The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1910-01-05


of the Ballinger Pinchot controversy
is ordered by a joint resolution to-
day introduced in the Senate by Mr..
Jones, and in the House by Mr.. Hum
phrey, both of washington. AS here
tofore announced the provision is for
the breadest kind of public inquiry,
the resolution being of the character
requiring the signature of the Presi-
dent which gives to it all the force
of general law.
A committee of twelve Is to be ap-
pointed to conduct the investigation,
six of whom shall be designated by
Vice President Sherman and Six by
Speaker Cannon. Unquestionably
Senator Nelson, chairman of the Sen
ate Committee on Public Lands, will
mead the list of Senators and this
doubtless, will result in his selection
as chairman of the joint committee.
The scope of the investigation is out
lined as follows:
THE committee is hereby empower
ed and directed to make a thorough
and complete investigation of the ad-
ministration and conduct of the In
terror Department, its several bu-
reaus,, officers employees, and of the
Bureau of Forestry in the Agricultu-
raj Department, it's officers and en-
ployees, touching or relating to the
reclamation, conservation, manage
ment and disposal of the public lands
of the United States, or any lands held
in trust by the United States for any
purpose, including all the natural re-
sources of such lands, and said COM
mittee is authorized and empowered
to make any further investigation
touching said Department. tts Su-
reaus, officers or employees, and of said
Bureau of Forestry, it's officers Or en-
ployes as it may deem desirable"
The authority to sit during sessions
of Congress and in recesses, to require
the attendance of witnesses and the
production of papers, usual to con-
gressional inquiries, is granted by the
resolution. 1t is provided further
that any person refusing to obey the
process of the committee or to answer
any question propounded shall be
| deemed guilty of contempt, and juris-
| diction is conferred upon the Court
of Appeals of the District of Columbia
10 try and determine any such charges
| of contempt.
Employment of assistance, legal or
otherwise" is specifically authorized.
| This provision is for the purpose of
| enabling the committee to procure
| the services of able attorneys to take
| charge of the probing, So far as the
| directing of questions is concerned.
IL is the intention of President Taft
| to have the committee name some
| competent attorney to conduct the
case, and it is possible that both of
the principals to lthe ,cont@ovarsy
| may be represented by counsel
1t was agreed by all persons who
have given close attention to the
| Ballinger-Pincaot squabble that the
| investigation should be open to the
public and this ordered by the resolu
ton. One of the big rooms in the
new senate Office building will be used
for this purpose.
| In presenting the resolution Mr.
Jones said:
The various departments and bu
reaus of the Government are organic
ed to do its business in the interest:
Of tae people. Every official is but the
servant and agent of the people Il
act for them under and within th'
limits OF the law. The efficiency o
public service depends much upon th'
confidence of the people in the hon
esty and integrity of their servants
and agents.
II is a sad commentary upon tn
, state of public opinion that the mon
} ent man accepts . public office n
! becomes a scoundrel in the eyes o
many of our people and his previou
| life Of honesty and ractifrida iS N,
warrant of official integrity. His act
are misconstrued and his motives ar
! questioned. Insinuation and innuer
does are freely made under the guis
I of the public welfare but in realit
, to foster some private interest POP
ular views are taken advantage of I
discredit an Official, who. after inves
tigating all phases of a subject, ma
reach a decision at variance wit
some private interest.
Many do not stop to think HOY
seldom have Government official
gone astray compared with their OF
I portunities and temptations for wron
doing. In the hundred and twenty
five years of our national life few @
: the men in high positions have bee
actuateG by other than the highes
I; and most patriotic motives. Thi
should cause our people to hesitat
to accept charges of base conduct Z
l. gaInst their public servants withou
investigation and proof.
THE press and magazines of tn
(; country for several months have bee
, filled with charges against the pre-
ent Secretary Of the interior and hi