Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-20
CONFIDENT OF OUTCOME
Believes Country Would Approve
His Conduct of Department.
BENNETT READY WITH BOOKS
Land Office Records at Disposal of
Legislators Whenever Desired.
Answer to Hitchcock Attack.

Secretary Ballinger this morning made
a formal statement that he would vel
come a congressional investigation Of the
Interior Department, and especially the
land Office. In discussing the charges
which have been hurled against his ad-
ministration and particularly that of
Commissioner Fred bennett of the land
Office heretofore the Secetary had told
the newspaper men informally that if
Congress decided to make an investiga-
tion of his department he would be
satisfied with the action. He said today,
however, he believed that if that body
held an investiga ton the country would
be fully convinced he had always can
Quoted the department with strict fidelity
10 the law.
The recent attack of Representative
Hitchcock of Nebraska on the floor of
the House, when he declared that the
land Office should be thoroughly investi-
gated. has served to a great extent to
make the Secretary desire that the work
which he has accomplished be gone over
thoroughly and the result passed to the
nation for it's judgment.
Wants People to Know.
In short. the Secretary desires that the
evidence in the Ballinger- -Pinchot con-
troversy be shown to the people in a full
light and they be allowed to pass upon
the question as to whether or not he has
been looking to the interests of the ma
fion or to the LAND thieves
I would welcome an investigation" he
said today. when he was asked il he
thought the proposed request for q con-
gressional investigation of his depart
ment should be opposed. That was about
IL extern 10 80
especially care TO go into any details but
.he wanted to come out fiat footed and say
that he has no fear if the national legis-
lators take up the work of thoroughly
serutinizing what he has done since he
took charge of the Interior Department
The Secretary believes that with the
evidence which he submitted to President
Taft this summer as to his conduct Of the
office. and which the executive approved
as showing that the administration of the
department. was perfectly honest, that he
can put himself in the proper light be-
fore Congress and the country.
Satisfied as to Result.
In the report which the President took
up every act of Commissioner bennett is
included, and this gives particular as
surance to the Secretary of the Interior
that as the executive has approved the
action of Commissioner bennett the
country would view that official in a far
different light, after the conduct of his
office had been thrashed out in a con-
gressiOnal inquiry.
While Commissioner bennett has MOTH
ing to say in the matter, prefering to have
the Secretary do all the talking, it is well
known that he is in hearty accord with
Mr.. Ballinger and would welcome any
call from the national legislators to pro-
duce the books Of his Office, and come
en- the carpet He has noted more
closely than the Secretary the numerous
attacks which have been made on his Of
nee. and believes that if the matter is
thrashed out before Congress once for all
the Interior Department officials will
profit greatly in having their names clear
ed of the numerous charges made against
their official work