The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-05
BALLINGER CASE ] DRAGS ITS WEARY
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 --~-~-~~-~~~~~~~~-~-~ ~-~-~~--~~~-~~~-~->~~>-~ committee for some time, regulation of the committee permitting counsel only to examine the documents, had prevented his reading 1t.
 long discussion ensued as to the modification of this rule, but the matter was put over for decision in executive session.
 Mir. Pinehot was asked to read the let ter. When he had concluded MT. Yer trees asked:
 Does that letter indicate hostility to the general policy of conservation?'
 Tn my judgment 1t does"
 Point out a single statement to that effect"
 Basis of Judgment
 Mr. Pinchot said it was impossible to take judgment on a single statement, the whole thing had to be taken together. The witness was asked if it was not known when MT. Garfield withdrew the house tracts of land for waterpower sites, that nine-tenths of the lands so with drawn were not needed and would have to be restored Mr Pinchot said he did not know the exact figures He would not admit that the large withdrawals were more than necessary. The witness withdrawals were made large because there was no time to make proper in vestigation.
 The witness frankly stated 1t had been his policy to withdraw lands for forest range stations. when they were withdrawn to protect possible power sites.
 So that was your policy and Secretary Garfield's?''
 Yes, and President Roosevelt's and Secretary Wilson's"
 As to the charge MT. Ballinger deceived the President concerning the agreement between the forestry service and the in- teror department regarding Indian lands, Mr. Vertrees brought out the fact that copy of the eoptroller's decision referred to MT. Balinger had been sent the Pres ident.
 There is nothing here to show the Pres ident read that decision.' declared MT. Plnchot, and the unavoidable inference Is that MT. Ballinger deceived the Pres ident. because the President said in his letter to Mir Ballnger on September 13: Your declination to carry out the con- tract was made necessary by ruling of the controller
 Agreement Not Covered
 The witness contended that the decision sent the President did not cover the cor porstive agreement as to Indian lands Senator Flint asked the witness if the statement submitted by MT. Ballinger re- garding, the cooperative agreement was not a fair one, and if the papers sub mitted were not all that should have been submitted.
 T know of no other documents that should have been sent" was the reply.
 And the statement wassa fair one?'
 Pretty fair from MT. Ballinger's point of view"
 Attorney Pepper But is there anything in the statement to show that the con- troller continued to pass accounts under the agreement"
 MT. Pinchot: No; and I understand that within the last two weeks he has ap- proved some of these accounts"
 MT Vertrees in reply to questions from members of the committee and to clear misunderstanding, stated that the cooper ltive agreement which MT. Ballinger void ed was one by which Indian office en1- | ployes had been placed under the ab-, 'olute control of the forest service. It | was not the usual arrangement where one | department lends it's employees temporarily | to another. He said there had never | been any question as to the reimburse ment of funds from one department to another for services rendered by that de- partment. The delegation of authority md control to which Mir. Ballinger called attention. and in which he believed him. self to have been upheld by the con- troller
 The luncheon recess here was ordered
 Rush at Committee Room
 The officers had difficulty in getting out the lunchers some of whom resented the new rule which prevented them from holding their places all day. After recess there was a rush to get back, and the doors were closed in the faces of about 50 women.
 The Q bao ri, an executive session during which 1t was said an agreement was reached with the attorneys for a more liberal use of the various public documents sent the com mittee On cross-examination MT. Pinchot said he got the information given in his direct examination that Special Agent Love had frequently denied" that he had clear listed the Cunningham claims from Loves letters to Commissioner Dennett
 Does Love, in that letter, indigna ntly' deny anything?" MT. vertrees asked. He denies the clear-listing, in effect. but not indignantly" MT. Vertrees and MT. Pinchot spent nearly an hour discussing the meaning of a letter written by Special Agent Love concerning a talk with MT. Ballinger The letter. had previously been gone into de- tai while Glavis was, on the stand, The
  MT. Pinchot contending as the letter con stituted an unfavorable report on the birmingham claims, and MT. Vertrees that 1t simply set forth tho fact that Love was calling attention to a construction of law by Mir. Ballin- ger which was more strict than the courts had held.
 Rangers In College
 MT. Vertrees spent some time with the witness on the subject of sending forest rangers to agricultural colleges. seeking to show that MT. Pinchot had adopted this policy without the knowledge or consent of Secretary of Agriculture Wilson. Men were sent to college in large numbers. their salaries and expenses being paid while there.
 MT. Pinchot said his .impression" was that he had once spoken to Secretary Will son about the matter. but he was not willing to swear to 1t.
 MT. Vertrees read a letter addressed by Secreatry Wilson to the controller of the treasury saying he had learned of the plan of sending the rsr rs to college aft CT MT. Pinchot had left the service. The controller held the plan to be illegal.
 MT Pinchot said lie thought the sub-' ject had been enormously presented to the controller. Thereupon Mr. Veitrees put the whole correspondence between the controller and the Secretary into the rec ords
 Democratic members of the committee taking up the evidence brought out from the witr ess the fact that the policy of sending the rangers to college had been adopted. it mad been the practice to have camp schools from time to time. These schools were provided for by regulation under the statute and the former forester said he still thought there was warrant of law for sending the men to college He also thought. he said. that if ths