Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-05
Witness Says it is Hard to Explain
Forestry Affairs to Some Men.
HE REITERATEs HIS CHARGES
Again Accuses Secretary of Deceiving
President Taft.
SENDING RANGERS TO SCHOOL
Lawyer Attempts 90 show that Gar
field aud Pinchot Were In Habit
of DisregardinE Limitations
OF the Law.

Pinchot Investigation dragged slowly along
through two sessions today, Mr.. Vertrees,
counsel for Secretary Balllnger, continued
his cross-examlnation Of Clifford Pinchot.
He ELECTED some interesting facts from
the former forester, but for the most part
the day was taken up largely with wran-
giles between the attorney and the witness
and sometimes between Mr. Vertrees and
counsel for the other side. Mr.. Pinehot
complained to the committee that Il was
difficult to explain forest service matters
to a man so little informed on the subject
as Mr.. oVrtrees appeared TO be, The mem
bers of the committee showed considerable
impatieuce during the course OF the ses-
sion and Senator Flint repeatedly urged
counsel to stop wrangling and try to get
down to facts.
Many OF Mr.. Vcrtrees' questions were
based upon documentary evidence and he
read copiously from the record OF the case.
Senator Flint declared the one letter had
been planced in the record at least twenty
different times.
Charges Are Reiterated.
Mr.. Pinchot admitted his first hand
knowledge of Mr.. Ballnger's acts was very
limited, but he reiterated that the secre-
tary of the interior had deceived the presl-
dent regarding the Cunningham coal cases
and had made statement to the president
which was obviously untrue"
Mr.. Vertrees at the afternoon session
questioned Mr.. Pinchot closely regarding
the sending of forest rangers to agricul-
tural colleges ana brought out the fact
that Mr.. Pinehot was under the impression
he had informed the secretary OF agrcul-
ture Of what he was doing, but was not
willing to swear to It. The attorney sought
to show that Mr.. Pnchot and former Sec
retary of the Interior Garfield were in the
habit of doing what they thought best re-
gardless OF the law and that their antag-
onlsm to Mr. Ballinger was brought about
by his determination to proceed wholly
within the law
WrnngIes over Questions.
Mr.. Vertrees, council for Secretary Bal
linger, and Mr. Pinohot got into long argu-
ments as to the meaning OF some of the
lawyers questions. They also argued al
most continuously as to inferences to be
drawn from documentary evidence.
Mr. Vertrees did draw from the witness
the fact that his only first-hand knowledge
OF any act reflecting upon Mr. Ballinger
in connection with the Cunningham cases
was based on the letter sent by Mr.. Bal
with reference to his claim that Mr..
Ballinger had deceived the president con-
cerning a decision by the comptroller OF
the treasury, Mr.. Pinehot admitted that
Mr.. Balllngers written statement to the
president was fair one and the documents
that he submitted were all that properly
bore on the case. He insisted, however,
that there was the unavoidable inference"
that Mr. Ballnger had communicated in
some other way with the president
Mr. Vertrees also brought out that the
cooperative agreement with the forest
service which Mr.. Ballinger discontinued,
was not the usual arrangement whereby
one department lends it's employees tenn
porarlly to another, but provided that em-
ployes of the Interior department should
be under the exclusive control and juris-
diction Of the forester.
Spectators Buy Lunches.
At 2 D. m. the committee went into
executive session to discuss the proposed
modification of the rule relating to the
handling of the public documents sent in
from the various. departments.
During the recess today the hearing room
was cleared. 1t had been the practice OF
the women spectators TO bring their lunches
with them and had turned the committee
room into a picnic place. Many of tho
spectators resented the rule by which they
were deprived Of seats. and the officers
had some difficulty in getting them out,
They stood In the marble corridors and
munched sandwiches, and when the doors
were opened there was great rush to get
inside After the unreserved chairs were
all occupied the doors were closed in the
faces Of fifty or more disappointed women.
MI e., oR he
at 2:25 o'clock. II was said that an agree
ment with the attorneys for a more liberal
use Of the documents was reached.
Resumlng the examina ion, Attorney Yer
trees called Mr.. Plnchots attention to the
fact that in his direct testimony he de-
clared Special Agent Love had "indig-
nantly denied" he had clear listed the Gun
ningham claims.
Where did you get that informationR;
asked the attorney. II
From Mr.. Loves letter to bennett" "A
Does Love in that letter indignP
deny anythingT" a.
"He denies the clear listing, In sf X
not Indignantly"
Ronald Letter Main CritiefA !
AS soon as Mr. Pinchot took tiA I
this morning Attorney Vertrees asltV !
this question: u r
Mr.. Pinchot please state one s!ngl z fact
OF your own knowledge that reflects upon
Mr.. Ballingers conduct. either as cofnmis-
sloner OF the land office or secretary OF
the interior-not hearsay. not what sgome
body else said or wrots-of your own
knowledge2'
The witness hesltated, Then he addressed
Senator Nelson:
"Mr Chairman: In order 20 answer that
question. because OF the nice discrimlna-
tion II Involves, / must ask You permission
to refer to list ] have here OF things
Mr. Ballinger has done"
The permission was granted and. after
a perusal OF the list, Mr.. Pinchot said:
THE fact OF my own knowledge is Mr..
Balilnger's letter to the president OF Mo-
vember Is with which he enclosed Rom
AIDS letter These letters contain mls-