Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-03-12
DAVIS LETS CAT
OUT OF THE BAG
SeCy. BalIinger Told Him He
Thought Salaries in RecIama-
ton Service Were Too High.
AND PROPOSED A NEW SCALE.
Contradicted Nearly Every Statement
Secretary Made IN His Letters 10
Ways and Means Committee

Washington. March 12.--Chief En-
glneer Arthur p. Davis Of the reclama-
ton service. who yesterday fatty de-
MED the truth OF many statements
made by Secy. Ballnger and President
TAFT and others. continued today as the
witness before the Ballinger- Pinchot
investigating committee.
Mr. Davis was questioned further as
10 interviews with Secy. Bauinger. lie
declared that the head OF the Interior
department had continued constantly
TO criticize the reclamation service and
that within the last week had told the
witness he thought salaries paid IN
the service were too high and that he
proposed a new salary scale. MT. Davis
said the rumOr had persisted that Dl-
rector Newell was slated 90 20.
The witness referred further 20 tho
enmity against the service IN some
communities in the west
CAUSE or Discomfort.
Senator Sutherland sought 10 show
that much of the dissatisfaction was
due 20 the fact that on sumo projects
the original estimate Of the cost of
water had been Increased from $50 tO
a final charge Of $50 an acre. Mr..
Davis admitted that this might Dee
the cause OF some Of the discomfort
Mr.. Davis said the engineer OF the
reclamation service. In order TO succeed
IN their work and in their relations
with land owners. ought to have the
earnest support OF the secretary Of the
interior lie did not feel that .Sccy
Ballinger had given his support 10 this
ATTY Pepper read into the record a
letter. recently addressed To the house
committee on ways and means. by
Secy Ballinger in support Of the 500
000, 600 bond issue for reclamation work.
In this letter Secy Baninger spoke Of
the hardships which had resulted @
settlers ON some OF the projects where
cooperation agreements had been en-
tered into by former Secy. Garfield. lie
also claimed that Inducements had
been held out to settlers 10 come on
the land. and that at Toluca Mont.
there had been erected "a large sign
board inviting settlers 20 come there.
This sign Included th7 statement
settlers can work out their pay
ments"
Mr.. BAN ager said ~ derod N 5
part Of the sign painted Out
CONTRADICTs BALLINGER.
Mr.. Davis coutadIcted practically
He said he was with MI Ballingor
when he saw the sign. that no orders
had been given 10 paint out the words,
and that up TO "a few days ago they
had not been painted out.
MI Davis said there had been no co..
operative agreement or certificates az
Toluca. that no such signs had heen
erected anywhere else, and that no
undue inducement had ever been paid
10 settlers 10 go to the cooperative
work
At Toluca. the reclamation work had
been completed and there was more
water available than land under cul-
tiyation The lands were public aud
it was decided that they should be
taken up.
The direct examination OF Chief En-
gneer A. r. Davis OF the reclamation
service before the Ballinger- Pinchot
investigating committee ended at the
morning session today and his cross
examination was taken up when tho
committee resumed In the afternoon.
Mr. Davis testimony has been taken
up almost wholly with contradictions
OF Secretary Ballinger, but az the end
OF his direct examination he declared
that ne dld not wish. In anything he
had said. 10 insinuate that Mr.. Bal
linger he'd been guilty, Intentionally or
consciously OF n wrong act