The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-08
.BALL|NGER UNFIT
TO Be RETAINED
AS SECRETARY
Five Members of Com
nlitteeC Condemn Cabi-
net Officer.
CLAIM ACTION
BINDS OTHERS
Four Democrats and One Repub.
lican Vote for Resolution-As-
sertion Made That There
Was No Quorum, and That
Final Settlement Has
Not Been Effected.

Minneapolis, AIinn., september 7.-
Condemnation OF the course OF Richard
a. Ballinser in the administration of
the Department OF the Interior, OF
which he is secretary, and dcclnrn-
tion that he should no longer be re-
tanned In that Office, are contained In n
resolution adopted to-day by five mem
hers OF the congressional committee
which has been Investigating the Raj
linger-PinchOt controversy. These five,
four Democrats md one Republican,,
claim thnt their vote is binding upon
the committee ns whole. This, how
ever, In disputed by the other thrce
members Of the committee, who were
present to-day.
But five of the twelve members OF
the committee voted for the adoption
Of the resolution, which was offered by
Representative E. II. Madison, of Kan
sas, an Insurgent Republican, as a
substitute for the one previously pre-
sented by Senator Duncan U. Fletcher
(Democrat), of Florida. Consequently.
the question has arisen as to what ac-
ton, If any, the full committee, when
1t is present, will take later. Senator
Fletcher's resolution was as follows:
Unfaithful and inefficient.
"Resolved, That from the weight OF
tho evidence submitted to the commit
tee, we find as follows:
First, that Mr. Richard A. Ballinger,
as Secretary Of the Interior, has been
unfaithful and inefficient in the dis
charge of his official duties.
Second, that he is unfit for the very
responsible position he holds
Third. that the vast amount Of pub
| lie property under his control and the
| large public interests are not safe IN
| his hands.
"Resolved, further, That the public
good demands his prompt removal from
! said office.
BE it further resolved, That re-
port to the Congress be prepared set
| ting forth the grounds and reasons as
shown by the evidence for this finding,
and recommendations including other
matters referred to this committee.
and that the same be submitted 70
this committee on Friday next at 10
o'clock, "A. NJ"
Substitute Adopted.
Mr.. Madison's substitute follows:
"Resolved, That the findings of the
committee be as follows and report
based thereon be prepared and report
ed to Congress-:
"FIrst that the charges made by L.
p CLAWS against Secretary Ballinger
should be sustained: that in the mat
fer Of the disposition of the Cunning
ham coal lands. Mr.. Ballinger was nor
a faithful trustee of the interes's u
the people, and did not perform MS
d,ty in such a manner as TO proPetI
protect such interests
second. that the charges mace ns
Mr. Pinchot should be sustaineu s.ta
Mr.. Ballinger's course in the admins
tration of the Department OF the IN
terror has been characterized py
lack Of fidelity to the public interests
that this has been shown IN ms Treat
ment Of the Cunningham coal Chains.
the restoration of the water po"et
sites to entry without intention 20 re-
withdraw. and in his administrator OF
| the reclamation service, the latter re-
sultinn. IN unnecessary humiliation to
| the director, and tending towards tho
| dtsinterrntion of the service. He mas
I{not shown himself to be that character
! Of the friend to the policy OF conser-
vation of our natural resources that
the man should be who occupies the
| important post of Secretary OF the
! Interior in our government, ana he
| should not longer be retalheu III ttts's
| Office
REPRESENTATIVES, James and Graham
| and other Democratic members nam
| tain that q quorum was present Suo-
spite the fact that Chairman Nelson
! (Republican). chairman of the COM
mittee. had stated in the meeting that
! there was no quorum during lhe
session no member had raised the
! point of no quorum, and Represen-
tatiye James contends that the adop-
| tion OF the resolution has the effect
] of expressing the views OF ma
Jority.
When the committee met there
were eight members present. consti-
| tutifig a quorum. but before the vot-
| ing on the Madison resolution was
reached Senator George Sutherland
| (Republican), of Utah. and Represen-
| tatlve Samuel w. Mccall (Republican.
! Of Massachusetts. withdrew Chair
man Nelson remained. but took no
part in the voting.
Claims Action Not Final.
The Republicans assert that tho
withdrawal Of Messrs sutherland and
Mccall broke the quorum. In this
view Representative Madison joins, He
said:
Final action has not been taken.
No report has been adopted and
majority can, of course. II 1t sees ut.
reverse to-day's action.
Another leading Republican Senator
said:
TT is we'll known in parliamentary
law that when a quorum Is NOT pres
ent no business can be transacted bup
to adjourn"
Incidentally, he characterized the ac-
tion to-day Of members of the COM
mittee las the play of party politics Il
OF the srossest kind,
The Republicans say they do not
see how the assertion can be made
that quorum was present when seven
constitute a majority OF this par.IcEr
lar committee, and that only six were
present.
The resolution adopted to-day IS he-
| Aeved TO be along the line OF tha