New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-02

missions cf Mr.. Pinchot with respect 10
his letters of August 10, 1909. Both
these letters were written at Spokane.
The first vas note to the President
from Mr. Pinchot introducing l.. Il.
Claws whom Mr. Pinchot said he had
known for several years. Cross-exan-
ined to-day. ne said he had met MIR,
CLAWS for the first time just before this
letter was written. What he meant 30
se3. ne explained. was that he had
known Of Mir. CLAWS for several years.
Mr.. pinehot's Retraetons.
The second Spokane letter Was adj
dressed 10 the President. and contained
two charges against officials OF the IN
terror Department, both OF which Mr.
Pinchot to-day admitted were not true.
The first OF these charges was that just
Before he tPinchotf left Washington
necessary action was taken by the For
est Service 20 prevent the passage to
latent - the Cunningham coal entries.
Replying 10 questions by Judge Nentrees.
III. former Chief Forester to-day said
that this portion 1f his letter was
mistake" There WAS 40 question Of
patent Al all At the time Mr.. Pinchot
wrote The only question was the post
ponenenG Of the time Of hearing Com
missioner bennett. NJ the General Land
office vas absent in the West at The
time. bat the postoonem, Mt "as ordered
ty Mir. Schwartz.
The second statement IN Mr.. Pinchots
letter which he NOW says was an error,
was his charge expressed in the follow
ing language:
1.-THE deplorable fact. which l learned
after came out here. that water power
sites have been acquired on lands re-
stored. after the restoration and before
the second withdrawal. will greatly
stimulate the search for similar cases.
Mr.. Pinchot sale he received his in
formation as TO this "deplorable fact
from a newspaper man named Evans.
The records shoE that no water power
SITES were acquired on lands restored.
President Taft Warned Pinchct.
At the morning session the following
letter from President Taft to Mr. Pin
chot informing him of the dismissal of
Claws and advising him 90 keep out of
any controversy with Secretary Bal
hnger was read:
Beverly. Mass. Sept. 13. 1903
Ny Dear Clifford: lnvlose herewith a
letter which ] about TO send TO Secre-
tsry Ballfnger for such use as he sees
81 in reference to the charges made by
CLAWS against Secretary Ballinger. Pierce,
bennett and Schwartz. | have reached
this conclusion only after full consider
etion of GIayis's statement and their an
swers 10 81: but | never reached d con
clusion based on a stronger conviction
than this one is.
- Claws seems to be a MAJ who has &C
ouired but one idea and wilo has allowed
SIS TO he altogether disingenuous in the
statement Of evidence which he adduceS
TO sustain his attack upon his superlors
I 3lavc made no reference to YOU in this
letter. which viii probably be made pub
&c, because I do not wish to bring you
inIo the controversy at all ] have ad-
-ised Nj Baliineer and his subordnates
that | wish your name left out Of the mat
Ter in rbeir answers and references
should IL become necessary. aS Is not uIl-
likely. TO send the whole record TO Con-
Eress- ] am aware from. the tone of your
1crteT and from your converse tlon with
me that You did not give to MI Ballinser
the confidence and trust which | do, and
in this respect / think YOU DO MI Bal,
ineer injustice THINK YOU nave allowed
YOUR enthusiastic interest in the cause or
conservation and your Impotence at legal
obstacles and difficulties 10 miSlead you ia
this regard, and that CLAWS himself has
led YOU regard suspicious a number
81 things which. when weighed in the
5iyi,- of sll the circrrrnst arces now shown.
ere lacking in evidential force 70 sustain
suclI previous charge IS that or pad
faith against officials who have lser1es ofoIse
shown themselves 20 be entirely trust
worthy.
do NOT make claws e;ause Yours. Yen,
had access to the records which CLAWS
had access "a, and you did not know the
explanation for some of the things hat
he Dointe1> cut suspicious which he
ouGhr 10 fIs7s made known TO YOU and TO
No. cannot for minute permit him to
Interior
DepsrtmentIir IN tie public service 1t
H'euld be fatal 10 proper discipline.
Must Be Within tn. Law.
On the other nand. l wish YOU know
thar have the utmost confidence in your
conscientious desire to se.-re The govern
inert and the country in the intensity of
your purpose TO achieve success IN the
matter of conservation OF national
sources and in The immense alue OF what
you have done and propose 10 do with ref
er7ence 10 forestry ana kindred methods Of
sympathy Nltll an OF t4ese poilcles and
propose q do erythinG that ] car TO
maintain them, insisting only That the
ton Tor wn'cn J become responsible, or for
winch administration becomes respon-
shle. shall be within the law. I write this
lertef IN order II prevent haSty action on
yoGs part IN taking us GlaViss cause or III
oDlectlpg 10 my sustaining B&HinSer and
his subor5iretes within the Interior De-
ragtment as q reason for your Withdraw
Ing from Vie public service.
/ shoUlu consider it one of the greatest
tain II YOU were 10 leave il. and ! sincerely
hope that you viii not think that nay ac-
ten IN wiring 1he Enclosed letter 10 Sec
rets-y B2llinge- II reason for your taxi
= ing z step Of this character. When
hes been unjustly treated, Secretary
BRllinEer has seeE in the manner pOinte
cut IN tire letter q copy Of which send
you. Il is my duty his Grief. with ihe
knowledge that | have of his official in
1egrity and ms lack OF cuipabiIity. TO de-
clare i 10 the public and do him justice
however great Inconvenience may arise in
other respects.
have been greatly disturbed BY the pub
lie discussion carried on in the press from
which il IS inferred that your bureau is
erraved against the Interior Dera rtment
encf that material is being furnished for
reciaIlv- distres sed 10Y McHarg's reported
interviews. though | believe he now repG
dates any criticism slurring remarks
concerning President Roosevelt. He was
an efficient officer. but he talked too muci.
and wildly. and his Withdrawal! relieved me.
I must bring public discussion between de-
1artTnenss and bureaus to an end. II is
most demora1iZinS and SubNerSiNe Of gov
ernmental discipline and efficiency | want
you "a help me i'm this. I car enforce team
perh ST Z can keep public servants out Of
newspaper discussion
Very sincerely yours,
WILLIAM II. TAFT.
Nr McHarg was reported to have said
that Roosevelt believed himself TO be the
Lord
WILSON rs. PINCHOT.