Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-21
IS a fair and impartial tribunal to which
the facts of the case might be presented.
Discussion of Presidents Decision.

a job for my committee. 1t is, / hope
needless to say that such is not the case
but If called upon to take the matter III
l will give it my best attention. l have
no prejudices nor predictions in con
nection with the controversy
Senate in Executive Session.
Immediately after routine morning bust
ne IS the Senate went into executive ses-
sion. When the motion for the closed
sessio was adopted Senator Gore was on
his fee t seeking recognition but his re-
quest to be heard passed unnoticed. After
the doom were closed he presented a
resolution calling for the appointment OF
a Joint con lmittee of eight members OF
the Senate and a like number of the
House, to inv. esugate all of the matters
underlying the Baliinger-pinchot contro-
terror Departmeis t and the forest service
of laws relating. to timber. stone and
mineral lands al water rights. His
resolution names a. yas Ien dre m Re,ssw
Root, Tillman. Stone and Owen.
Objection was made D. Senator A6ich
to the Immediate ADOPTION of the resolu-
ton; and upon his motion , IL was sent
to the committee on publil' lands
The postponement will smother tine
resolution until after leaders in the Sen
ate and House, in cooperation with PreSi-
dent Taft and members of the CABINET.
a program for the conduct Of any inquiry
that may be ordered
Approval by Cabinet.
Secretary Ballinger today found gre at
satisfaction in the unanimous approu al
by his fellow cabinet members of N $
course in demanding congressional in :
vestigation of the charges against him
in connection with the Alaska coal land
cases and the general management of his
office. The President had already given
his approval to such an investigation. al,
though he had long hoped that the Bal
inger-Pinchot controversy might end
without ii. .
The administration consent to an in
vestigation was given at a long confer
ence at the White House yesterday after
noon. Mr.. Ballinger went te the execu-
tive offices with his personal friends, At
torney General Wickersham and Post
master General Hitchcock.
The Secretary of the Interior told the
President that the situation had grown
,ntoerable TO him and that he could not
longer remain in the cabinet unless there
full and free investigation such as
he desired. He had kept his mouth shut
under the many attacks directed against
him, owing to the Presidents desire. The
time had come when II SHOULD be deter
mined by Congress whether he had ,vto-
lated any laws or had acted Improperly.
His insistence was strong and the Pres
ident did not hesitate. = expressing his
willingness to have the light let in In
large quantities. -fNs 'er=JsS1s = $500 -
Irritating to the President. =
Plainly. however, the President is irri-
tated over the whole situation, not with
the demand Of Secretary Ballinger, with
whom he sympathizes, but with the con-
tinued agitation after TIE administration
has made. practically two Investigations
linger. 1t begins TO look to the President
as il men who are DESTROYS Of making
trouble for him are at the back Of the
agitation. pretending that 1t Is Mr.. Bal
finger they are after. He and his friends.
1t is declared. see the same game being
played in other directions, and he will
join in demanding the most Wide-open In
vestigation. without any attempt any
where to conceal facts. Everything must
go and everything will go il the Presl-
dent has his way. The books of the In
terror Department and all other official
matter will be at the disposal OF the COM
mittee of Congress- te.s-s.se
There is a revival Of former reports
that the President will give the hatchet
to Clifford Pinchot. but 1t is pretty
safe to say that no action will be taken
as to this official until after Congress
concludes its work. If the investigation
shows that Mr.. Pinchot has instigated
much of the agitation and many Of
the charges, 1t is believed he will ne
the meantime the President may con-
clude to drop Overton w. Price from his
position as assistant chief forester.
charges having been made that Mr..
mixer throughout the whole controver-
sy The question OF what action to
take In this case is under advisement.
Attorney General Wickersham and
Postmaster General Hitchcock. the
Presidents political adviser. have given
Secretary Ballinger their moral sup
port throughout. Mr.. Wickersham
made an independent investigation of
the whole Ballinger- Pinchot controv
rsy and his report to the President -
the fullest exoneration possible of
the Secretary of the Interior. This in
vestfgation, too. was at the request OF
Mr.. Baliinger and independent Of tho
investigation made by the President
Secretary Ballinger's Position.
Secretary BaIlinger wants to make 1t
plain that in going to the White House
yesterday with the Attorney General and
the Postmaster General he was not serv-
ing any ultimatum on the chief executive
II is known that for some days past the
Secretary has been receiving letters from
newspapers and politicians Of prominence
declaring that II is high time to bring
the truth to the attention OF the people.
and that IL II is not done immediate ly
the republican party will be the sufferer.
ne Was tOlO IN no uncertain language,
il is declared. that he should no longer
sit In his ONCE In the Interior Depart.
ment and wait for the thing to blow
over"
Pinchot in Cleveland.
Clifford Pfnchot, forester of the bureau
of forestry. left Washington yesterday for
Cleveland. Ohio. where he will address the
chamber Of commerce this afternoon. He
will return to this city Immediately after
I'D Nd ohah Ae..