Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-08
Capital Is in an UprOar over the
Discharge of Roosevelt Adherent

lily in favor of this investigation. He
expressed the opinion that it should
be narrowed so as to eliminate from
the inquiry Clifford Pinchot, whose
only offense," he asserted, has been
that he has been too active against
land thieves and land grabbers, and
so as to deal only with the grave
charges made against the official in
tegrity and personal honor of a mem
ber of the presidents cabinet (Mr.
offends Dignity
Mr.. Fitzgerald said he thought 1t
beneath the dignity of congress to ask
the president to investigate a member
of his cabinet, and therefore he was
opposed to a joint resolution which
would require the executives sigma
ture.
Referring to Secretary Ballinger's let
ter to Senator Jones asking that the
forest service be included in the pro
posed inquiry, Mr.. Fitzgerald op1ected
to Mr.. Ballinger's attempt to dictate
the character of the inquiry.
/ Mr.. FITZGERALD offered two amend
ments to the pending resolution, aimed
to eliminate the forest bureau from
the proposed investigation.
Representative Norris of Nebraska
said the proposed investigation was
lieved the six members of the commit
tee to represent the house should be
elected by that body instead of being
appointed by the speaker, and he Of
fered an amendment to that effect.
Representative Hitchcock of Ne
braska questioned the right of Mr. Bal
linger to dictate the form of the IN
vestigation that congress should make
Representative Martin, Democrat, OF
Colorado criticised the forest service
and the administration of Forester
Pinchot.
Laws Need Changing
He quoted Mr.. Pinchot as saying that
he had administered the forest service
entirely within the limits of the law,
but eff this were the case" said the
speaker, there are some laws in the
country that were in sad need OF
Americanization."
Representative Martin was over
whelmed by a series of pointed ques-
tions from both Republican and Demo
cratic SIDES
Representative Sims of Tennessee
wanted to know why Mr.. Taft retained
in office "such a man as you describe
Mr.. Pinchot to be-
Representative Martin replied: "There
were indications that that official
would not be retained in office, in
definitely at least.
Can you name a single violation OF
law by Mr.. Pinchot?" demanded Mr.
Cooper. you say you are wholly
familiar with this question from first
hand experience and not from informa-
tion CLEANED through Pullman car win
dows; then tell us about what 1 ask
Mr. Martin replied that his office
was full of information about such
which loOISa6 lilo offapcaS
Mr. Cooper, Wisconsin, proposed an
other amendment, making all hearings
either by the committee or it's sub
| committee open to the public. This
was agreed to by the rules committee.
Opposes Inquiry
Mr. Underwood of Alabama opposed
extending the inquiry to the forest
| service. He said the only possible
charge against Pinchot was PERM
cious activity" in protecting the public
lands of the United States. He asked
| if the investigation were to be extend
| ed, why the treasury department was
| not included so as to embrace the
| sugar frauds.
Mr.. Underwood said the men select
ed for the proposed committee should
| include representatives of the minority
instead of merely the selections of the
majority.
Representative Scott of Kansas con-
cluded the debate in favor of the
adoption of the resolution. He de-
clared he spoke as a personal friend
of Mr.. Pinchot when he stated the
scope Of the resolution was no broader
than Mr.. Pinchot desired nor the
country demanded,
Mr. Norris amendment providing
for the appointment of the six house
members of the committee by the
house, was then voted upon and was
adopted by an aye and nay vote OF
149 to 146, five voting present"
Mr. Fitzgerald's amendment elm
mating the forest service from the in
ouiry was lost by the overwhelming
vote of 60 ayes to 226 nays.
The resolution was then adopted by
a, viva voce vote without dissenting
voice.