The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-14
lRE SCORED
||Qb CONCERNING
BAll|hGER
1spublicah Members Of investigating
Committee Issue Statement Showing
Their Displeasure-Action Worst
Method Ward Politics"
No Decision Reached BY Republicans
Because of Absence of
Quorum.

>eftigating committee which met here
on Tuesday TO prepare report on
their findings, failed 10 prepare a
statement. as no quorum was present.
Y Ii was reported that Mr.. Nelson had
= authority to act for Senator Flint,
member OF the committee who Is III
Z Europe. This could not be confirmed
II but In any event no attempt was
made TO use the proxy Adjournment
h Was taken subject to call OF Char-
rIan Nelson.
As the minority declined 10 a..
lend today's conference and took their
adjournment al Minneapolis until the
next meeting or congress, II IS proe-
able that Mr. Nelson will not call an
other meeting until the return or Mr..
Flint, who, MS the seventh member,
would make a quorum.
The members at the meeting took
occasion, however, TO condemn the ac-
.ion of the four democratic members
and the one Republican insurgent
member. who delivered report IN
y Minneapolis last Wednesday. demand
lug the retirement from office of Sec
letary Ballinger
n They declared the action OF what
they term the minority at Minneap-
oils 10 have been according TO the
Norst methods OF ward politics"
The Statement, condemning the
Minneapolis report was, as follows:
1.-The hearings OF the committee. al
Ter proceeding for months, were end
ed in the closing days of the last
session of congress. There was no
opportunity and no attempt on the
part OF anybody 10 have the commit
B tee meet for the purposes of converse
ton on the evidence or 10 report it's
findings 10 congress prior TO the adj
journmeDt of the session. Under the
circumstances that course was mani
testify Impossible. The committee Is
the Creature OF a special act OF con-
Rress which fixed the number of It's
members at II, six senators appoint
ed By the yjce-president and six rep
lesentatives elected by the house.
The act carefully defined the powers
and jurisdiction OF the committee and
contained mandate that ii should
report its fincing, and conclusions TO.
this congress. q
"A great mass OF testimony has been
taken, making q direct and collateral
record OF about 1000 closely written
pages. The issues involved were full
Of movement to the cause of pure adj
ministration. to the conservation of,
/. our natural resources, to the interests
or the government generally and to
the reputation of some Of its present
and former ofhcers. The work, there
fore Of deliberatfon and decision was
Of great Importance as well as Of
great dificulty. The committee de-
5 termined ia devote some OF the time
during the recess OF congress to this
work and decided to meet in Mime
apolis Sept 5. - =
Dems. In Control.
The day OF the meeting found the
membership widely scattered and only
seven Of the IL members present
Three other members were detained
ny brief but peremptory engagements
Senator Flint was in Europe and SEN
ator Root on the sea returning from
arguing case for the government
before The Hague tribunal. Upon re-
assembling two days later. eight gen
tIemen were present and two more
were reported on the way.
fhe eighth member 10 appear hap
Tened 10 be Democrat and the mem
bers OF that party found themselves
In temporary control. ard promptly
proceeded TO turn the circumstance to
what seemed TO them a party advan-
tage In advance OF any conversation
whatever, upon the evidence, which
never had. been weighed and discussed
In committee. they demanded the pass
Z age OF resolutions Of the most sweep
Ing character, formally finding Secre.
tary Ballinger guilty. mot merely OF
charges that had been made, but ~
charges that had only been Implied,
and OF things which never have been
charged. but which persons appearing
Mt the hearing had alleged against
him.
Other members of the committee
present protested against such pro
ceedings. which would dispose OF the
case In the absence of four OF the IL
members. making il possible for
minority Of the committee to find
the committee verdict. and this. too.
without any consultation or discus
sion.
"3ut the partisan political end to-
be gained by the Democratic minority
became all the more urgent in proper
tion as the railway trains bearing
other members OF the committee wore
approaching Minneapolis.
Minority Rushed Matters.
''fhe minority refused even to take
recess, and the other members, pro-
resting against the evident determine.
ton To take snap Judgment by a min
ority In the absence of the whole
sefribunal, and declining TO bear any
responsibility for thus converting the
investigation into a travesty, and for
. violation Of the fundamental prin.
ciple which should govern the Do
ceedings, withdrew from the meeting
and thus deprived the Democrats Of
their temporary control OF the COM
mittee.
~The meeting being left without
7 quorum. any attempted decision Of
the case would have no more validity
+ than would like action OF similar
number OF men collected ct random
, IN the streets. but the spectacle was
presented OF five gentlemen out OF a
tribunal OF IL, created by the con.
+ xress OF the United States. assuming
10 act as the tribunal itself These
ave gentlemen continued their pro-
seedlings to the end. according TO the
worst methods OF ward politics and
. after pretending 10 adopt report Of
- pages which they brought to the
meeting already prepared. and which
MAS never the subject of considera.
1ion or discussion. or even read la
t<l>x fHox uovo a. 80 IN. ,ou,a