Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-13
Chief Engineer Contradicts More
Statements of Mr.. Ballinger.
BLACK TENT AFFAIR COMES UP
Lecture Tour of Purchasing Agent
Perkins is Discussed.
CHARGE OF GRAFT MADE
witness Says Mr.. Perkins Was Paid
$500 a Month by Hartman Lines
ana that He routed Materials
over Their Roads.

WASHINGTON, March ia sharp clash
occurred between Senator Nelson, chair
man Of the Ballinger Pinchot committee,
and Attorney Pepper counsel for Clifford
Pinchot. near the close of today's session
OF the inquiry, when Mr.. Nelson accused
the lawyer of "triflng" with the COM
mittee.
While with anger, Mr.. Pepper demanded
TO know If that was the judgment of the
committee and several members eX-
claimed, 'let II pass" he said a reflec-
tion, which he resented, had been cast
upon him and he questioned the sena-
tors right to make such an accusation.
Mr.. Pepper was referring to several
letters in the record in an endeavor to
have Chief Engineer Davis of the recla-
nation service, who was on the stand,
refute several statements attributed to
Secretary Ballnger TO the effect that
restorations of certain lands in the west
to public entry after they had been with
drawn under Secretary Ballinger had
been made on recommendation Of the re-
clamation service. Chairman Nelson
thought It was a waste of time to go
over ground already covered and objected
to the reading of the letters In each
instance in which the question was put,
the witness replied that Mr.. Ballinger
had made a misstatement.
Statements Versus Facts.
Now have come to the point was
after" gaid Attorney Pepper. AT the con-
clusion of your direct examination this
morning you said: want it understood
that 1 do not wish to nsinuate In anything
that 1 have said that Secretary Ballinger
has Intentionally or consciously done a
wrong act. l do not believe he has WIN
you explain your statement more fuly?"
Mr.. Davis said no merely meant to dis
claim any inthuation that Mr.. Ballinger
mad done wrong. He referred only to his
acts he continued, and not his state
ments, for many OF thief were wrong. He
did not Indicate whether he thought Mr..
Balllnger had Intentionally or con-
sciously" made a misstatement.
Mr.. Davis concluded his testimony be-
fore the committee today and was excused
at the end of the AFTERNOON session. He
Glatly contradicted Secretary Ballinger in
several statements and said the two did
not agree on many reclamation matters,
although both had been and he hoped still
were, good friends.
Purchasing Agent Perkins.
The so-caled "black tent" affair figured
corspicuously in Mr.. Davis testimony. He
said that Il. T. Perkins, purchasing agent
for the reclamation service at Chicago
went through the west lecturing in a black
tent to advertise reclamation work under
orders OF Secretary Balinger. The officials
of the service were subsequently informed,
he said, that Perkins was getting an allow
ance of $500 a month from the Hartman
railway lines In addition to his $500 salary.
Mr.. Davis said Perkins proved his fidelity
to the Hartman lines by shipping 50 per
cent of material from Chicago to Meza,
Ariz. where the reclamation service has
been engaged in a project, by way Of their
lines, which made the longest and most ex-
pensive route.
The committee will be in session next
Friday and Saturday. 1t is expected that
Director Newell of the reclamation service
will be called as the next Witness
Cut I'm Reclamation Salaries.
When the hearing was resumed this
morning, MIR. Davis was still under direct
examination and he was questioned
further as to interviews with Secretary
Ballinger He declared that the head Of the
Interior department had continued con-
stantly to criticlse the reclamation service
and that within the last week had told the
witness he thought the salaries paid in the
. service were too high and that he proposed
new salary scale. Mr.. Davis said the
rumor had persisted that Director Newell
VAS slated to go.
The witness referred further to the
enmity against the service in some COM
munities in the west. Senator Sutherland
sought to show that much Of the dissatis-
faction was due to the fact that on some
projects the original estimate OF the cost
Of water had been increased from $50 to
final charge Of $50 an acre. Mr.. Davis ad-
mitted that this might be the cause Of
some OF the discomfort
Mrf Davis continued to contradict state
ments made by Secretary Ballinger Refer
ring 10 letter in which Secretary Bal
linger had stated that he had ordered GER
tain words on a sign at Toluca Mont,
painted out. Mr.. Davis declared that no
such orders had ben issued and that the
words had never been erased
When his direct examination had been
concluded and he was being Questioned by
Members OF the committee Mr. Davis sud
denly remarked
Il want It understood that do not wish
20 insinuate in anything that / have said
that Secretary Ballinger has Intentionally
or consciously done a wrong act 1 do
not believe he has"
The witness thought Il decidedly bad
Fct" for Perkins to lecture on the beauties
OF Southern California and Arizona when
he was In Minnesota. He also thought
the taking OF Perkins away from his regu-
lar work was a subject for criticism.
Not the Same Instance.
Mr. Virtrees read into the record a
letter written by Director Maxwell on July
Il 10 Senator Lafollette. In which Mr.
Newell said he had recommended 10 Sec
rstary Ballinger that certain lands with
drawn under the Garfield administration
be restored slowly, as not 70 attract public
attention He sought 10 draw from the
witness the admission that II was upon
this recommendation that Mr.. BaIlinger
had instructed him Il withdraw lands
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