The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-12-08
IN REPORT PRESENTED TO CON.
GREsS YESTERDAY BY THE
COMMITTEE.
CONSERVAT|0N'S FRIEND
No Grounds For Opinion That he is
Not Faithful Public Servant
Report Says CLAWS
Was Remiss.

Washington, Dec, 7-Vindicatil's
Secretary OF the Interior Ballinger
upon all the charges brought against
him, and condemnins his accusers as
having been inspired BY deep feel
ing of animosity built upon sup
posed difference in policy respecting
conservation, majority of the con-
gressional committee which investi-
gated the so-cailed Ballinger-Pinchot
case today submitted its report %
congress.
After stating that the evidence pre-
scented related in the main to charges
q various kinds against Mr.. Ballin-
ger and that these came chiefly from
two sources--L. r, CLAWS and Clifford
Tinchot-the majority announced the
following conclusions:
"The evidence has wholly failed to
make out case. Neither any fact
proved nor all the facts put together
exhibit Mr.. Ballingem as being any.
tfiing Cat rCr1E-tent and honorable
gentleman. honestly and faithfully
performing the duties of his hisl
office with an eye single to the pub.
lie interest"
The report was signed by Senators
Knutc Nelson, chairman; Frank T
Flint, George Sutherland and Elihu
Root, and Representatives Samuel
Nv. Mccall of Massachusetts, vice
chahman; Marlin +. Olmstead, Of
Pennsylvania and Edwin DENLY of
Michigan, all Republicans.
History of Proceedings.
A few months ago the Deocmratic
members. Senators D. " Fletcher
and William Il. Purcell and Repre-.
sentatiyes Ollie NJ, James of Ken
lucky, and James NJ. Graham, of flli-
nois, together with Representative
Edmond II. Madison of Kansas, pro
gressive Republican, put out another
report, which they maintained to be
the majority opinion, condemning
the conduct of Mr. Baillnger as sec.
reary of the interior.
This report was made public fol.
lowing meeting of the committee
in Minneapolis last September, which
was not attended by some Of the Re
publicans, who now have exonerated
Mr.. Ballinger and therefore the nat
ural minority became majority and
the Republicans, who were present
with the exception of Mr.. Madison
withdrew and broke the quorum. The
members who now sign the majority
repors formulating their conclusions
at recent series OF meetings.
In speaking of the "animosty'
created by differences respecting the
conservation of natural resources
the majority OF the committee said
that the accusers evidently had this
policy deeply at heart and were evi
IDENTIFY disposed to take a most un
favorable view of the character and
motives of anyone whom they sup
posed to be opposed to their views
They thus came to regard Mr. Bal
linger with suspicion and to regard
the most natural and innocent acts oc
curing in the ordinary course of de-
partment administration as furnish
ing evidence of some sinister pur
pose
Specific Findings.
-. ELL
specific findings;
THAT the charges and insinuations
against Secretary Ballinger in rela
tion to the Cunningham coal land en-
tries or other coal land claims In
Alaska are not justified and his con
duct in respect thereto is not justly
censurable.
THAT he was fully justified In re
voking the India cooperative agree
ment
THAT the restUations of water
power sites by Secretary Rallingel
were made in good faith anW not in
enmity to the government
"hu hH"h hp ihJui dpUtuiS w navy
been done to the government and the
cause of conservation by either the
restorations or Withdrawals.
"That, in view of the opinion of tht
attorney general he was justified II
abandoning the use Of the so-callet
water users cooperative certificates
in connection with the reclamation o
arid lands.
THAT the administration of the
reclamation law presented features
Justly subject to criticism.
No Unfair criticism or improper con
duet on Secretary Ballinger's part hal
been shown nor any action by hin
not within the sound discretion o
the head OF the interior department
in the faithful performance Of hi
duty.