The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-10
HE OPPOSES BONDS
Garfield Says Proposed $780,
100000 Issue
To Complete Irrigation Pro-
jects Is Unnecessary.
THEY WERE CHUMMY.
Letters Exchanged Between
Ballinger and Himself
Addressed "My Dear Jim" and
My Dear Dick.'
THEY WERE CHUMMY.

HeVe the $50, 900 bond ISSUE recon-
mended by President Taft to congress
is necessary for the proper forwarding
of irrigation work in the west"
This statement by James r. Garfield,
former secretary of the interior, in tes-
tifying before the Ballinger-Pinchot
investigating committee today greatly
! enlivened the hearing. Mr. Garfield
said this in defense of the cooperative
! agreements he entered into with water
power users associations and of the
| reclamation certificates he issued in
! evidence OF work performed and which
/ nave come to be known as Garfield
currency
| Mr. Garfield declared it was evident
Attorney General Wickersham and
President Taft did not have the prop sr
facts before them when they reached
opinions adverse to the legality of the
reclamation certificates. The witness
implied that Mr.. Ballinger might have
been responsible in this connection but
he did not make an outright statement
to that effect.
Mr.. Garfield took issue with Mr. Bal
hnger as to certain statements made
by the latter in his report to President
Taft regarding the various charges
made against him. He said he could
not recall any conference with Mr.. Bal
linger regarding the Cunningham coal
claims, although Mr.. Ballinger said he
had Immediately conferred with Mr.
Garfield after Claws protest against
the clear listing of the Alaskan claims.
Makes an Admission.
Mr. Garfield admitted that in urging
general coal legislation by congress
early in 1908, he had made the state
ment that he was willing to condone
fraudulent entries in Alaska provided
the entrymen were compelled to pay
an increased price for the land to the
government
The examination of Mr. Garfield was
taken up at the point where it was left
off when the committee adjourned last
Saturday. Mr.. Garfield had just begun
a detailed explanation of the four coal
land bills which were introduced in
congress during his term as secretary
He continued his explanation at the
opening of the session today.
On these bills Mr. Garfield said he
and Mr.. Ballinger, who then was COM
missioner of the land office, differed on
! the question as to whether proposed
future classification of coal lands in
Alaska and an increase of price over
SO, an acre should apply to locations
already made and entered.
The witness said Mr.. Ballinger
thought lands already entered should
be allowed patent at the $40 an acre
provided by the old law. This would
have allowed the Cunningham claims
to be paid for at that price.
Questioned by Senator Sutherland,
Mr.. Garfield said he believed himself
AOScAN1CAAo 5OON
faith the entrymen should have the
right to the $40 price"
Garfield Reads Letters.
Mr.. Garfield then read an exchange
of letters between himself and Mr..
Ballinger, after the latter had left the
the coal bills were still pending.
Mr.. Ballinger addressed Mr.. Car
field as my dear Jim and the latter
replied, MY dear Dick"
Mr.. BalIingers letter was evidently
called out by some criticism of his
course before the committees of con-
gress and he detailed his position at
some length, concluding with the
statement that before leaving Wash
ington he had talked with President
Roosevelt about the whole matter
and that the president had commend
ed his action.
In his reply to Mr.. Ballinger, Sec
retary Garfield urged him not to be
disturbed about his position on the
coal bills; that he had always under
there never had been any misunder-
standing.
Mr.. Garfield said he had never read
Mr.. Ballinger's testimony before the
until he had gone out of office.
Senator Nelson questioned the wit
ness closely as to a statement that
Ballinger had been in error in stating
Mr.. Garfield's position as to the
Alaska coal bills. Mr.. Garfield said
his recommendations cited by Mr..
Ballinger applied to a general coal
bill and not to the Alaska measure.
But as matter of fact didn't you
say you were willing to condone fraud
if the fraudulent claimants paid a
higher price based on the classification
of the COAL" asked Senator Nelson.
Willing to Condone Fraud.
s0Tha offoof of the section which 7
recommend was that if the govern
ment adopted new policy as to coal
deposits, there should be a valuation
of all entries at a new classified price.
Up to 1850 acres 1 was willing that
claims should be consolidated and was
willing to condone prior fraud"
Mr.. Garfield said the difference in
the old price of $40 an acre and
classified price might prove to be
difference of between $4,000 and
100000
Attorney Pepper read to the witness
a portion of Secretary Ballinger's reply
to the president concerning the charges
against him, wherein Mr.. Ballinger de-
clared that Mr.. Garfield, who had
written President Taft himself, had
made no real effort t. learn the facts
or to understand his position. He also
said that Mr.. Garfield had highly com
mended his course while in the gov
ernment service and that 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. ''I made every effort to
obtain the facts before writing to the
president"
'sArid Park at La Junta.
Attorney Pepper also read into the
record an exchange of letters between
Secretary Ballinger and Assistant Sec