The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-05-01
Secretary Denies All ANe- gations Against Himself
NEWELL IS UNDER THE BAN
In Reclamat Service But His Hands Have Been Up In the
 Air for Months Past

Washington, April sO.-Secretary deny statements and accusations against him from the witness stand in the Ballinger- Pinch ot investigation to- day. He still was under direct examin etion when .he committee adjourne l until next Thursday.
 Passing from the subject of Alaskan coal lands. MT. Ballinger launcned into Q Justification of his attitude toward the reclamation service. His most ip,- portant denial was of the charge made by Director Newell and Chief Engineer Davis of the service that he misrepre- scented to the President that the re- clamation service had recommended the restoration Of tho water power sites withdrawn by Secretary Garfield.
 The reclamation service officials swore MT. Bajlinger ordered them to lecommend these restorations. MT. Bal finger swore just as positively that ne had made no such order although he felt the lands had been illegally withdrawn and should be restored 70 entry and had so stated to the reclan,- alton officials.
 Mir. Ballinger made no secret of the fact that he would like tc see MT Newell superseded as head of the re olamation bureau. He told tie com mittee he did not have much confidence in MT. Newel''s administrative ability, although he denied hostility 10 the gov ernments rec,ama ton policy and sad many of the projects under way had great possibilities for the deveoIpmen nt of the, west.
 Z Asksd by his lawy4r why ne did not s'nake change" in the reclamation service, MT. Ballinger retorted sharp ly:
 Because my hands have been up for nc pths and l have not been able to get tn em down."
 Attorney Vertrees said tonight he hoped to finish the direct examination of MT. Ballinger by midday next Thursday when he will turn him over to the oppos- ing counsel for cross-examination. Mir Ballinger probably will be on the stand for three more days at least.
 Two hours of today's session were con- sumed by the committee over the ques-
 
 quest for papers and documents bearing on the summary of the Glavis charges prepared for the President by the Attor- ney General The committee again de- ned the request, though making one small concession. The opposing attorneys argued the question and threw some ad- ditional light on the controversy.
 MT. Vertrees charged there was a con- spiracy afoot against other advisers than MT. Ballinger of a President who hap pened to be distasteful to the conspira- tors. He intimated that former Secretary Garfield and former Forester Pinchot were the chief conspirators.
 For the first time Mir. Brandeis openly stated his belief that the Attorney Gen. eral had ante-dated his summary with 'the idea of making that appear proper which was not proper when done" He had reference to the dismissal of his cli- ent, MT. Glavis. by the President on Sep tember IS last, and was intimating thnt the Attorney General months after that date had drawn up the summary in an eff fort to justify an error of the President and in order to make the deception com plete had dated it two days before the Presidents action was taken.