The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-30
Busy Getting Data for Forth
coming Congressional
Investigation.
PLAN TO MAKE
DIRECT CHARGES
Secretary Will Try to Show That
Forester Disregarded
Law.

Officials Of the Interior Department,
under the personal direction of Score
tary Bsllinger. arc busily engaged IN
collecting and preparing evidence to be
used IN the forthcoming Congressional
investigation of the BaIlinger-P inchot
controversy.
This evidence. Il is stated today. viii
cover not only the official acts CT the
Secretary and his subordinates in the
administration Of the public land laws,
hut VIII also go pretty thoroughly into
the AFFAIRS Of the Forest Service. In
addition 20 attempting 10 prove that
Chief Forester Pinchot and his assist
ants have iuterfered with the work Of
the Interior Department and have in
spired the attacks in the public prints
against the Secretary Of the Interior,
Ballinger will endeavor TO show that
Finehot has disregarded the law in the
administration of his bureau.
One point Of attack will be the charge
that Pi2chot went outside of the law
IN COMPRISING within the national forest
reserve a tract of 117.Oo0 acres Of alleged
grazing land bounded on only one side
by a forest which covers only per
cent OF the tract. It win be alleged
that the land is not burnt over or de-
forested. and is not. as the law Of lSOo
REQUIRES. chiefly valuable as forest lano-
The two men against whom the d.
rect charge viii be made that they
were responsible for the attacks In GER
tain newspapers and magazines against
Secretary BallingeT's administration
are Assistant Forester Oyerton W
Price and A. c. Shaw, law officer OF the
Forest Sefvfce It viii be argued. now
ever-that these officials would scar cely
have INDUCED in their alleged activities
In this direction without, at least, the
tacit approval Of Chief Forester Pm
chot. their chief.
The joint resolution providing for the
investigation win be introduced prob
ably next Wednesday simultaneously 10
both Senate and House, by Senator
Jones and Representative Humphrey, OF
washington, the home State OF Secre-
tary. Bauinger. 1t is understood tna'
the text of the resolution has already
been prepared and that It has the ap-
proval of the Secretary Of the Interior
It will be referred IN the Senate 10 tn'
Committee on Public Lands. and in thu
House 10 the Committee on Rules, and
win likely be reported back favorablI
BY both committees in short order.
Nelson Heads Committee.
Senator Nelson. Of Minnesota IS e5C
pected to be the chairman Of the join
committee which viii have charge o
the investigation into the Ballinger
Pinchot controversy. Representative
DalzeH Is the man said 20 be slated q
head the committee on the part OF tn
House
For a time there were indications tina
the friends OF Mr.. Pinchot would figh
the effort TO have a joint cOmmitte
named and would insist that the In
vestigation be made by the Senate Com
rnittee on Public Lands. But 1t IS nov
probable this fight VIII not be made an
that the joint committee program
which viii be arranged by the friend
of Secretary Bsllinger. VIII go through
The supporters OF PinchOt are saying
IN plain terms that they fear the join
committee viii be stacked agains
them But they also find consolation
IN the belief that any attempt to stacl
the committee with Bauinger adherent.
viii, in the eyes Of the country. d,
Secretary Baulnger more damage thai
Il win Mr.. Pinchot-
Desire Square Deal
Moreover. the Pinchot supporter
have confidence that II Senator Nelson
IS chairman he VIII bring about thor
ough investigation so far as he is abb
20 do so.
He IS not in sympathy with Pincho
on some Of the chief forester's idea
as TO conservation but he is credite
with a desire for a square deal.
That the investigation viii probabl
not b ended before the close Of the sea
zion Of Congress is now generally be
Iieved. The opinion freely expressed &
many quarters is that IL win last ~ mex
summer, that a trip viii be made {
Alaska and that probably no report vi
be forthcoming until after the next Cor
Rressional elections