Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-11
GARFIELD ON STAND
At BALL|NCER PROBE.
TELLS OF CLAIMS
He and Secretary BalIinger
Differed on Valuation of Cum
bingham Lands, but He
Makes a Partial Reservation
LETTERS between TWO
ARE PUT IN EVIDENCE.
CBy Asso, lated Press.)

DAY with James r. Garfield, former sec
rotary of the interior, on the stand.
The examination of Mr.. Garfield was
taken up at the point where it was left
off when the committee adjourned, last
Saturday. Mr.. Garfield had just begun a
detailed explanation of the four coal
land bills which were introduced in con-
gress during his term as secretary.
HE AND BALLINGER DIFFERED.
At the hearings on these Alaska coal
bills. Mr.. Garfield said that he and Mr.
Ballinger. who was then commissioner OF
the land office. differed on the, question
as to whether proposed future classifi-
cation of coal lands in Alaska at an in
crease of price over SO an acre should
apply to locations already made and en-
tered.
The witness said Mr.. Ballinger thought
lands already entered should be allowed
patent at the $1O-an-acre price, provided
by the old law. This would have allow
ed the Cunningham claims to be paid for
at that price.
Questioned by Senator Sutherland. Mr..
Garfield said he believed himself that as
to locations made in good faith the en-
price"
my DEAR JIM AND DICK"
MY dear Jim and My dear Dick
were the salutations used respectively
by Mr.. Garfield and Mr.. BaIlinger in
addressing each other in two letters ex-i
changed after Mr. Ballinger left the
land office in April, 1908, and while the
coal bills were still pending. Mr.. Bal
fingers letter concluded with the state
ment that before leaving Washington
he had talked with President Roosevelt
about the whole matter and that the
president had commended his action.
Replying, Secretary Garfield urged Mr.,
Ballinger not to be disturbed about his
position on the coal bills; that he had
always understood it and had told news
paper men that there never had been
any misunderstanding.
Mr.. Garfield said he had never read
Mr.. Ballinger's testimony before con-
gressional committee. however, until he
had gone out of office.
Senator Nelson questioned the witness
closely as to statement that Ballinger
had been in error in stating Mr.. Carr
fields position as to the Alaska coal
bills. Mr. Garfield said his recon1men-,
dations cited by Mr.. Baninger applied
to a general coal bill and not to the Alas
ka measure.
Replying to a question by Senator
Nelson. Mr.. Garfield said:
WOULD CONDONE PRIOR FRAUD.
1.-The effect of the section which I
recommended was that of the entire coal
bill passed and the government adopt
ed a new policy as to coal deposits
there should be a valuation of all en-
tries at a new classified price. UP To-
2560 acres / was willing that claims
should be consolidated and was willing
to condone prior fraud"
Mr. Garfield said the difference in the
old price of so an acre and a classified
price might prove to be difference be-
tween 900 and 100000.
Attorney Pepper read from Secretary
Ballinger's reply to the president con-
corning the charges against him, Mr.
Ballinger's statement that Mr.. Garfield
had made no real effort to learn the
facts or to understand his position. He
also said that Mr.. Garfield had highly
commended his course while in the gov
eminent service and suggested that Gar
fields mind had been poisoned against
him by misstatements.
MIR. Ballinger was in error" said Mr..
Garfield IT made every effort to obtain
the facts before writing to the presi-
dent"
ARID PARK DEFINED.
In the exchange of letters between Sec
rotary Ballinger and Assistant Pierce In
August last 1t appeared that Senator Gug-
genheim asked to have certain lands at
La Junta, Colo, set apart as an arid
park" the withdrawal to be made under
the supervisory power as with water pow
err sites Mr.. Ballinger directed that the
withdrawal be made.
What is an arid park?'" asked Sena-
tor Root.
81 don't know"
ss1Eo,-bo ;t,s +ba Sor,a asa dry touyr, ,,
suggested Representative Olmstead.
GARFIELD CURRENCY"
Secretary Ballinger, acting under an
opinion of Mr.. Wickersham, stopped thel
practice inaugurated by Mr.. Garfield OK
giving certificates as evidence of work
done on reclamation projects, the certi-l
ficates to be turned in in payment OF
water charges when water was delivered
on the land. These certificates were
known as Garfield currency" Mr.
Garfield charged today that neither Mr..
Wickersham nor President Taft had
complete information before them on
which to base a proper decision as to
these certificates.
Asked If the $4,000 bond issue recon-
mended by President Taft was not made
necessary to relieve hardships growing
out of the cooperative plan, Mr.. Gar
field declared this issue would cover
much wider field of reclamation than
that begun by him.
I'm fact" declared Mr.. Garfield. TO
the surprise of the committee, Il don't
believe ii is necessary to issue any bonds
at all"
But. aren't there hardships growing
out Of the present status of the pro-
ject?' asked Senator Sutherland.
Mr.. Garfield admitted that there We're
individual hardships, but maintained'
that these were due to entrymen. de-
spite warnings not to do so, going to
the land office long before the projectt
could be completed and water turned
on.
The witness admitted that the law
makes no provision for payments in labor
instead of in money
HIS ACCOUNTING METHODS.
He said the bond issue would allow the
projects to be completed
physically at much earlier dates" bur
he doubted II anything would be gained
thereby.
nafendinp the certificates or 's(sarfield