Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-11

should be a valuation of all entries at a
new classified price. Up to 1850 acres
was willing that claims should be consol-
idated and was willing to condone prior
fraud"
| Attorney Pepper read to the witness a
portion of Sec. Ballingers reply to the
President concerning the charges against
him, wherein Mr. Balinger declared that
| Mr.. Garfield, who had written President
Taft himself, had made no efforts to learn
the facts or to understand his position.
He also said that Mr.. Garfield had highly
commended his course while in the gov
eminent service and that he could only
| explain his change of spirit by the fact
that his mind had been poisoned against
him by misstatements
| Mr.. Ballinger was in error" said Mr..
Garfield. Il made every effort to obtain
the facts before writing the President"
Mr.. Garfield next was examined as to
the plan he adopted of cooperating with
| water users associations as to reclama-
ton projects and the issuance by him of
PROCLAMATION certificates" which came to
be known as Garfield currency" The
| certificates We're given as evidences of
be turned in in payment of water charges
! when water was delivered on the land
| Sec. Rallinger acting under an opinion
of Attorney General WickerSham. stopped
| this practice.
Mr.. Garfield charged today that neither
| Mr.. Wickersham nor President Taft had
| the facts and complete information be-
fore them on which to base a proper de-
cison as to the certificates.
| The witness was asked if the $50,
| 100000 issue Of bonds recommended by
| President Taft was not made necessary
to relieve hardsh.rs growing out of
| he cooperative plan. He declared
! that the proposed issue of bonds
would cover a much wider field OF re
| clamatiCn than that begun under
| his administration of the interior de-
| rartment.
| In fact" declared Mr.. Garfield, 81
don't believe it is necessary to issue
any bonds at all"
l'ut aren't there hardshps growing
out Of the present status of the pro-
! j"rt?' asked Senator Sutherland.
| In individual cases. yes They arise
| from failure on the part of the en-
| trymon TO appreciate the difficulties of
| developing irrigated lands and from
| their going on the land long before
| the projects could be completed and
| water turned on. They We're constant
| " warned against Going this and went
at their own hazard"
| Mr.. Garfield said he was not certain
that bond issue, as now proposed,
would hurry the projects to proper
completion any faster than would be
| possible under the old way of raising
funds by the sale of public lands.
MANY Of the projects are expert
| mental" said the witness, land it is
serious question as to whether il would
| be wise to 60 faster than the sale of
| lands allows"
| At the afternoon session Mr. Bran
deis introduced in evidence a bundle
| Of letters which passed between Fred
| bennett commissioner of the land Of
flee. and Mr.. Pallinger. subsequent to
the latter'S retirement from the land
Office in March. 1908 The attorney
read an extract from only one. which
tended to show that the Cunningham
claims We're q subject of correspond
ence between the two while Mr. Bal
lnger was out Of office.
Mr.. Garfield then told of visit to
him by Mr. Fallinger at Mantor. Ohio
on Sept. l.. 1905. when Mr. Ballinger
was in private life. He said:
Mr. BallinGer presented to me ar
! affidavit signed by Clarence Cunning
ham. saying he was on his way East
ami had been asked by some friends in
Seattle to leave the affidavit.
II told Mr.. Ballnger that I consid-
cred the Cunningham claims illegal
After reading over the affidavit | re-
marked that it made no difference with
the claims. He said he had been re-
,;uested to file it, nevertheless, and
u, would leave it for what it was worth.
Did he tell you he was counsel for
Cunningham
mo. except as I have indicated. 1t
appeared TO be entirely casual
Mr. Brandes called attention to the
testimony recently given before the
committee on territories of the SEN
ate regarding the interest of the Gug
! genheius in the Cunningham claims
He asked if Mr. Ballinger had ever in
Gioated to the witness that the Gug-
eenheims were Interested.
NO" rerlied Mr.. Garfield.
Mr. Brandeis then read from Cum
ninghan's affidavit the statement that
the GBggenheims were not in any wav
interested in the coal lands This af-
fidavit was dated March 6, 1908. The
testimony before the Senate commit
toe shows the Guegenheim option was
taken Dec. 5, 1907
In less than an hour after the after
noon session began Mr.. Nertrees, at
tornev for Mr.. Ballinger. took up the
cross-eXanlination of the witness.
Mr.. Garfield said he and Mr. Balm
GER had been friends eyer since they
were college mates at Williams in
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