The San Francisco call., 1910-03-13
WITNESS TELLS OF
BLACK TENT AFFAIR
BalIinger Was Angry When
Newell Forced Lecturer Per-
kins to Resign
Reclamation Service Employe
Was Drawing $500 Monthly
From Hartman Lines

WASHINGTON, March ia sharp
clash occurred between Senator Nelson.
chairman of the Ballinger- Pinchot COM
mittee, and Attorney Pepper. counsel
for Clifford Pinchot, near the close of
today's session of the inquiry, when
Nelson accused the lawyer of "tri-
fling" with the committee.
White with anger Pepper demanded
to know if that was the Judgment of
the committee. and when several mem
bers exclaimed Let it pass" he said
a reflection which he resented had been
cast upon him, and he questioned the
senator's right to make such an ac-
cusation.
CONTR ADICTING BALLINGER
Pepper was referring to several let
ters in the record in an endeavor TO
have Chief Engineer Davis of the rec
lamation service, who was on the stand,
refute several statements attributed to
Secretary Ballinger to the effect that
restorations of certain lands in the
west to public entry after they had
been Withdrawn under Secretary Gar
field had been made on recommenda-
tions of the reclamation service.
Chairman Nelson thought it was 4
waste of time to go over ground al
ready covered. and objected to the
reading of the letters.
In each instance in which the ques-
tion was put the witness replied that
Ballinger had made a misstatement.
Now / have come to the point l was
after" said Attorney Pepper. "At the
conclusion of your direct examination
this morning you said: L want it un-
derstood that 1 do not wish to insinuate
in anything that | have said that Secre-
tary Ballinger has Intentionally or con-
sciously done wrong. 1 do not be-
lieve he has Will you explain your
statement more fully?"
AVOIDS MAKING ACCUSATION
Davis said he merely meant to dis
claim any intimation that Ballinger
had done wrong. He referred only to
his acts, he continued, and not his
statements, for many of them were
wrong. He did not indicate whether
he thought Ballinger had intention
ally or consciously made a misstate-
ment
Davis concluded his testimony before
the committee today and was excused
at the end of the afternoon session.
He fatty contradicted Secretary Bal
linger in several statements and said
the two did not agree on many recla-
nation matters. although both had
been and he hoped still were good
friends.
THE BLACK TENT AFFAIR
The witness related the so called
"black tent" affair. He said that under
orders of Secretary Ballinger. E. T.
Perkins. of the Chicago Office of the
reclamation service went through the
west lecturing in black tent to adver-
tise reclamation work.
1t came to the attention of service
officials that Perkins in addition TO
getting salary of $4,000 a year, was
receiving an allowance of $500 a month
from the Hartman railway lines. The
Hill lines protested that Perkins was
coming into their territory and lectur
ing about projects on the Hartman
lines
Davis said he recommended Perkins
dismissal. Director Newell did not
agree to this at first. but later wrote
to Perkins and in a polite" way re-
quested his resignation. Secretary Bal
linger reprimanded Newell for interfer-
ing in a matter which was being per-
sonally conducted by himself.
FIDELITY TO HARTMAN LINES
Davis said Perkins proved his fidelity
to the Hartman lines by shipping SO
per cent of material from Chicago to
Mexa Ariz., where the reclamation
service has been engaged IN a project,
by way of their lines, which made the
longest and most expensive route.
The committee will be in session
next Friday and Saturday. 1t is ex-
pected that Director NOVEL; of the
reclamation service will be called as
the next witness.
Males Denial