The Washington times., 1910-01-05
Secretary Declared to Be Honest
Man, Anxious TO Clear Him
self Before Nation.
EXPECTED TO JUDGE
BALLINGER'S ACTIONS
By JOHN SNURE


The long-expected joint reSolu-
tion for an investigation by a joint
committee Of Congress into the II
terror Department and its several
bureaus, including the Reclamation
Service, and into the Forest Service,
was introduced in both houses this
afternoon
Senator Jones Of Washington in
trOduced the resolution in the Sen
ate and requested that t be re-
feTed to the Committee on Public
Lands, but Senator Lodge objected.
and the resolution was left TO lie Oh
the table In the House, Representa-
tive Humphrey of Washington pre-
Sented the resolution.
BEGINS INVESTIGATION
This marks the beginning in
Congress Of an investigation into
the Ball;nger-P -PinchOt controve-s~
and its Camihcations- II IS ev-
pected to prove one Of the most
noteworthy Of inquiries IN the nis-
tory o. the country. For ole
thing, The public interest in Il is
great Moreover, large political
Importance attaches 10 the investi-
CATION President Taft has given
Secretary Of the Interior BaIIiuge~
the strongest kind Of public sane
ton Should the findings OF the
Congressional committee not be
such as TO clear the head Of the
Interior Department fully os the
accusations against him, It IS rec
ognized everywhere that the Ad-
ministration viii be injured by f.
Bears on Conservation
Moreover, the investigation Is OF no
eu1nt tn It's bearings on the question Of
conservation and the carving into
practical operation OF conservation prip-
cipIes-
Senator Knute Nelson Of Minnesota
chairman Of the Senate Public Lands
Committee VIII head the committee on
the part Of the Senate and viii he
chairman Of the joint committee. Sen
atOr Nelson has made It clear that II be
heads the committee there viii be a
thorough investigation
Aimed at the President.
IN presenting his resolution asking for
an investigation Of the BaI;inger-Pfr-
chOt controversy, Representative Hum
Phrey % Washington said that II had
become a matter Of common knowledge
throughout the country that the at
tacks upon Ballinger were really -
tacks upon the President
Matters have reached an fntoIerabIe
stage" he said. IF either of these
officials is guilty OF the offenses charged
against them he should be removed
from the public service"
A large crowd Of members from botH
sides Of the political fence gathered
about Humphrey during his speech am
the resolution which was read immed5-
ateIy was listened to with great atten-
ton.
The resolution which was Introduce
today is sweeping in its terms. It pro
videS for a committee OF SIX from Tho
Senate and six from the House. 10 b.
appointed by the Vice President ard
the Speaker. respectively II conferS
ample power on the committee 10 obtain
Information from witnesses and to Sc
cure records and papers More than
this, Il provides that any person refus-
ing TO answer the questions Of the com
mittee shall be deemed guilty Of con
tempt, and jurisdiction is conferred on
the Court OF Appeals o. the District of
Columbia TO Try and determine any such
charges Of contempt
Text of Resolution
The text OF the resolution follows
! Resolved by the Senate and House Of
Representatives Of the United States OF
America in Congress assslubIei, That a
( special committee OF twelve members ba
sDDointe5. six Of whom shah be desiE-
mated BY the President Of the Senate
I from the members OF that body. and six
Of whom shall be designated by the
+ Speaker Of the House Of Representative
( from the members of that body, whlc.i
/ committee IS hereby empowered and di-
rected to make a thorough and ccm-
pIete investigation OF the admiuistrs-
ton and conduct Of the Izserior Depart
rent its several bureaus. officers. and
/ employees, touching or relating 30 the
{ reclamation conservation, management
OF disposal Of the pJSDiic lands OF the