Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-10
THREE REPUBLICANS ABSENT
Ballinger.Pinchot Investigating Com
mittee is Without Quorum.
CHAIRMAN NELSON LEAVES ROOM
Later He sends Notice Calling Meet
ing I'm Chicago Tuesdny-DemO-
Gratis Say His Action IL
without Authority.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINI, Sept. Am IN
usual situation confronted the six MEM
bers of the Ballinger- -Pinchot congress
sional investigation committee when they
met today.
Three republican members, Senator Suth-
erland of Utah, and Representatives DENLY
and Mccall refused to attend the meeting
which was called to order by senator
Nelson. Not long afterward Mr. Nelson
himself left the room.
Thus the four democratic members ana
one of the insurgent republicans are lett
without presiding officer for the time
being The committee when 1t met lacked
one less than a quorum and was unaole
to transact business which could be con-
sidered as binding. Several attempts we're
made to enforce the attendance OF the
absentees, but Chairman Nelson held there
was no sergeant-at-arms present, although
such duty had been delegated to Secretary
Sleman of the committee, and the members
could not be arrested.
Presumably the reason for the failure
Of the republicans to maintain quorum
was the possibility that the democrats
being in control, their action OF Wednes-
day In adopting the resolution declaring
for the removal of Secretary Bailinger'
possibly could have been ratified
The chairman sent the democrats and
Mr. Madison a notice calling meeting OF
the committee in Chicago September 49,
but the latter contend that Mr.. Nelson has
no authority to do so.
Three Republicans Absent.
The failure of these three members to at
tend when the session was opened was
decided on last night, following the arrival
of Representative DENLY. Mr.. DENLY had
declared that the action of five members
who on Wednesday adopted a resolution OF
Representative Madison of Kansas, an in
surgent republican, which charged that
Secretary Ballinger was unfit and should
be removed was the 'most extraordinary,
indefensible and unjudcial that PARTISAN
politics could devise"
In view of that he said 1t would be absurd
to meet with those members when they had
already promulgated their decision.
Messrs. Sutherland and Mccall took a
similar view and failed to put in an appear
ance. Chairman Nelson. the only republi-
can member besides Mr.. Madison, was pres
ent and the meeting was regularly called
TO order In addition TO Mr.. Madison and
Mr.. Nelson the democratic members In at
tendance were Senators Purcell, North Da-
kota; Fletcher. Florida, and Representatives
ollie NJ. James of Kentucky and James M
Graham of Illinois.
Soon after entering the committee room
the democratic members affixed their sig
natures to their findings which condemn
the actions of Mr.. Balllnger as a public
officer and vindicate Clifford Pinchot,
former chief OF the Forestry department.
Mr.. Madison prepared an independent re-
port, which favors Mr.. Pinchot and
brought IL TO the committee room.
Shortly after the executive session began
the secretary OF the committee, Paul Sle-
man, was designated sergeant-at-arms and
directed to find the absentees, II possible,
and bring them in. In view of the posi-
tive declarations of Messrs. DENLY and
others that they would not attend his mis-
sion seemed futile
The action was considered a mere
formality. Two of the members had left
the hotel shortly before the committee met
and Mr.. Mccall remained in his room.
Republicans Refuse TO Come.
There was no regular sergeant-at-arms
present and Senator Nelson gave 1t as his
opinion that the secretary OF the commit
tee while delegated as such had no power
10 arrest the absentees and enforce theil
attendance Senator Sutherland and Rep
resentatives DENLY and Mccall were found
in the latters room by the secretary The
secre tary told them that five members had
requested that the absentees attend. The
latter declined and stated that no atten-
tion would be paid to any demand Of tn,
five members or amy threat to enforce at
tendance. The secretarys report was fol,
(Continucd on Second Pagel