The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-28
Investigation of Ballinger
Administration Subject of
Conferences.
ROOSEVELT DRAWN
INTO CONTROVERSY
Is Expected to Get Busy With Club
Upon His Return From
Africa.

The investigation Of. Secretary Bal
linger's administration of the Interior
Department will be conducted by the
Senate and the House Of Representa-
tives jointly.
This was decided. tentatively, at the
White House today after a series of
conferences between the President and
the leaders OF the Republican party
Senator Nelson Of Minnesota viii prob
ably head the comm ittee in charge Of
the investigation
Representative DaIzeH Of Pennsylvania
was consulted by the President regard
inE the House md OF the mater. He.
in common with the President, Secretary
BaIlinEer, and practically all Of the Re
publican leaders, favored a icint inves-
tigation which the leaders believe will
prevent any cry Of "whitewash'' that
would be soon to follow a probe by
either house Of Congress separately
Indorsed BY Hitchcock.
The plan for Joint investigation
was today indorsed by Postmaster
General Hitchcock. political mentor of
the Administration.
That feature of the Ballingef i'm
hroglio which bears on the Forestry
Service was the subject OF a conference
between President Taft. Secretary Bal
Hnger, Secretary OF Agriculture Wilson,
in whose department the Forestry Bu-
reau is included. nnd Postmaster Gen
eral Hitchcock, Ee'd before the Cabi-
net meeting.
It has been rumcred that the Bureau
Of Forestry might become the object
Of the investigator. as wsli as the In
terror Department e1d il was decided
today that the probe viii reach to
every part OF the BaIIinger-Pinchot
controversy.
Throws Down Gauntlet.
The speech Of Clifford Pinchot. deIiv-
cred in New York, in which he has
thrown his glove fairly in the face Of
his adversaries and critics. is accepted
as one Of the most interesting docu-
ments in the whole conservation contro-
versy. II is accepted on az hands as the
assurance that the Forest Service. in
stead Of meekly accepting such an in
vcsugation as may be given 20 Il. pro-
poses to fight for an inquiry that viii
include an the charges that have been
made against the Interior Department.
The significance Of Mr.. Pinchots hght-
ing attitude is very well indicated by
the observation of a member Of Con-
gress who IS not particularly devoted to
tho progressive wing Of the Republican
party Talking about the Pinchot
speech and the contest between BaIIin-
ger and Pinchot he observed:
Buzzsaw Still Working.
Some Of the boys were talking about
that yesterday, and I said to them.
.YouH find IT just as well not TO monkey
with this Roosevelt buzzsaw; it's stm in
pretty sood working order
This man Pinchot." continued the
speaker, "is worth watching That
speech sounded like one OF the sort
that T. r. used to hand out on occa-
sions. Pinchot is a fighter; If there has
ever been any doubt about It. this adj
dress viii put an end 20 IT, More than
that ne is not going to be caught nap
ping. They aren't going to be allowed
10 do him up on any technicalities about
the sort Of evidence that may or NAV
not be introduced. He will be on hand
for any Investigation with "a case that
viii have to bo put into the record.
Observe that he defes 'em an 90
show wherein the Forest Service has
violated any laws. They VIII have 10
show something on him more serious
than some alleged indiscretions COM
mitted i'm an excess Of zeal to protect
the public interests.
"T. R." Due To Say Something.
And from present indications this in
vestig8ti0n viii just about have reach
ed the interesting stage about the time
~. r. viii be getting home from AfrI-
ca. He hasn't had anything to say
about the progress Of things i'm the
States since me went away. There
isn't even a claim that anybody has
had a letter from him on such a sub
icct. But he'll be heard from before
he is long at home, and he can be
counted ON TO stand by Pinchot
"IIe considered Pinchgt one of his
most valued lieutCnants and ne took
more pride in the conservation move
ment than anything else achieved un-
der his administration He gave PIN
chot credit for the largest share of
responsibility for that movement: and
ne will be for Pmchot against anybody.
whenever that policy, as interpreted by
Piuch0t. is at stake.
Roosevelt knows all about this fight
He didn't go through the hght for the
forests, at a time when there was no
great public sentiment aroused on the
subject, without finding out what such
n fight means 1t will bo safe TO count
that when me gets home ne will turn
up very promptly on the Pinchot sidu
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