and substi-
n tuted for them the following:
because | am attorney for the St
= Francis Leyee Board for the recovery
Of this timber.
e Senator Davis asserted before the
z committee he had not used the words
= attributed TO him. but several mem
:. bers OF the committee disagreed with
him and declare that he did make
the statement.
: Following the senator's appearance
# before the committee today the com
Il mlttee held another extended execu-
tive session and finally decided by
- practically unanimous vote that they
would not allow Senator Davis 10
'. make the change desired. 1t was held
IF that no one had right TO change the
n records OF the committee further than
TO make the necessary changes In
2 yerbiage
:. The opinion is very general here
- that Senator Davis did not realize the
gravity of his statements which the
= majority of the members are positive
that he did make just as quoted. The
+ senator now raises the question of
q veracity with the whole membership
# of the whole membership of the COM
mittee present. Congressman Oldfield
today had this to say about his cou-
, nection With the bill In question:
: u introduced the bill at the request
: of Senator Davis and had no interest
whatever in the measure. | have
Z. not at any time stood sponsor for the
u measure. II was suggested after the
y committee began the hearing that
= withdraw the bill, but as had no in
tereSt in the matter and there are
:. several persons here 10 appear before
: the committee, both foa and against
e the bill, it was decided by some on
both sides Of the proposition TO thresh
= the thing out before the Committee
on Public Lands, while the matter
!. was pending, so that 1t might be dis
: posed of one way or another"
, Mr.. Oldheld remarked that 1t was
customary for members Of both houses
10 introduce measures for each other,
and that he introduced this bill with
: out giving its merits the slightest
S consideration.
= During Senator Davis appearance
before the committee today, Repre-
( sentative Robinson, OF Arkansas, a
s member OF the committee, inQuired
: Is this contingent fee?n
II have an absolute as well as
contingent fee, declared the senator.
Representative Pickett asked: docs
= the contingent involve favorable con-
n SideratiOn by CongreSs?"
Senator Davis replied II can't say.
: III the Title is conferred upon the
: State Of Arkansas 1t gives the leyee
! board much better standing"
The st. Francis Levee Board is
: board appointed by the governor OF
the State OF Arkansas. The board
: bases its claim TO the land on grant
: from the State which received its
title from the Federal government
under the swamp act OF 1880
: The Interior Department in De
: cember. 1908, made a ruling that the
original surveys OF this land were In
correct, and that the title 10 the land
reverted 10 the Federal government
: by compromise act between the
/ United States and the State OF Ark
anSaS in 1908. In following this de-
cision large numb ers ofsettlers moved
upon the land.
Senator Davis, when seen this after
! noon in regard TO the story that he