The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-03-12
Davis Testifies He Told Him
He Wanted
CHANGE TO COME SLOWLY
Now After cunningham-Mr. Pinehots
Lawyer Seems to Think
Him a Per-
jurer.

Washington, March l2-Nith tie tcs
tlmony Of Louis CLAWS, Clifford Pincho'
ana former Secretary james r Garfield
All in, the prosecution &C the Ballhger
Pinehot hearing began yesterday The IN.
PRODUCTION 81 evidence which IS intended
to be in corroboration Of what the three
principal witnesses already have said
The drst Of The witnesses called foi
this purpose is a. p. Davis, chief Of the
reclamation service. who took the stand
late Thursday, but who had only fairly
started his story when the adjournment
was taken
Just before the adjournment Of The
committee Thursday afternoon, the
members engaged ia quite a discussion
as to whether or not the statutes regard.
ing perjury would cover The Is parte
affidavit q Clarence Cunningham.
This affidavit includes the statement
by him On May @. 1908. reiterated on
September i. 1908. that the Guggenheim
syndicate had no interest, direct or indi.
rect. III the Cunningham group 81 coal
land claims IN Alaska. A hearing before
the Senate committee on territories re-
GENTLY developed tie fact that A. option
BY the Gugeenheims on one-half The Gun
ningham claims was accepted by the
claimants December 7. 1907.
When yesterdays session began, A.
torneg Braudeis said he desired to call
the committees attention 10 the revised
statutes regarding perjury which be
Thought covered the ease
Chief Engineer Davis yesterday contin.
uad bis detailed statement as to the oper-
stious ~ tie reclamation service under
the direction Of M Garfield Re went
over most Of the Wholesale Withdrawals
81 power site lands 81 Mr. Garfield He
declared that there was no subterfuee at
any time
TIE policy 81 Withdrawals Mr Davis
stated. was NOT initiated by The reelama-
ton service but was ordered BY secre
tary Garfield.
M Davis declared be thought the
Garfield plan ~ making wholesale with
drawals, which could Be pared down by
suhssaueuf examination, was preferable
to tie Barineer plan 81 withdrawing an
the lands and later rswithdrawing the
smaller areas actually necessary for
power site purposes
Mr. Davis told Of an interview be
had with Secretary Baliinqsr II this city
on the evening Of March II 1909
*The secretary telephoned me to come
to his hotel said Tire witness. eve
talked together for two hours, discussing
principally The power site Withdrawals.
TIE criticised the past conduct Or tie rec
amation service aud said that the with.
arawai 81 the large areas was Illegal
Il defended an TIE things Re criticised
70 The best Of my ability Mr. Ballinger
lila not show very much familiarity with
The nature Of the service.
"He spoke as though a great crime had
been committed by these Withdrawals. n
aid I did not think It was 50 serious
That The lands could be readily restored
md that 10 great harm could be done.
He asked me specifically if could segre
rate the Withdrawals made for oonserva.
lion ii power from the others. said ! 4
.ould. He told me to 10 ahead, but chat
~ did not care to have It done suddenly
Didn't Mr.. Ballinger say he wanted I
/ done slowly 50 as not to attract public
lttentionSp
oyes; chat is my recollection
The substance Of Mr. Davis testimony
vas that ID preparing lists Of lands to
le restored to the public domain he felt
hat he was acting under mandatory
riders from Secretary Ballinger. The
prosecution claims that President Taft's
ether 81 September 10 last. exonerating
Gr. Bailiuger from the Claws charges, /
howed that Nh. Taft got the impression
rom Mr. Ballinger that he had made
hese restorations only upon the recon-
nendation Of the reclamation service.