Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-03-13
DAVIS DENIES ALL
BALLINGER WROTE
CHIEF ENGINEER EXPLICIT IN
CONTRADICTIONS
SENATOR. FLINT SHOWS WEARI.
NESS AT INQUIRY
Tells Attorney for Plnehot That Mem
beers of Committee Are Tired of
Hearing the Same Thing
Over and Over
fContInued from Pare onel

body as a protest against the method
pursued by Secretary Ballinger.
On cross examination by Attorney
Vertrees Davis admitted he consd-
cred the reclamation service 1nefti-
cient and demoralized. He reiterated
mis- absence of intent to impugn Mr.
Rallingers motives
Mr.. Vertrees read into the record a
letter written by Director Newell ON
July II to Senator LaFollette in
which Mr.. Newell said he had recon
Inended to Secretary Ballingcr that
&c, tain lands. withdrawn under the
Garfield administration, he restored
aowly so as not to attract public at
tention. He sought to draw from the
witness the admission that 1t was
upon this recommendation that Mr..
Balinger had instructed him to with
draw lands slowly. but the witness
insisted that there were two different
Instances.
Taft Advises Economy
MIR. Vertrees also read into the rec
ord letters exchanged between Secre-
fary Ballinger and President Taft. The
letters showed that the secretary had
written to the president in regard to
continuing reclamation work, but that
the president had advised him to hold
down on reclamation work in the IN
terest of economy and that when con-
gress net he would take the matter up.
W hen YOU were called as a W.T.
ness" inquired Mr.. Vertrees. 'why did
you show such reluctance to TESTIFY
when IT afterward developed that you
were fully prepared with facts, figures
and even maps, expecting TO be
called"
1T is not of my choosing that / am
here. / would rather not have taken
the witness stand"
sir. Davis added that when he had
been summoned by Attorney Pepper
he had told Secretary Ballinger of the
fact. and had conferred with counsel
on 10th sides Later. he SAID, IN
answer to a question by Mr.. Vertrees.
that he had merely discussed water
power sites with him.
on redirect examination Of the Wit
ness. Attorney Pepper began referring
Mr. Davis TO statements said TO nave
been made by Secretary Ballinger
cnntained in various letters.
In a letter 10 Senator LaFollette I'M
der cate of May 10, 1909, Mr.. Ballinger
said he had restored to the public do
main the lands in Montana, Oregon
and Idaho, upon recommendation OF
the director OF the reclamation SER
vice. who advised that the "informa-
tion in his possession would not war
mi further reservation of the lands"
DO YOU know of any such advice
given by the director?" asked Mr..
Pepper
I do not"
Senator Flint Interrupts
The witness also replied in the mega
tive when the attorney referred him TO
a paragraph of the presidents letter
10 Ballinger of September 10 last, in
which the president referred to the
fact Mr.. Ballinger had said the recla-
nation service had recommended re-
turning to the public domain land that
had no water power sites.
Mr.. Pepper began referring TO other
detters along the same line when Sen
ator Flint interrupted, declaring all
that ground had been covered before.
We are busy men," he said rather
impatiently, "and do not want to waste
our time in listening to something we
have already heard two or three times"
In reply Mr.. Pepper said he was
leading IN to a final question, when
Chairman Nelson exclaimed:
Counsel must stop trifling with the
committee and must not take up the
committees time by submitting tes-
tmony already in its hands. Please
proceed"
- I am not trihing with the commit
tee" replied Mr.. Pepper hotly, "and 7
resent that reflection from the chair
man of the committee. ] will not pro-
ceed until I am informed whether or
not that is the Judgment Of the COM
lnittee."
oh. let fl pass declared several
members.
Attorney Pepper then read Mr. Davis
statement, made before the luncheon
recess, and the witness was then asked
if he stood for the assertion that he
had not said Secretary Ballinger had
Intentionally or consciously done a
wrong act"
Davis replied that he referred only
to Ballnger's acts and not to his state
mentS.
When Davis was excused the COM
mttee adjourned until next week
The committee VIII be in session
next Friday and Saturday. r. is ex-
pected that Director Newell Of the re
clamation service will be called as the
next witness.