Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-12
SAYS COURSE TENDS TO
DlSlNTEGRATE SERVICE
Restoration of Lands Was Upon Rec
concentrations Made in Compliance
With Direct and Repeated Orders
from Ballinger iimself-Witness
Armed With Maps and Data.

WASHINGTON, ID. C., March IL
With Arthur =. Davis. chief engineer
Of the reclamation service, on Inc
stand. the attack upon Secretary Bal
linger continued today before the con
gressional committee OF investigation.
Mr.. Davis was called as witness by
Clifford PinchOt and was examined by
Mr.. Pinchots attorney.
Although expressing reluctance TO
testify, Mr. Davis proved to be well
fortified, with maps. dates, data. etc.
He contradicted fatty many stale
ments made by Secretary Ballinser 10
President Taft and ended the day by
declaring that the reclamation ser
vice is still in danger OF disintegrd-
ton as a result OF MIR. Ballinger's at
titude toward it.
Mr.. Davis declared that in language
as strong as 'politeness and proper
respect would permit" he had told
Secretary Ballinser himself that his
entire course had tended to de
mOralization of the service.
Recommendations Were Ordered.
With regard to statement by Mr..
Ballinger to the President that lie
had restored many lands Withdrawn
by Secretary Garfield on the strength
of recommendations from the reclama-
ton service that these lands were no
longer needed for reclamation par
poses. Mr.. Davis declared that all
of the recommendation made by the
reclamation service were in response
TO direct orders issued Sy Mr.. Balm
ger These orders were repeated, he
said, many times, but were never put
in writing.
Director Newell, of the reclamation
service, he said. protested vigorously
against the secretary's action.
Mr.. Davis said Secretary BallingeT
had a written letter to Dr. Thomas
T. viii, OF this city, repeating the
statements that lands had been re-
stored urcn recommendation OF the
acting director of the reclamation
service that they were no longer
needed.
fOdHC 0C~iSediJ TfClHN'SSNs
MT Davis declared that early in the
present administration he had found
Mr. Bal:;nger deeply pTejudiced
against tho reclamation service. He
asserted that Mr. Ballinger had told
him to prepare the list of lands for
restoration slowly so as to not attract
public attention. The witness said he
had made no attempt to influence Mr.
Bailinger as to these restoratiOns, be-
cause he was always met with the
fat statement that Mr.. Garfield's
withdrawal Of the lands had been en-
tirely Illegal.
Mr.. Davis asserted that Mr. Bal
linger was wrong in stating to the
President that Mr. Garfield's with
drawals had not truthfuIly shown
what they were made for. There had
been no subterfuge. he said. and II
there had been any appearance of
suffering, it was his fault and not
Mr. GarEeld's.
The witress revealed in his testi-
moHy that there is quite fue1 be-
twenn the reclamation service and the
geological service. ItEas on reports
Of the reclamation se4ice that SecTe-
tary Garfield acted in his withdrawn
OF power sites. Secretary Ballinger
has depended entirely upon the geo
logical survey.
Criticises Survey.
Mr. Davis did not hesitate 10 criti-
else the survey and declared that the
narrow strips which had been With
drawn along streams by the geological
survey dii not properly protect the
power sites.
The direct examination Of sir
Davis had not been concluded when
adjournment was taken until tomor-
TOW morning