The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-05
BALLINGER CASE IN
WRANGLING STAGE
Continued From Page Ono.

Continued From Page Ono.
Gated. Mr. Pinchot said he had never
read Mr.. Ballingcr's letter OF protest.
and did not know what reasons ne gave.
Mr. Vertrees: "Don't you think II
would have been only fair to have read
II before submitting 1t here with the In
ferences that might be drawn from your
Mir Pinchot. my knowledge OF Mr.
Ballingers position was based on an
Interview with him in Mr.. GaTtield's Of
flee. and ] understood 1t to be hostle
to what we have since como 10 call con-
servaIion."
MIR, Pinchot declared that while the
letter of protest had been on file with
the committee for some time reeu-
lation OF the committee permitting connI cod
sci only to examine the documents hau
"A long discussion ensued as to the
modification of the rule, but the matter
was put over for consideration In eXecu-
Attorney Brandeis remarked that the
order OF the committee had worked
great hardship on counsel
When Representative Denoy stated ae .nae
he plainly understood counsel TO agree
with the committee as to the propriety
Of the course decided upon. Mr.. Brandels
nose OF crltic!sing the committee.
Attorney Vertrees sought to question
the witness further as TO why ne mao
not read the letter, but was stoppeu oy
the committee.
Mr., Pinchot was asked to read the let
ter When he had concluded MI Ner-
trees asked:
Pinchot's View of Letter.
Does that letter indicate hostility to
the general policy OF conservationE
"In my judgment 1t does.
"Point out single statement TO that
effect"
| take judgment or n single statement. The
whole thing had to be taken together.
| The witness was asked II II was not
known when Mr.. Garfield Withdrew the
huge tracts OF lands for water power sites
| that nineteenth of the lands so with
| drawn were not needed and would nave
| 10 be restored,
| Mr.. Pinchot said he did not know the
exact figures. He would not admit that
the large Withdrawals were more than
necessary, however
The Withdrawals were made large be-
| cause there had not been time to make
proper investigation.
The witness frankly stated that 1t had
| been his policy TO withdraw lands for for
| est reservation ranger stations when
| they were needed for that purpose, but
were not withdrawn for prospective power
| sites
go that was your policy. and Secretary
Garfield's?"
"Yes. and President Rooseveit's. and
Secretary Wilson's"
Mr.. Vertrees passed some time with the
witness as TO the charge that MIR. Bal
| llnger had deceived the president regard
| Ing an OPINION Oh IDS COTlDlTOIcT VI
treasury on the subject OF agreement be-
| tween the forestry service and interior de-
partment regarding Indian lands
Taft Might Not Know.
He brought out the fact that a copy Of
| the comptroller's decision referred TO
Mr., Ballinger had been sent to the presi-
dent
president read that, decision, declared
| Mr. Pinchot "and the unavoidable infer
&c that Mr. RalllnpgI deceived the
president. because the president said In
his letter to Mr.. Ballinger on September
Is.
Your declination to carry out the con-
tract was made necessary by the ruling
! OF the comptroller"
The witness contended that the decision
sent 10 the president did not cover the CO.
l operative agreement as to Indian lands.
| Senator Flint asked the witness II the
statement submitted by Mr. Ballinger
In regard to the cooperative agreement
was not fair one and il the papers sub
mtted were not all that should have been
submitted,
| should have been sent"
i And the statement was fair one?
Pretty fair-from Mr.. Ballinger's point
Attorney Pepper:
But is ,there anything in the statement
to show that the comptroller continued
| 10 pass accounts under the agreement"
Mr., Pinchot;
mo. and understand that within the
last two weeks he has approved some OF
| these accounts.
Mr.. Vertrees in reply to questions from
members of the committee and to clear
up a misunderstanding, stated that the
cooperative agreement which Mi Bal
linger voided was one by which Indian
office employees had been placed under
the absolute control Of the forest SER
vice.
He said there had never been any
question as TO the reimbursement OF
funds to ono department. from another
Il
1t was the delegation OF authority and
control TO which Mr. Ballinger called at
tention and which he believed himself to
have been upheld by the comptroller.
Lunch recess.
Executive Session.
At p. m. the committee went into
executive session to discuss the pro-
posed modification of the rule relating
TO the ,. haandling bending OF the public documents
cleared.
II had been the practice of the women
II spectators to bring their lunches with
them, and they had turned the committee
room INTO picnic place, Many OF the
spectators resented the rule by which they
were deprived of seats and the officers
had Some difficulty in getting them out
They stood In the marble corridors and
munched sandwiches. and when the doors
were opened there was n great rush TO
get inside After the unreserved chairs
were all occupied the doors were closed
In the faces OF ilfty or more disappointed
women.
The public session began at 2.25 o'clock
~ was SAID that an agreement with the
attorneys for more liberal use OF the
documents was reached,
Again Under Cross Fire
| Resurning the cross-examination Mr.
| Nertrees called MI Pinchots attention
| to the fact that In his direct testimony
he declared that Special Agent Love had
| Indignantly denied" he had clear-listed
| the Cunningham claims
nlThere did hot ;,fa