Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-05
JOINT COMMITTEE is TO
HAVE MATTER IN CHARGE
Action in the Case Is Deferred
Until Tomorrow.
SPEECHES MADE IN SUPPORT
Senator Jones and Representative
Humphrey, Respectively. Ex-
plain Necessity for Rigid In
vestigation-Qemand for
Light on Merits of
Disputation.


Investigation of the Department of the
interior and the bureau of forestry by y
committee OF twelve six TO he apno;ntad
by the Vice President from the Senate
and six to be selected by the Sneaker
from the House of Representatives ,s
called for in a resolution which was in
troduced i'm the Senate TODAY by Senator
Jones of Washington
Pointing out that the matter was .,
'iipoi' 'aht one and that the resolution
was long one that ought to receive
carefuf consideration, Senator I,odce ash
ed that the resolution be simply printed
and lie on the table. to ba ,.ka
morrow. And tnat course was adopted
Provisions of Resolution.
The resolution providing for a penarai
ana thorough investigation of the Interior
department and of the forestry bureau
declares:
mat special committee of twelve
members be appointed, six OF whom shall
De designated by the President Of fba
senate from the members of that hod,N
ana six of whom shall b, desipnatad X,
.le speaker of the House of Represents
uves from the members of that bodr
"hich committee is hereby empowered
oa',,,,n Gnu niIeeted TO make thorough and
coihpiete investigation of the administra
lioh ana conduct of the Interior Denar,
lieH,' lts several bureaus officers and
ehpioyes. and Of the bureau of forestry,
IA the agricultural Department, its Off
10 the reclamation, conservation nnanaps
neht ana disposal of the public lands or
the United states, any lands held in
trust DH the United States for any pur-
Pe Pe"e, ihTluoine All the natural resources
or such lands, and said committee is au-
thorlzed and empowered to make any
Iufther investigation touching said depart
hent. It's bureaus, officers or employes
anu or SAID bureau OF forestry, its officers
or employees, as it may deem desirable.
May Sit During Recess.
Said committee is hereby emnau,.r.,.,
10 sit and act during the recess of Con-
siesS ana during the session of either or
'o'" muses. OF Congress- to require the
'eoahce oi witnesses and the produc-
'ioii vi papers by subpoena, or otherwise.
10 swear such witnesses and take their
testimony under oath. or in writing 70
ohtain documents. papers and otbar ~
formation from the several denartran,s
VI the government. or any bureau there
Vi, I'D employ a stenographer to take and
ihahe record of all evidence received
nH the conKlttee, and to keep ID record or
It's proceedings. and to employ such as
sislahce' regal and otherwise as may ba
deemed necessary. All the costs and ex
pehses OF said Investigation shall be paid
ohe-haif from the contingent fund of m,
senate and one-half from the contfncsnt
Iund or the House of REPRESENTATIVES,
All hearings by said committee shall
De open 10 the public. The committee
taf'a, iepo,i s 10 congress all the evidence
taken, and their findings and conclusions
thereon Any person refusing to obey Tho
process of said committee or ref,,str0 "a
answer any questions propounded by or
u,a'l'1 u.iuTf lhs direction OF said committee.
snail be deemed guilty of contemnf ana
jurisdiction is hereby conferred unon tha
Court or Appeals Of the District ~ CO.
iuinpla 10 try and determine any such
charges of contempt
Lauds Secretary Ballinger.
In urging the investigation Senator
Jones lauded Secretary BaIlinger, point
ing 10 the fact that his career up to tho
time ne became Secretary OF the Interior
was above suspicion, and declaring thar
he Had oeen the hrst of the oonserya-
tlonlsts TO set out definite and oomprs-
hensLve program of legislation for the !,
conservation of natural resources
The press and magazines Of the coun-
try for several months" he declared afr
er pointing TO the high public service
which has characterized the history or
the United States government 'thaye
been nlled with charges against the pres
ent Secretary OF the Interior and his COW
duct OF the office he holds These charge.
range from petty insinuations and fnnu-
endoes to direct charges OF maifeasance
and misconduct in Office. which, if true
show that he has most unworthily dis
charged his trust moments thought
should cause an honest and fair-minded
man TO hesitate to accept such charges
against a man whose whole life hereto
fore has been one of the highest recti-
tude and against whom no disluonorable
charge has ever been made in either pri-
vate or public life. Such a man is the
present Secretary OF the Interior. He is
over hfty years of age. an honored grad
of distinction. He came TO our state in
1889 and has lived there ever since.
Judge for Four Years.
He was a superior judge for four
years and mayor of the city OF Seattle,
and his administration of that Office has
been model for his SUCCESSORS He ac-
cepted the Office of commissioner of the
general land office at the urgent solicite-
ton Of President Roosevelt and of Sec
retary Garfield who knew personally his
sterling character and exceptional ability.
He did not seek that Office. He accepted
mis- present position only upon the car
nest solicitation Of the President He
lid not seek ii. Ii meant nothing to him
,ut hard work and poor pay. He gaze
ip large and lucrative law practice
simply at the call Of patriotic duty.
rs it possible that he at onee became
he scoundrel and arch enemy OF tha
aePple THAI he has been dtk :cted In thQI