Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-05
Counsel vertrees Subjects Pinchot ID
CrueNing Cross-examination and Lat
ter Retorts It Is Difficult to Explain
To One 50 Poorly Informed.

| are located, Mr.. PlnchOt said he had
never read Mr.. Ballinger's letter of
protest and did not know what rea-
sons he gave in the letter.
Mr.. Pinchot declared that while the
letter had beer on file with the commit
tee for sometime, a regulation of the
committee permitting counsel only to
examine the documents had prevented
his reading it. Long discussion ensued
as to the modification of the rule, but
the matter was put over fer decision
| in executive session.
Attorney Brandeis said that the order
| of the committee had worked a great
| hardship on counsel.
| When Mr.. DENLY stated that he
! plainly understood counsel to agree
with the committee as to the propriety
of the course decided upon, Mr.. Bran
| deis said he made his statement with
no purpose of criticizing the committee
Mr.. Vertrees sought to question the
witness further as to why he had not
read the letter, but was stopped by
| the committee.
Mr.. Pnchot was asked to read the
letter. When he had concluded Mr.
| Vortrees asked:
| Does that letter indicate hostility to
the general policy of conservation"
In my judgment it does"
| Point out a single statement to that
| effect"
Mr.. ninchot said the whole thing had
to he taken together.
| The witness was asked if it was not
| known when Mr.. Garfield withdrew the
huge tracts of lands for water power
| he Re-
WITHDRAWN were not needed and would
| have to be restored.
Mr.. Pinchot said he did net know the
| exact figures He would not admit
that the large Withdrawals We're more
than necessary, however.
The vitross frankly stated that it
| had been his policy to withdraw lands
| 'or forest ranger stations when they
| were not needed for that purpose, but
| were withdrawn to protect possible
| power sites.
so that was your policy and Secre-
| airy Garfield's?"
| Yes, and President Roosevelts and
| Secretary Wilson'S"
| Mr.. Vertrees spent sometime with
| the witness as to the charge that Mr..
| Ballinger had deceived the President
regarding an opinion of the controller
| II the treasury on the subject of the
| agreement between the forestry ser
vice and the interior department re-
| gardng Indian lands He brought out
| he fact that copy of the controllers
decision referred to Mr. Ballinger had
been sent to the President.
There is nothing here to show that
the President read that decision" de-
| Jared Mr.. Pinchot, land the unavoid-
able inference is that Mr. Ballinger
deceived the President, because the
President said in his letter to Mr.. Bal
linger on Sept. 90. Your declination to
carry out the contract was made neces-
sary by a ruling of the controller
The witness contended that the de-
cision sent to the President did not
cover the cooperative agreement as to
Indian lands
Senator Flint asked the witness if
the statement submitted by Mr. Bal
linger in regard to the cooperative
agreement was not a fair one.
| Pretty fair-from Mr.. Ballinger's
point of view"
| Mr.. Vertrees in reply to questions
from members of the committee and
to clear up misunderstanding, said
that the cooperative agreement which
Mr.. Ballnger Voided, was one by which
Indian office employees had been placed
under the absolute control of the for
est service. 1t was the delegation of
authority and control to which Mr.,
Ballinger called attention and in which
he believed himself to have been up
held by the controller.
The luncheon recess here was order
ed.
| At 2. NJ. the committee went into
executive session to discuss the pro-
posed modification of the rule relating
to the handling of the public docu-
ments sent in from the various depart
ments.
| The public session of the afternoon
began at 225 o'clock. 1t was said that
an agreement with the attorneys for
la more liberal use of the documents
was reached. Resuming the cross-ex-
animation. Mr. Vertrees called Mr..
Pinchots attention to the fact that in
his direct testimony he declared that
Special Agent Love had Indignantly
denied that he had clear listed the
Cunningham claims.
where did you get that informa-
tion?" asked the attorney.
From Mr.. Loves letter to Commits
sioner bennett"
Does Love. in that letter. indig-
nantIy' deny anything?"
"He denies the clear listing in eff
feet, but not Indignantly"
Mr.. vertrees and Mr.. Pinchot spent
nearly an hour discussing the mean
ing of a letter written by Special
Agent Love, concerning talk with
Mr.. Ballinger. The letter had previous
w been gone into in detail while CLAWS
was on the stand Mr.. Pinchot con-
tended that the letter constituted an
unfavorable report on the Cunning