New-York tribune., 1910-02-27
-Eron Tbs Tribune Bureau

-E-on Tbs Tribune Burezu-j
Washington. Fer. 2s-A sensational
attack BY Clifford Pinchot on the secrs-
-srv Of the Interior was the feature Of
ro-5ays session OF the Balinger- -Pinchot
,---estigat:ne committee This attack
7as contained in a preliminary state
-2ert 1-hich was read by the former
CHEF q tbs Forest Service before lie
began his sHcrn testimony, and copies
Of which had been given to the press
Asked by Senator Nelson if he desired to
swear 70 the statement, Mr.. Pinchot re
rlied IN The negative. He was then
ev-orn and for three hours was Ques-
7iored by his attorney, George Wharton
Pepper. with z view to developing Mr..
Pinchots first contention that Secretary
Bsllinger sought TO reverse the Roosevelt
policy for the protection Of water power
sites against monopolistic control, and in
furtherance Of his plan deceived Presi-
sszt Taft. Adjournment was taken until
Tuesday. when the direct examination of
n Fincbot viii be continued.
1fR. PINcEOT-S STATEMENT.
vr. Pinchot-s statement follows:
What I desire 70 lay before the com
-1irtee IS z consecutive story Of my eE-
rerfence with Ny Bapinger in relation
. -he conservation OF natural resources.
Among several other matters there are
7hree Of principal Importance 20 be
called 10 your attention.
The flrst Of these concerns the policy
devised and inauguraJed by the last ao-
-77iristration OF protecting against mo
ropolistic control the water power sites
owned By the people. l shall show you
that Secretary Rallinger entered ms OF
Zee with the clear determination 10 make
short work OF that policy: that he re
zersei 4 50 far as he was allowed TO 60
-. that he restored the power sites 10
entry without the remotest idea OF re-
wlthdrawing~ them. and that finally,
7vilen- ! charged him last autumn - the
President with being an enemy or the
policy Of conservation, he capped the
,linax by giving 70 The President hlT1l-
elf an explanation Ct his conduc1 tha'
T-1s essentially false.
The second has TO do with my connec-
flcu a. Z government offacer with si2e
Cunningham coal cases and with TIE
Claws Charges. ! shall show You how
he Forest Service became involved IN
these cases, and how CLAWS submitted
MS facts 70 ne. ] believed then. as |
believe now, that he told the truth. o m
cIvirced now. as-I was Y men he came
. nae. that Claws was q faithful publlc
servant and that the facts which he
PRESENTED prove that AIr- BalingeT has
been unfaithful 70 his trust IS servant
II the people and as the guardian 2I
public property Of enormous value.
T shall show you that since learned
the facts --ou have heard 1rom CLAWS
ana others which / am about 10 lay be
fore VOC. I have acted steadily in the light
q them. IS il was my duty both as
public officer and as a citizen, to dc.
shall show you that. in pursuance u that
duty. laid before the President both
~ v-ord Of mouth and in z letter OF No
~enber :. z statement OF my conNicsl"1i
that Secretary BailingeT has been ddn-
Eerous enemy 70 conservation
DECEIVED THE PRESIDENT
shall show you that this letter Was
submitted by the President 70 Mr. Bal
lineer and that, as part Of his reply ne
lad before the President a statement
concerning the Cunningham coal cases.
"A aich statement is shown by inoisputed
5,cllra aertar-v evidence TO be absoluteiN
. 6 IN three essential particulars l.
VII then appear that MI bailihSer VII
fu,Iv deceived the President. and was
,isloval 10 him
The third principal matter is concerned
ith the attitude ef this government IN
'ar and administrative practice toward
-he conservation Of the natural resources
belonging 10 the people. ! desire TO show
vcp that the story Of CiaTis's courageous
and successful fight TO protect the prop
eftv Of the people. which ended ia his
dismissal without 9 hearing. is but a
single chapter "a the history o. the pub
lic lands I shall show you that undef
cur present law and practice Tie more
difficult task falls en- those wh" Houid
,rofecr the public property. and not on
those who would despoil. it. and that
.1rce.- the present system. the betrayal
into n-orogoIistic control eof what be
longs 10 "a OF US Is MADE easy ana oI1en
ir practice inevitable
Til, irzperative duty before this coltn
IT, S .oJ merely 10 get ZIG OF an hp-
-e.rbfs,l 1egf,lie servant Z far more ,nl-
;-r-ta,-t duty : 10 bring about a fuadd-
,-.e9f-sf change IN the law and the prac-
1ice toward Conservation. 70 prevent Tor
ff7e fJittire. has been in the past me
almost inevita bic sacrifice OF the pubic
-,e.fare no 20 make possible hereafter
fhe utilization q the natural resources
md the natural advantages for the ben
~ ii al the usopie instead Of merely
F1r tll, profit u 4 few
EYFkr this story has been tolc. and the
illnesses whom l shall ask yea 10 call
lave been heard. you viii realize that
re interests Of the people are not safe
ga n 2aIlinge.'s hands, and tnat the
tat,rfrv 7vif! demand If this committee
s-r6]ct t:l harmony zgitil the general con
--ieticIl 7rat the Sscretart- Of ihe n
ferior has beer unlaitlful both II the
pubIic. " hose property he has encan-
5,rsfr.,el On SECOND DeEe-