The San Francisco call., 1910-02-27
PRESIDENT MAY
Be CALLED FOR
Ills TESTIMONY
PinchOt Takes Direct Issue With
Taft Regarding Opinion
From Comptroller
Tells How He Had to Appeal
Over BaIIinger TO Save
Public Lands
Confined From Page 21

practically had broken the backbone of
the central idea Of the conservation
movement by restoring nrevfous,,,
Withdrawn water power sites to the
public domain and laying them open
TO private appropriation and monopo-
hstic control.
DISTINGUISHED WITNESSES
Pinchot declared that when the res
torations were made Baninger gave no
hint that he would rewithdraw the
power sites, and that, as matter of
faet he did not rewithdraw any of
them until after Pinchot had gone to
the president and had made a vigorous
protest
The restoratiOns by Ballinger were
made without any investigation of the
subject whatever, said Pinchot, and he
charged the secretary with having de-
tioerately ordered officers of the recla-
nation service, against their will, TO
recommend that some, Of the restora-
tions should be made. Pinchot declared
that Director Newell of the reclama-
tion service would be called as one of
his witnesses TO prove his. charges
against Secretary BalIinger- The for
naer secretary Of the interior James R.
Garfield. it was announced, also would
be one Of Pinchots hackers.
one Of the most dramatic incidents
OF the day was left for the last half
hour OF the session, when Pinchot as
serted that there was no such decision
by the comptroller Of the treasury as
had been cited by President Taft in his
If F.ar1 .nar- ~
tsry BaIlinger dismissing the CLAWS
charges and authorizing the removal of
Claws
NO REARING On CASE
The president had contended that
Bsllinger had acted under a decision
Of the comptroller, which permitted OF
no appeal, when he had abrogated CO.
operative agreement with the agricul-
tural department whereby the forest
service was given control of the forest
reserves on Indian lands.
Pinchot admitted there was an
opinion by the comptroller which for
bade the detail of a clerk from the
forest service to the Indian office,
but contended it had nothing what
ever 10 do with the work of the
forest service in the field.
Pinchot's implication that President
Taft either had been misled or utterly
mistaken brought out a rapid FIRE
OF questions from Senators Root.
Sutherland and other members of the
committee. They read into the records
various decisions Of the comptroller
A which they contended had a bearing
W upon the matter, but Pinchot would
mot withdraw from his position that
there was absolutely nothing in the
decision which President Taft must
have referred to which in any way
warranted the abrogation Of the CO.
operative agreement by Secretary Bal
linger. He declared. in fact. that a
previous opinion specifically held that
the agreement was lawful
WILL BE DRAWN OUT
This feature was temporarily passed
over. but il was evident from state
ments made by members of the COM
mittee that they would take it up
Cused. Indications were, when ad-
journment WAS taken, that the former
forester would be on the stand for
some tirle 70 come.
one OF the charges made by Pinchot
was TO the effect that Ballinger, as
commissioner Of the land Office in 1907
protested against the creation of the
ChuEach forest reserve in Alaska
The reserve was created over his
protest, however, and includes most Of
the Cunningham coal claims.
Immediately after he appeared be-
fore the committee Pinchot made his
opening statement. When he had con-
cluded this he was sworn. His coun-
sci, George ". Pepper OF Philadelphia.
undertook the direct examination. 1t
began with a statement of Pinchots s
services 10 the government. The wit
ness told Of the growth of the forest
service since he was first connected
with IL. He said he first entered the
service in 1895, under Secretary Hoke
Smith. as a special agent in the land
Office to inspect forest reserves
Pinchot proceeded to tell at some
length the story of the conservation
movement. which received its first
great impetus at the meeting OF gov
ernors called by President Roosevelt
early in 1908. He told Of his own ef-
forts to bring about the withdPa wal
OF water power sites because OF his
fear that these sites might pass into
"monopoIistic control
Attorney Pepper said that he would
prove by former Secretary James r.
Garfield. who will be called as a wit
ness, that at one time prior to March f.
1909 he withdrew 1884 $50 acres and
IT another time J, 1,6I5 $40 acres of land
from the public domain as available
water power sites.
ATTITUDE OF TAFT
Pinchot referred TO his own activity
ana that OF former President Roosevelt
IN the conservation movement. and in
chronological order came down at last
10 the inauguration Of President Taft
I'm TO the time he was inaugurated
bsd President Taft made any declara-
tons as TO conservation" asked his
counsel
yes" answered Pinchot- He made
reference TO the subject in his in
sugural address and several times be-
fore"
Pinchot then read from one of Taft's
speecbee prior TO his election, in which
he rryoke OF the necessity OF protect
ing the natural resources Of the, coun-
try.
Attorney Pepper asked Pinchot to
tell what the status Of the conserva-
ton movement was at the time Presi-
dent Taft came into office.
1T had grown from practically moth
ing little more than year before
until. TO my mind, it was-and still is
the most powerful movement travers-
ing the minds Of the American people,
said the witness. 1T has reached the
potnt where we were all ready for sc-
fion-the foundation work had been
done"
And then what happened2
Mr. BalIinger reversed the central
sdea-the withdrawal of the water