Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-05

~ $500 ~ 49, ~
he made his statement with no purpose
Of criticislng the committee.
Attorney vertrees sought to question the
witness further as 70 why he had not read
the letter. but was stopped by the com
mittee.
Mr.. Pinohot was asked to read the letter.
When he had concluded. Mr.. vertress
iskeds "A n BetDtG
Does that letter Indicate hostility 70 the
general policy Of co~nservationT'
Tn my judgment II does"
Point out q single statement TO that
effect"
Mr.. Pinchot said It was impossible 70
make judment on a single The
whole thing had to be taken together.
The witness was asked II It was not
known when Mr.. Garfield withdrew the
huge tracts OF lands for water power sites
that nineteenth Of the lands so Withdrawn
we're not needed and would have to be re-
stored.
Mr.. Plnchot said he did not know the ex-
act figures. He would not admit that the
large Withdrawals were more than neces-
sarY, however.
Tho Withdrawals were made large be-
cause there had not been time 70 make a
proper investigation.
Ranger Stations for Power sites.
The witness frankly stated that it had
been his policy to withdraw lands for forest
anger stations when they were not needed
for that purpose, but were withdrawn to
protect possible power sites.
80 that was your policy and Secretary
GHrfield's3"
Yes. and President Roosevelt's and Sec
rotary Wilson'S"
Mr.. Vertrees spent some time with the
witness as to the charge that Mr.. Bailinger
had deceived the president regarding an
opinion Of the comptroller of the treasury
on the subject Of agreement between the
forestry service and Interior department
regarding Indian lands.
He brought out the fact that a copy OF
the oomptroller's decision referred to by
Mr., Ballinger had been sent to the presi-
dent
There is nothing here to show the presi-
dent read that decision declared Mr.. Pin
chot. and the unavoidable inference Is
that Mr.. Ballinger deceived the president
because the president said in his letter 10
Mr.. Ballinger on September 10. Your dec
~llnation to carry out the contract was made
necessary by q ruling OF the comptroller -
The witness eontended that the decision
sent to the president did not cover the
cooperative agreement as to Indian lands.
Ballinger's Statement Fair.
Senator Flint asked the witness II the
statement submitted by Mr.. BalIinger in
regard to the cooperative agreement was
not a fair one and II the papers submitted
were not all that should have been sub
mitted.
II know Of no other documents that
should have been sent"
And the statement was = fair one?'
Pretty fair-from Mr.. B%allinger's point
of view
Attorney Pepper:
but is there anything In the statement
to show that the comptroller continued to
pass accounts under the agreement"
Mr.. Pinchot: ~
mo. And I understand that within the
last two weeks he has approved some Of
these accounts"
Mr.. Vertrees. in reply to questions from
members Of the committee and to clear up
a Misunderstanding, stated that tho CO.
operative agreement which Mr.. Ballingar
voided was one by which Indian office en-
ployes had been placed under the absolute
control Of the forest service.
He said there had never been any quesl
ton as to the reimbursement of funds to
one department from another for services
rendered by that department. 1t was the
delegation az authority and control to
which Mr.. Ballinser called attention and
in which he believed himself to have been
upheld by the comptroller.
The luncheon recess here was ordered.
Meaning of Love Letter.
Mr.. vertrees and Mr.. Pinchot spent
nearly an hour discussing the meaning Of
n latter yurffkno hr GRnof,I k-.-k 7 49, -,
corning a talk with Mr.. Barlinger. The
letter had previously been gone into in
detail while CLAWS was on the stand.
The witness and the attorney could not
agree, Mr.. Pinchot ~contending that the
letter constituted an unfavorable report on
the Cunningham claims and Mr.. vertrees
contending that It simply set forth the
fact that Love was calling attention to a
construction Of law by BaIlinger, which
was more strict than the courts had held.
Mr.. Vertrees spent some time with tho
witness on the subject Of the sending of
forest rangers to agricultural colleges,
seeking to show that Mr.. Pinchot had
adopted this policy without the knowledge
or consent Of Secretary Of Agriculture
Wilson. The men were sent to colleges in
large numbers. their salaries and expenses
being paid while there.
Mr.. Pinchot said his impression" was
that he had once spoken to Secretary Will
son about the matter, but he was not will
ing to swear to It.
Letters Read Into Record.
Mr.. Vertrees read a letter addressed by
Secretary Wilson to the comptroller of the
treasury, saying he had learned OF the
plan OF sending the rangers to college
after Mr.. Pinchot had left the service.
The comptroller held the plan to be lille
gal.
Mr.. Pinchot said he thought the subject
had been enormously presented to the
comptroller. Thersupon Mr.. Vertrees put
the whole correspondence between the
comptroller and the secretary into the
records.
Announcement was taken until tomorrow
morning at 10 O'Clock.