The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-06
BALLINGER NOW
R0ASTS GARFIELD

Continued from Page One.
press any doubt as TO the feasibility Of
any projects
Goes After Garfield.
MIR. Ranineer contradicted two state
ments made by Secretary Garfield in hts
| letter OF November G. 1909. TO President
Taft. In that letter. which Is In evil
dcnce Mr.. Garfield said that the coop
| eratIve certificate plan Of the reclamation
service had been approved by the senate
committee on irrigation and Mt Balllnger
read a certificate from the secretary of
that committee stating that careful
search OF the minutes OF the committee
since 1908 had failed to show any refer
ence 10 the cooperative certificates plan
In the same letter Mr. Garfield told the
president that Secrctar yBalllnger had
Instructed Director Newell and Engineer
Davis OF the reclamation service to make
the restoration OF lands Withdrawn under
GARFIELD slowly In order not 10 reflect on
the previous administration. Mr.. Ballin-
ger said he gave no such order and re-
called that no such suggestion had been
made
''If there was any suggestion" contin-
ued Mr.. Balllnger 1T was at the instance
of Mr. Newell in a letter TO Senator La
toilette suggesting such n course. The
fact Is that restoratlons were not made
slowly, but were mad Elm the course I
,vyo or three weeks as fast as they came
down from the reclamation service. 1t
was not fair and truthful statement
| had no desire 10 reflect on the previous
administration, however. and did what
| could TO avoid lt."
Reversal of Policy.
AT the afternoon session. Mr.. Ballinger
said that since Pinchots dismissal there
had been 2 reversa! Of the policy, Of the
forestry bureau. which held full sway
when Plnchot was In charge.
Secretary Ballinger read 10 the com
mittee a letter received from the presi-
dent last September. in which Mr., Taft
Inability TO credit high and honorable
motives to those who differ with him as
to his method OF doing things"
BY a, vote Of 70 the committee Blnits. re- e.
answer more fulH questions OF Attorney
Brandeis as to the connection OF Post
master Hitchcock In the appointment Of
certain special agents In the Alaska coal
cases Mr. Ballinger curtly denied the
Inference OF political interference.
Mr.. Ballinger again denied that he bad
Newell and Mr.. Davis, that the reclama-
tion service should recommend the resto-
ration Of power sites withdrawn un-
der Garfield
He said there was no such order or
suggestion, than the amount to instruc
tlons. outside OF discussions he had had
with Newell and Davis on several occa-
sions as TO the authority under which the
Withdrawals had been made
Reasons for Withdrawals
My Withdrawals were made under no
better legal authority than those OF Mr..
Garfield" said Mr.. Ballinger but 1 or
most valuable power sites would be taken
up pending action by congress giving the
president power to withdraw lands"
He added that his course was fully
outlined in the presidents letter TO Mr.
| Garfield dated November "a. 1909, In
which the president added:
When he (Ballinger) presented to me
the danger tina, water power sites might
be taken up pending the action Of con-
gress. which was needed 10 treat them
on the basis recommended by Mr., Roose-
drawas, provided the water sites wore
definitely fixed by the geological bureau.
which had the best sources OF informa-
| ton, as Il turns out, In respect TO places
where the sites We're.
II think this considerable stretch
| OF the secretary'e power but l have been
to continue 1t with respect to more def
| nitey ascertaining water power sites
until / can bring the matter sharply TO
| the attention OF congress.
The president did bring this matter
| Sharply to the attention OF congress-"
and the legislation vestng the president
with power 10 make withdrawals Is part
OF his executive programme for the pros
| ent session
Detailed Explanation.
Explain what you meant when you
testified that you had your hands up
and couldn't get them down and re-
manned silent" sold Mr.. Vertrees
Had I followed my natural impulse. 81
| said MI Ballinger, raising his voice. Il
| would have made a strenuous effort at
| the outset, giving the absolute fact OF
the conspiracy which existed against me
and would have given TO the public an
swers TO all the charges preferred against
| me. but l obeyed the direction OF my
| superior and supposed that others would
remain silent who had the same obliga-
| tion to do so that I did"
| Mr. Ballinger then read q letter which
| he said the president had written to him
from Beverly, September 13. 1909, 1t Is
| as follows;
MY Dear Secretary-I send In letter
form my conclusions in regard to Gla-
| vls's charges and other matters. l have
studously refrained from mentioning
| do not wish to make II impossible for
him to remain In the service,
Appreciated P1nchot.
| ant and believe him capable OF further
| great usefulness. His weakness has been
| his inability to credit high and honora-
BILE motives 10 those who differ with him
| as to his method of doing things when
| he Is pursuing a worthy object with all
| the enthusiasm OF his nature.
II know him we'll and am veEy fond OF
him personally and mean. II possible in
spite of this defect, to reserve his ability
and patriotic, disnterested zeal for the
benefit of the public service. Please.
| therefore, ADVISE your Suoordlnates 10
be very particular not to involve Mr..
| Pinchot in this matter and to rest silent
In view of the complete acquittal they
| receive from my letter.
Should IL be necessary, as Is not un-
likely, 10 submit all this record and evil
dence to congress. ehal be glad to have
your authority and that Of your subord-
nates to leave out OF your answers any
| references to Pinchot or the part he took
In bringing Glavis's report to my atten-
tion.
| II have every confidence In both you
| and Pinchot. ] know you are both pa
| lrioiic and slncere nd hctla fa,.ar gan