Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-11
Forced to Talk, Chief En-
gineer Davis Raps
BaIIinger.
HIS ACTS SUSPICIOUS
Tried to Avoid Public Notice in
Restoring Withdrawn Lands
to Entry.

Washington, March 11.-with the
testimony Of CLAWS. Pinchot and Car
field all in, the prosecution OF the Bal
linger-Pinchot hearing today began the
introduction of evidence intended to
corroborate what these witnesses have
said. The first witness today was A.
P. Davis, chief engineer of the recla-
nation service.
Not Anxious 10 Talk.
Davis let 1t be known he took the
stand reluctantly and declared he did
not wish to testify unless specifically
directed to do so by the committee.
Chairman Nelson told him he had been
officially summoned and would have TO
give any information he had.
Long I'm the Work.
Davis is an elderly man who has
been in the reclamation work for more
than a score of years. He accompanied
Taft, then president-elect, to Panama
in January, 1909. as a member OF the
board Of consulting engineers on canal
work
Interest in the investigation began
to lag today and the crowd which
sought admittance to the hearing
chamber was smaller than any day
since the committee first assembled.
Would Avoid Public Notice.
Davis said Ballinger ordered the res
toration to the public domain Of car
tain lands yifhdraWn by Garfield fIe
also said Ballinger directed the lists
of land TO be restored should be pre-
pared slowly so as not TO attract pub
lie attention.
tion orders we're given verbally md
that. though he promised TO put lNem
in writing, he never did so.
Says He wa- Deceived.
Washington, March Thames r.
Garfield. former secretary of the IN
terror, charged yesterday that Richard
A. Ballinger had deceived him after
the present secretary had relinquished
the post of commissioner OF the gen.
eral land Office. Furthermore, he as
serted that he did not believe the $780,
100000 bond issue recommended to
congress by President Taft at the In
stance of Ballinger was necessary for
the proper forwarding of irrigation
work in the west.
Mr.. Garfield made these declarations
in concluding his testimony before tho
congressional inves-
tigating committee.
The witness stated that Mr.. Bal
linger submitted to him on Sept. II.
1908, an affidavit signed by Clarence
and containing the state
ment that the Guggenheims had TO
interest whatever in the Cunningham
group of coal claims in Alaska, while
as a matter of fact the record OF re-
cent hearing before the senate COM
mittee on territories showed that be-
fore the making of the affidavit the
Guggenheim syndicate had been given
an option OF half interest in all the
claims.
Attorneys Brandels. who was ques-
tioning Mr.. Garfield. followed up this
declaration by reading from Secretary
report to President Taft
On Sept last concerning the CLAWS
charges, the statement that the secre-
tary had suggested to Mr. Cunning
lduI du W Oil allQdNlL
made before the one which he pre-
sented to Secretary Garfield In Sep
-ember, 1908, and that Mr.. Cunning
lam made the amendment by explain
ng in detail what he meant by certain
erms used in his former affidavit.
Mr.. Garfield said Mr.. Ballinger in
giving him the affidavit, left theTim
preston that his action was entirely
casual and that he had been requested
~ friends in Seattle to leave II on file
or whatever it might be worth. M.
then called attention TO the
act that the name OF Mr.. Ballinger-s
aw firm was printed on the backing
II the affidayit
Working for People.
The former secretary Of the interior
vas examined and cross-exan.ined az
o his administration OF the onice
which he gave up to Mr.. Ballinger on
darch 5. 1909. Mr. Garfield in ex-
,laining what he did in the matter OF
he withdrawal of lands without spe-
ific provision OF law, declared he was
working in the interest Of the people
nd to prevent monopolistic control
4 power sites and consequent extor-
ionate prices to the consumer.