The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-28
Investigation Will Be Fair
Both to BaIIinger and
To Pinchot.
DECISION NOW REACHED
FRIENDS or FORESTER CAN'T UN-
pERSTAND WHY SHERMAN AND
CANNON SHOULD SELECT JOINT
COMMITTEE.

Washington, Dec. 2S.-The so-called
Ballinger-Pinchot Investigation will be
made by a joint committee composed
of six senators and six representatives
Four of the senators will be republic
cans and two will be democrats. The
same rule will govern the appointment
of the house memt ers of the commit
tee. The senate members of the COM
mittee will be appointed by Vice-Presi-
dent Sherman and those from the
house by Speaker Cannon. This gen.
eral outline of the investigating pro-
gram was decided on by the leaders
after Senator Knute Nelson of Mime
sofa had conferred with the president.
The probability is that Senator Nelson
will be chairman of the joint commit
tee. He said today that he was not
seeking the assignment, but If chosen
he would accept ard do his utmost to
see that the investigation was thor
ough and fair to all interests at stake.
Why TAFT Is DispIeased.
While the makeup of the joint COM
mittee has not yet been agreed upon,
the suggestion has been made that the
members be chosen from the various
committees in the senate and house
that have directly to do with the sub
jects that are likely to be touched on
in the investigation. This plan. it
was pointed out, would put on the COM
mittee from the senate some one repre-
senting the committee on agriculture
and forestry, conservation OF natural
resources. Indian affairs, irrigation and
reclamation of arid lands and public
lands: and from the house representa-
ton from the committee on agriculture
Indiana affairs, irrigation of arid lands,
and public lands.
Friends of the president say he is
greatly displeased with the talk in
some quarters that this investigation
is to be a whitewash for Secretary Bal
linger and the department of the in
terror. It is because of this talk, these
friends say, that the president is some
what insistent that the joint commit
tee be made up of men representing
the committees above named, and that
men in whom tho public has the ut
most confidence shall be chosen.
Pinchot's Friends Suspicious.
Some of the friends of Forester Pin
chot are expressing disappointment
that the joint committee is to be ap-
pointed by Vice-President Sherman
and Speaker Cannon. They are say
ing privately that these two men have
a,.ir RI pjnphnf
or his policies: but they are expressing
the hope that with the President insist
ing on the appointment of a square
deal committee no attempt will be
made to put on the joint committee
senators or representatives who arc
known enemies of the forest service OF
the general conservation idea.
It was said today that the introduc'
ton of the joint resolution calling fol
the investigation and providing for the
appointment Of the joint committee
will be left to Senator Jones. OF WASH
ington state. The resolution is to o.
presented week from tomorrow WheI
congress reconvenes.
Secretary Maeveash Trapped.
secretary NNd6h io" D>>AA S'~-T
ned by his own economy plan. I'M
treasury clerks are smiling. while IL
the custom houses throughout tn
country excepting New York. uncompli
mentary remarks are being made.
1t is the custom of the treasury de
partment every year to supply its EN-
ploves with handsomely engraved
calendar. Retrenchment havln
struck it for 1910. the department Is
sued an order that only enough caien
dars should be printed to supply tn
treasury building in Washington. This
of course, cut out the custom house an
treasury branches everywhere else. Tn
limited number was duly printed, whel
It was discovered that regulation
the department existed forbidding tn
display in any custom house OF an
calendar other than that issued by tn
department. The order since has bee
modified to exempt the New York Gus
tom house. but elsewhere the clerk
must glance at their morning paper
to learn the date OF the month.