The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-03-12
TAFT MISLED IS
CHARGE AT INQUIRY

WASHINGTON, Mar. 11-With Ar
thur P Davis, chief engineer of the re-
clamation service on the stand, the at
tack upon Secretary Ballinger contin-'
ued today before the congressional in
vestigating committee. Mr.. Davis was
called as a witness by Clifford Pin
chot and was examined by Mr.. Pin
chot's attorney
Although reluctant to testify, Mr..
Davis proved to be well fortified with
maps, dates, data, etc, and in many
ways was one of the most important
witnesses so far introduced by the
prosecution" He contradicted fatty
many statements made by Secretary
Ballinger to President Taft, revealed
in detail various interviews he had
from time to time with Secretary Bal
linger, and ended the day by declaring
that the reclamation service is still
in danger of disintegration as result
of Mr.: Ballinger's attitude toward it.
Course DemoraIizing.
Mr. Davis declared that "in language
as strong as politeness and proper re-
spect would permit" he had told Sec
rotary Ballinger himself, that his en-
tire course tended to Generalization of
the service.
Referring to a statement by Mr..
Ballinger to the president that ne had
restored many lands withdrawn by
Secretary Garfield on the strength OF
recommendation from the reclamation
service as that these lands were no
longer needed for reclamation purpos-
es, Mr.. Davis declared that all the
recommendations made by the recla-
nation service were in response to di-
rect orders issued by Mr. Ballinger.
These orders were repeated, he said,
many times, but were never put in
writing. Director Newell Of the re-
clamation service protested vigorously
against the secretary's action.
Mr.. Davis said Secretary Ballinger
had written to DR.. Thomas E. Will of
this city repeating the statements
that lands had been restored upon
recommendation of the acting director
of the reclamation service that they
were no longer needed. The witness
said he was acting director referred
to; that he had never made any such
recommendation.
Mr.. Davis declared that early in the
present administration he had found
Mr.. Rallinger deeply prejudiced against
the reclamation service. He asserted
that Mr.. Ballinger had told him to
prepare the list of lands for restora-
ton slowly so as not to attract pub
lie attention. The witness said he had
made no attempt to inform Mr.. Bal
linger as to these reservations because
ne was always met with the flat state
ment that Mr. Garfield's withdrawal of
the lands had been entirely illegal.
Mr. Davis asserted that Mr.. Balling-
er was wrong in stating to the presi-
dent that Mr.. Garfields Withdrawals
did not truthfully show what they
were made for. There had been no
subterfuge, it was his fault and not
Garfield's.
The witness revealed in mis- testi-
mony that there is quite a feud be-
tween the reclamation service and the
geological survey. 1t was on reports
of the reclamation service that Sec
rotary Garfield acted in his withdraw
al of power sites. Secretary Balm
ger has depended entirely upon the
geological survey.
Mr.. Davis did not hesitate to criti-
else the survey and declared that the
narrow strips which had been with
drawn along streams by the geological
survey did not properly protect the
power sites.
The direct examination had not been
concluded when adjournment was ia
ken until tomorrow.
Mr. Davis declared that when Mr..
Ballinger made the withdrawal of the
Garfield lands there had not been suf-
ficient time to permit of field exam
nations. He said Secretary Balm
ger and the geological survey had
withdrawn sites on streams other than
those covered by the Garfield with