Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-06
LETTER FROM P|NCHCS
READ IN THE SENATE
Admits That Forestry Bureau En-
ployes Aided in Formulating
Ballinger Charges.
THEIR ACTION UNUSUAL.
BUT so WAS PROVOCATION
Says Shaw and Price Deserved Rep
rimand and Got It-Resolution
Referred.

rlmand and Got lt-keSolutlon
Referred.
The Ballinger-Pinchot controversy and
the general policy of the conservation of
the natural resources occupied the atten-
! ton Of the Senate today.
Legislation for conservation was urged
by several members of the upper house.
Including Senators Newlands. Nelson and
Dolliver.
Senator NewlaEds presented resolution
requesting the committee on public lands
to consider the recommendations affecting
the public lands and the natural resources
made by the Secretary of the Interior in
his last annual report. and to report to
the Senate legislation which it thinks suit
able in carrying out these recommends
tons.
Chief Forester Clifford Pinchot had an
inning minute later, when Senator Dol
liver asked the clerk to read letter from
Mr.. Pinchot, in which the responsibility
Of the employees of the bureau of forestry
for the charges against Mr.. Ballinger are
set forth 1t is admitted. in the letter,
that two employees aided in the formula
ton and even in the publication of the
charges.
After hearing the letter from Chief
Forester Pinchot read Senator Hale Of
Maine called attention to the executive
order Of the President. issued prior to the
date OF the letter. in which any subordi-
nate of any federal department is pro-
hibited from discussing. even with mem
bers of Congress. except through the head
of his department any public matter.
The discussion ended with the reference
Of the resolution for an investigation and
the resolution of Senator Newlands for
a report from the public lands committee
to the committee on public lands.
Surprise of the Session.
The lettsr of defense by Chief Forester
Pinchot presented by Senator Dolliver
was the surprise of the session. Mr..
P1nchot discusses the action of Messrs.
Price and Shaw of the bureau of forestry
in regard to the publication of charges
against the Secretary of the Interior.
He states that they made public certain
Official information regarding the So
called Cunningham claims for coal lands
in Alaska. The effect of the publication
he says. was to direct critical public at
tention to the action OF the Interior De-
partment
A report submitted by them. he says,
shows that they countenanced a publica-
ton by l.. r. CLAWS of certain facts con-
corning these claims after he had been
dismissed from Office. and that in other
ways 'they endeavored to direct public
attention to the imminent danger that
the Alaska coal fields still in government
ownership might pass forever into private
hands with little or no compensation to
the public Continuing. Mr.. Pinchot
says: ''Messrs. Price and Shaw were con-
fronted by a nextraordinary situation.
Information had come to them which
convinced them that the public inter-
ests in q matter in a line with their
official duties were in grave danger at
the hands of fraudulent claimants to
these coal lands.
Discharge of CLAWS.
Action through the usual official chan
nels and finally even an appeal to the
President had resulted-because OF what
believed to have been mistaken i'm
preston of the facts-in eliminating from
the government service in the person Of
CLAWS the most vigorous defender Of
the peoples interests.
Furthermore the refusal of the Secre-
tary of the Interior to assume RESPONSE
bility in the cases had left their conduct
wholly in the hands of subordinates.
each of whom was apparently committed
In favor of patenting these claims
1T is clear not only that Price and
Shaw acted from a high and unselfish
sense of public duty. but that they chose
10 TlSk tHolT OUlCidl pOSltlOnS rather lnen
permit what they believed to be the
wrongful loss Of public property
The chief forester says that these men
deserved their reprimand and received
one, and that he will recommend no fur
ther action In their cases. The action of
these two men was most unusual, but SO
was the situation which called it forth.
The best proof Is that Congress itself has
bee masked to take the extraordinary step
Of investigating the Department Of the
Mt ttHcto n hot ~ to
Of coordinate branch of the govern
ment.''
81 disclaim any intention or desire to
shirk any part of my own legitimate re-
sponsibility for what was done by Price
and Shaw, who were selected by me and
trained in the forest service. If they
appeal too readily to public opinion it
must be remembered that they belong
to a service which has been and is now
almost wholly dependent upon enlight-
ened public approval"
Senator Hale's Comments.
Senator Hale Of Maine interjected some
spice into the discussion a few minutes
after the reading Of the letter had been
concluded.
II hope and belieye that my friend from
Iowa in submitting the letter was not
seeking in any way to PREJUDICE the case
before the public, or interfere with the
calm elaboration of whatever committee
takes on this investigation. Yet the pub
licity of this letter will tend to sharpen
the controversy.
More important, he said was the con-
sideration Of the letter in connection
with an executive order issued by the
President only a few weeks ago. That
order prohibits any subordinate in the
employ Of the government to discuss. ex-
cept through his chief, any public matter
or give any information on any public
policy.
Senator Hale went on to say that Sec
rotary Ballinger and Forester Pinchot
were both men Of experience, character
and integrity and it was not necessary to
attempt to Illustrate this most important
investigation. He said lie desired to call
attention to the infraction of the Pres
ident's order which. he presumed Mr.
Pinchot did not have in mind when he
wrote the letter.
Senator Dolliver said there was no at
tempt on the part Of any one to forestall
or color this investigation. He called at
tention to the fact that there was prece-
dent for the presentation Of the letter in
the action OF the Secretary Of the Interior
In writing letter to a senator. Senator
DOlliver said that neither letter would
have weight in coloring the investigation
or affecting it, Both resolutions were
then referred to the committee.