Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-27

prove by the conversation. He replied
that the subsequent letters Of Mr.. Pin
chot and the President made references
to the interview. The letter OF the Presi-
dent contained the statement. he said.
that his recollection of the conversation
did not wholly coincide with that of Mr..
Pinchot. Mr.. Pepper cited letters in the
record which he claimed tended to show
that Mr.. Ballinger took no steps toward
the rewithdrawal of power site lands I'M
til after the interview between the VIII
ness and the President. Mr. Pepper said
the first rewithdrawal was made May
4. 1909. whereas the reservations had
been made early In April
Mr.. Pinchot. asked if he went to the
President in his official capacity as fores-
ter. replied:
II went to see him as forester. as
chairman of the national conservation
commission and as his friend. He had
told me to come to him when matters or
this kind were to be disposed Of
What was the essential facts about
these restorations?" asked Mr.. Pepper.
THE essential fact of the restoration
of these water power sites was the re-
versal Of policy of the greatest import
ance, which, If 1t had not been checked,
would have subjected these sites to pri-
vate appropriation
Mr.. Pepper here desired to defer fur
Their examination of the witness until the
committee had passed upon the admis-
stability OF the conversation with the
President, but was told by Senator Nell
son to proceed with some other phase OF
the case.
Taft's Letter Diminishing CLAWS.
Mr. Pepper here offered in evidence a
copy of the letter written by President
Taft to Secretary Ballinger on September
13 last Diminishing the CLAWS charges
against the Secretary and authorizing
the dismissal Of CLAWS from the servise
His action led up to q dramatic incident
in which the witness took direct issue
with the President.
In his letter the President referred to
the fact that it had been cahrged against
the Secretary that his abrogatiOn of the
agreement with the forestry whereby the
latter should have control of the forests
on Indian reservations was another
evidence of his unfriendliness to con-
servation.
Continuing the President said Secretary
Ballinger abrogated the agreement be-
cause Of decision of the controller
of the Treasury, which permitted OF no
appeal. and which held that the delega-
ton Of authority from one department
to another was illegal.
DO you know of any such decision by
the controller" asked Attorney Pepper.
There Is no such opinion. to my knowl-
edge. No decision by the controller
which bears upon the point at issue"
Senator Sutherland called the atten-
ton Of the witness to a decision by the
controller of September g. 1905. in which
he held that there was no authority
of law for the detail of an employe from
one department to another
That decision" said Mr.. Pfnchot. re
ferred wholly to clerical work. 1t had
nothing to do with our work in the field.
After that decision was rendered the
agreement remained in effect, and the
controller continued to pass the ac-
counts for our work in the field on In
dian lands"
Are you sure that decision was not
rendered on the cooperative agreement"
1T was not. 1t had to do with the
flee to the Indian bureau"
Representative Madison-'Do you know
whether or not the decision referred to
by Senator Sutherland was the decision
cited by the PRESIDENT"
IT don't know. / thought he must have
referred to some other decision. There is
an earlier decision by the controller on
June 10. 1907. which l contend specifically
authorizes the agreement which Mr.. Bal
linger abrogated.'
The witness explained in some detail as
to how the agreement came to be made.
In the forestry there were trained men
who were sent to the Indian lands by the
Department of the Interior and were paid
instead of hiring outside men.
Mr.. Pinchot read a long detailed state
ment of the work accomplished by the
men of the forestry on Indian reserva-
tons.
When he had concluded an adjourn
ment was taken until next Tuesday at
10 am.