Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-03-01
Should Witness be Allowed to
Give His Version OF Conversa-
tons With Prest. Taft.
NO DECISION ARRIVED AT.
Pinchot Read Letters From Col. Roose-
welt aud From Present Occupant
OF the White House.

washington March 49, " tu AN'
Pinchot- Bauinger committee Of in
quiry met today In the senate Office
building there was pending the qucs-
ton as to whether or not clifford PIN
chot. the witness on the stand. should
be allowed TO give his version Of con-
Versations had with President TAFT
Counsel for Mr.. Plnchot finally said
he would not press for "A ruling ana
the matter was dropped.
Mr.. Nertrces, counsel for Mr. Ballin-
ger. suggested that a ruling should be
had as To whether OF not Mr. Pinchot
and probably other witnesses should Dee
allowed 70 repeat conversations with
the president Mr.. Vertrees said there
was no objection to Introduction IN
evidence OF letters written TO or by the
president. but he contended that n
the committee permitted witnesses to
give their version OF conversations az
the White House 70 would put the
president In the embarrassing attitude
OF either remaining silent OF appearing
before the committee as a witness. The
latter he deemed to be undesirable.
There was no indication this morn
ing as TO how much longer Mr. PIN
chot would remain on the stand. He
VIII be succeeded by witnesses called
by him 20 substantiate the SPECIFIC
charges he has made against the sec
rotary Of the interior Among these.
il was announced, would he officers in
the government reclamation service.
QUESTIONING PINCHOT.
When the public hearing opened Atty.
Pepper began to question Mr. Pinchot
as 10 the sequence Of events following
July I, 1903 when the former forester
said he first heard OF the Cunningham
claims through forest officials in the
west, and when no heard what his sub
ordinates in Washington had done at
Glavis's request looking TO a postpone
ment of the hearings Of the Cunning
ham claims. he approved thoroughly.
Asked II there was anything I'M
usual In the Interference OF the forest
service. Mr.. Pinchot read a letter signed
by President Roosevelt on May IL,
1905, directing the secretary Of the IN
terror TO cooperate with the forestry
service as 20 lands In forest reserves
and 70 adopt the services findings MS
far as possible
The witness told 81 his intervle. with
CLAWS al Spokane on Aug. 2. 1903 The
meeting was not by appointment and
Mr. Pinchot said he possibly had met
CLAWS once before. ne was not sure
CLAWS laid all his evidence before him,
Mr.. Pinchot said, and spoke Of publish
ing ire whole story.
Il was deeply impressed by what
CLAWS said and urged him 20 go to the
president, l d.d this because I thought
scandal would arise, as II since hiss
arisen, and / thought the president
ought 10 have an opportunity 10 protect
himself and his administration.
Mr. Pinchot read In evidence the let
ter Of Introduction be gave CLAWS 90
the president. Ia this letter he said he
hac known Claws for several years.
The witness explained again that he
thought he had met CLAWS once before,
at any rate, he said, ne had known OF
him for several years.
As 10 Shaw going to Chicago 10 as
sist CLAWS In the preparation OF his
statement 20 the president, Mr. PinChot
said the impression had gone forth that
Shaw had assisted CLAWS I'm preparing
an article published in a weekly paper.
This was not true, the witness declar-
ed. for such an anticle could not have
been In contemplation when Shaw was
with CLAWS.
After being in Spokane. Mr.. Pinchot
said he went for a vacation OF the
southern coast OF California with SEN
ator Flint
LETTER FROM PRIEST TAFT
The witness here read into the evil
dence the FUN text OF a letter written
10 MN bN AIftlNtNL I hlA llhlN htNtt-
ly Sept 49, 1909 at the same time he
wrote TO Secy. Ballinger, generating
him from the CLAWS charges.
I'm this letter the president expressed
renewed confidence in Mr. Pinchot. but
urgod him not 10 make Glavis's cause
his own. He referred TO CLAWS az dis
ingenious and as a man who had let
one idea run away with his judgment.
The president expressed regret that MI
Pinchot did not shore his confidence
and trust ia Mr. Ballinger.
Mr. Pinchot also read his reply TO
the president. dated Nov & 1909 In
which he renewed his criticism OF Sccy.
Ballinpor.
Mir. Pinchot said he talked with
President Taft about the Ballingcr-
CLAWS matter IN salt Lake last Sep
TENDER.
Mr. Pepper here publicly announced
that Mr.. Pnchot desired to acquiesce
IN the view OF Mr.. Nertrees that con-
versations with the president should
however. that he was breaking no "senl
OF confidence" in giving out letters tp
and from the president. Mr.. Pepper
read n letter written Nov. 6 last O.
President TAFT by former Secy. % the
Interior James r. Garfield iu which he
too sharply criticized Mr. Ballinger.
BALILNGER AND GARFIELD.
THE claim that / acted Illegally
said MT Garfield. "is based entirely
upon the fundamental difference be-
tween my policy and that OF Mr. Bal
linger i felt free under the super
yisory power and executive discretion
Of cabinet office 90 take action loo
the interest Of the people so FAR as
there was no prohibitory provision Of
law Mr.. Ballinger seems 20 take tie
position that he viii not act, even I'm
the interest OF the people unless there
Is specific permissory or mandatory
provision OF law"
The Garfield letter proceeded with a
detailed explanation Of what had been
done In the matter OF power with
drawals during his administration
Here was next read Socy. Ballinger's
reply 10 President TAFT regarding the
Garfield and Pinchot letters. In this
letter MT Ballingor said
Il am convinced that much Of the
animus against me Is due 10 the fact
that / have had 10 find so many OF my
predecessor acts were without war