Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-12
ENGINEER SAYS
BALLINGER WAS
PEOPLES ENEMY
Secretary Again Revealed
as Friend of Pow~4
Corporations
RECLAMATIONSHAKY
Witness Called by Pinchot
Declares Service Was
DemoraIiZed
Especial to The Herald

AV and again bADbStu dS bhN AA'cAAN
w of power companies and other
corporations and as the enemy OF con-
servation and public welfare, Secretary
of the Interior Ballinger today once
more was revealed in his true nght by
the chief engineer of the department
on which he has tried repeatedly TO
place the blame for his peculiar acts.
Ballinger's accuser today was Arlnur
p Davis. chief engineer of the recia-
nation service. who on the witness
stand at the congressional inquiry de-
clared in substance that Ballinger had
deliberately falsified; that the recon-
mendations for the restoration OF the
areas involved in recent proclamations
were made at the unwritten request
of Ballinger and never of the depart
ment's own volition; that the state
ment that Mr. Ballinger had restored
the lands because II was so recon-
mended by the reclamation service was
false, and that the reclamation service
is in danger of disintegration as a re-
suit of Ballinger's attitude toward it.
Chief Engineer Davis was called as
a witness by the deposed forester, Gif-
ford Pinchot.
Although reluctant to testify Mr.
Davis proved to be well fortified with
maps, data etc, and in many ways
was one of the most important wit
nesses so far introduced by the prose
cution." He contradicted fatty many
statements made by Secretary Ballin-
ger to President Taft, revealed in de-
tail various interviews he had had
from time to time with Secretary Bal
llnger,. and ended the day by declar-
ing that the reclamation service still
is In danger of disintegratlon as a
result of Ballinger's attitude.
Declared Action Demorallzing
Mr. Davis declared that "in language
as strong as politenes and proper re-
spect would permit" he had told Sec
retary Ballinger himself that his entire
course tended to Generalization Of the
service.
Referring to statement by Mr.. Bal
linger to the president that he had re-
stored many lands withdrawn by Sec
retary Garfield on the strength of rec
concentrations from the reclamation
service that these lands were no longer
needed for reclamation purposes, Mr..
Davis declared that all the recon-
mendations by the reclamation service
we're in response TO direct orders Is
sued by Mr.. Bsllinger.
These orders were repeated. he said.
many tinfes, but were never put in
writing. Director Newell of the rec
lamation service protested vigorously
against the secretary's action.
Mr.. Davis said Mr.. Ballinger had
written a letetr to Dr. Thomas e. Will
of this city, repeating the statements
that lands had been restored upon rec
omendation OF the acting director of
the reclamation service that they were
no longer needed. The witness said
he was the acting director referred to;
that he had never made any such rec
ommendation
Mr.. Davis declared that early in the
present administration he had found
Mr. Ballinger deeply prejudiced against
the reclamation service. He asserted
that Mr.. Ballinger had told him to
prepare the list of lands for restoration
slowly. so as not to attract public
attention. The witness said he had
made no attempt TO influence Mr. Bal
linger as to these restorations because
he was always met with the fat state
ment that Mr.. Garfield,s withdrawal of
the lands had been entirely Illegal
BaIIinger Again Wrong
Mr.. Davis asserted that Mr.. Ballinger
was wrong in stating to the president
that Mr.: Garfield's withdrawals did
not truthfully show what they were
made for. There had been no subter-
fuge, he said, and If there had been any
appearance OF subterfuge 1t was his
fault and not Garfelds.
The witness revealed in his testi-
mony that there is quite feud be-
tween the reclamation service and the
geological survey. 1t was on reports of
the reclamation service that Secretary
Garfield acted in his Withdrawals of
power sites.
Secretary Ballinger had depended en-
tirely upon the geological survey.
Mr.. Davis did not hesitate to criti-
else the survey and declare the narrow
strips which had been withdrawn along
streams by the geological survey did
not properly protect the power sites.
Mr.. Davis said Ballinger declared the
Withdrawals were illegal, which state
ment he reiterated in subsequent in
terview on March Is, Newell, who was
present, protesting vigorously against
the restorations. At this second inter
view, declared Davis, Ballinger said
nothing as to any intention of rewth-
drawing the lands he proposed to re-
store.
The witness said that had the matter
been left to him he would never have
withdrawn the lands in the first place,
as he wanted the administration. not
the reclamation service, to initiate"
the Withdrawals. He thought. however,
that Garfield's Withdrawals were wise
and Ballingers restorations unwise.
He said he thought both Garfield and
Ballinger had acted within the law in
restoring lands not needed for power
sites. He believed, however, that their
policies and aims were different"
II found Mr.. Ballinger deeply preju-
diced against the reclamation service"
said Davis.
Reads Taft Letter
Attorney Pepper here read into the
record the following extract from Pres
ident Taft's letter written to Secretary
Rallinger, September 13, last
"When the facts are examined in
this regard it will be found the per-
sons responsible for the circulation of
these charges have done you a cruel
Injustice. The fact was that in Janu-
ary, 1909, in the last administration.
executive orders were made withdraw
ing, from public settlement 100000
acres at the instance of the reclamation
service for conservation of water pow
er sites
soon after you became secretary of
the interior you brought this order to
(COntinued on Page Two)