The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-12
SENSATIONAL DAY
IN BAlL|NGER CASE
Arthur ?. Davis, Chief Engi.
neer Of Reclamation Service,
on Stand for PinchOt.
STRONGLY CRITICISES THE
ATTITUDE OF SECRETARY
Firmly Insists That Ballinger
Issued Mandatory Orders
for Restoration.

| w NASuI NGlON. March ll.-Nl lin Ar
thur p Davis, chief engineer Of the
reclamation service, on the stand, the
attack upon Secretary BaIlinger con
tinued, todsv before the congressional
Investigating committee. Mr.. Davis
was called as witness by Clifford Pin
chot aud was examined by, Mr.. Pin
chot 5 attorney,
Although reluctant to testify. Mr..
Davis proved to be well fortified with
maps. dates data. etc, and IN many
ways was one of the most important
witnesses so far introduced by the
prosecution.
He contradicted fatty many state
mcnts made by Secretary BsIlinger to
President Taft, revealed in detail vari-
ous interviews he had from time 90
time with Secretary BaIlinger and end
cd the day bv declaring that the rec
lamatlou service is still in danger oi
disintegratiop as result of Mr., Bal.
liDger attitude toward 1T.
Had Rebukcd His Chief.
Mr.. Davis declared that "in language
as stroug as politeness and proper re
spcct would permit he bad told See
retarv Ballinger himself that bis Gu
tire course had tended to demoralza,.
tion of the service.
Referring to n statement by Mr. Bal.
lingcr to the president that he bad re.
stored many lands withdrawn by Sec
retary Garfield on the strength of rec
concentrations from the reclamation ser
vice, as these lands were no longer
needed for reclamation purposes, Mr.
Davis declared that ali the recommeu-
datlons made by the reclamation service
were in response to direct orders issued
by Mr.. Ballinger
These orders were repeated, nc said.
many times, but were never put III writ
ing. Director Newell of the reclama-
ton service protested vigorously against
the sccretary's action.
Mr.. Davis said Secretary Ballnger
had written a letter to DR. Thomas +.
VIII of this city, repeating the state
ments that lands had been restored upon
recommendation of the acting director
OF the reclamation service that theV
were no longer needed. The witness
said he was the acting director referred
TO: that he had never made any such
recommendation
Charges of Prejudice.
Mr.. Davis declared that carly in The
present administration he had found
Mr.. Bal lllnger deeply prejudced against
4 the reclamation service, He asserted
! that Mr.. Balliuger had told him to pre-
pare. the list of lands for restoration
slowly as TO not attract public atten-
ton. The witness said he bad made
no attempt TO influence Mr.. Ballinger
as to these restorations because he was
ALWAYS met with the fiat statemegt that
Mr. Garfield S Withdrawal of theslands
had been entirely illegal.
Davis asserted that Ballinger was
wrong in stating TO the president that
Mr. Gartield's Withdrawals did rot
truthfnllv show what they were made
for There had been no subterfuge. be
said. and If there had been any appear
ance of subtertuge, it was bis fault
and NOT Garfield g
The witness reveaed IN his testimony
that there is quite g feud between the
reclamation service and the geological
survey. 1t was on reports of the recls
nation service that Secretary Garfield
acted III his withdrawal of power sites.
Secretary Balliuger has depended en-
tirelv upon the geological survey
Mr.. Davis did Dot hesitate TO cr;ti-
else the survey, and declared that the
narrow strips which had been With
I drawn along streams by the geological
survey did rot properly protect the rov-
CT sites
The direct examination had not been
concluded when adjournment was taken
until tomorrow morning.
Detail of Testimony,
With the testimony OF Louis r. Claws.
| Clifford Pinchot and former Secretary
james r, Garfield all in. The prosecution
az the EalIinger-P -Plnchot hearing today
| began tho introduction OF evidence which
| is Intended 70 be in confederation o.
what the three principal witnesses al
ready have said The frst OF the wit
nesses called for this purpose Is y. p.
! Davis. chief engineer of the reclamation
! service. who took the stand late yester-
day afternoon. but had only fairly started
| esg IsslSp Ia .rr7F1 fal
! Just before the adjournment of tie
| committee yesterday afternoon the mem
| bcEs engaged IN quite discussion as 20
! whether or not the statutes regarding
! perjury would oVver the ~ parte at!ida-
Wit o! Clarence Cunningham which in
! clu6es the statement by him on May s
/ that the Guggcuhcim syndicate had no in
/ tercst direct or indirect i'm the Cunning
/ ham grozp OF coal land claims in Alaska.
! \ hearing before the senate committee
on territories recently developed the fact
that an option by the Gugsenheims on
/ accepted by ihe claimants December :,
| 1907.
committees attention 10 the revised
statutes regarding perjury and suborna-
tion of perjury which he thought covered
The Cunningham affidavit of September
& 1905 was lett with Secretary Garfield
by Mr.. Ballineer.
continued his detailed statement as Ia
the operations OF the RECLAMATION service
under the direction Of Mr.. Gartleld he
went over most of the wholesale with
drawals pf power site lands By Mr. Car
field. lie declared there wos no subtei-
fuge At any time.
Ordered by Garfield.
The policy Of withdrawal Mn Davis
stated wng nor initiated by The reclsne
ton servlce but was ordered by Score
fsry Garfield.
ATTORNEY Pepper took uln with Dir, Da-
Wis the details Of every water power with