Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-11

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he could only explain his change Of spirit
to 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
Attorney Pepper also read into the record
an exchange OF letters between Secretary
Ballinger and Assistant Secretary Pierce
in August last. 1t appeared from these
that Senator u-uggenheim had asked to
have certain lands at La Junta, Colo, set
apart as an "atid park" the withdrawal
to be made under the supervisory power
as with water power sites. Mr.. Ballinger
directed that the withdrawal be made.
What is an arid park?. - asked Senator
Root.
Il don't know"
Maybe It is the same as a dry town."
suggested Representative Olmstead.
Cooperative Reclamation Plan.
Mr.. Garfield was examined as to the plan
he adopted Of cooperating with water
users associations as TO reclamation pro-
jects and the Issuance by him OF IRE
clamation certlficates,' which came to be
known as Garfield currency"
The certificates were given as evidence
OF work done on projects, the certificates
to be turned in on payment Of water
charges when water was delivered on the
land.
Secretary Ballinger. 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 before
them on which to base a proper decision
as to the certificates.
The witness was asked II the $50, 900, 600
Issue OF bonds recommended by President
Taft was made necessary to relieve hard
ships growing out Of the cooperative plan.
He declared the proposed issue of bonds
would cover a much wider field Of recla-
nation tina that begun under his ad-
ministration Of the Interior department.
I'm fact" declared Mr.. Garfield, much
to the surprise Of the committee, IT don't
believe it is necessary to issue any bonds
at ALL"
But aren't there hardshlps growing out
Of the present status Of the project p,
asked Senator Sutherland.
TN individual cases, yes; they result
from failure on the part Of entrymen to
appreciate the difficulties Of developing ir-
rigated lands and from their going on the
land long before The projects could be
completed and water turned on. They were
constantly warned against doing this and
went at their own hazard. The govern
ment is not responsible for their plight"
Mr.. Garfield said he was not certain
that a 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 projects are experimental" said
the witness, land 1t is a serious question
as to whether It would be wise to go faster
than the sale of land allows. Physically,
the projects could be completed at a much
earlier date by a bond Issue, but I doubt
IL 1t would decrease the COST
WIckersham in Error.
But the law. makes no provision for
payments in labor Instead of money, does
it%, asked Senator Nelson u,,a
The witness. the&ai declared that during
the. time the certificates were being issued
there were funds available to carry on the
work. The certificates were in reality, he
said. simply a method of keeping books.
There was no effort to augment the re-
clamation fund by certificates.
Mr.. Garfield declared that Attorney Cen
eral wickersham had held that the CO.
operative contracts will be valid II there
were funds available for the work.
HE evidently had in mind the idea that
there were no funds available" continued
Mr.. Garfield, when, as a matter of fact,
some $1,000 was available all the time"
Attorney Pepper here concluded his ex-
animation, but Attorney Brandeis inter-
rogated the witness further concerning the
Cunningham claims.
Secretary BaIlinger in his reply to Presi-
dent Taft stated that when he received
CLAWS protest against the clear listing Of
the Cunningham claims. he brought the
matter to the attention of Secretary Gar
field as Governor Moore, one of the claim
ants already had asked Mr.. Garfield that
the patents be held up and that the secrS-
tary agreed with him.
d you recall any such conference with
COMMISSIONS BallingerT' asked Mr.. Bran
deis.
II do not. 1 may have seen Governor
Moore at some time, but to the best of
my recollection, l had no conference with
Mr.. Ballinger as to the patents in the Cum
bingham case"
80, IL the patents were suspended the
action was taken by Mr.. Ballinger or some
subordinates on their own responsibility? ~
abheu senator Nelson.
Il had nothing to do with It,"
You would have approved of that action
If II had been presented to you, wouldn't
your"
Yes, I most certainly would"
did you ever know that the Cunning
ham claims had been clear listed?' asked
Mr.. Brandeis.
II did not"
That action would not have met your
approval, would it?"
Most certainly not"
The witness declared that the Cunning
ham claims were purely a land office mat
ter and there was no occasion for Seere-
tary Ballinger to call them TO his attention
The luncheon recess here was ordered.
POLICE PREVENT MEETING