Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-01-14
CONGRESSISDIVIDED
CONFLICT CROPS OUT AMONG
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS.
Dismissal of Forester Pinchot From the
Service Tends to Widen Breach-In-
vestigation of Interior and Forestry
Service to Start-Cannon Bows to
Will of House.

The present week probably will de-
termine whether there will be a pro-
longed conflict involving the president
of the United States within the ranks
of the republican party in congress.
Conditions have tended in that direc-
ton for some time, but instead of
adding to the impulse the dismissal of
Mr.. PinchOt apparently has caused a
halt.
There is no denying, however, that in
some respects the situation remains
critical. Mr.. Pinchot has large num-
Der of personal friends in both houses
of congress who would be inclined to
take up his cause if favorable oppor-
tunity should present itself and if they
could do so without endangering the
peace of the party. On the other hand,
many are saying that the personal for
tunes of Messrs. Ballinger and Pinchot
are Of little Importance compared with
party harmony and are urging the ne
cesslty of preventing any sharp CON
tlict in congress on the differences be-
tween the secretary of the interior and
the former chief of the forestry service
Whether the conservative course of
this element prevails will depend upon
the course of events in congress during
the next few days.
There is no doubt that the investiga-
ton of the interior department and of
the forestry service will proceed along
the lines indicated by the Jones Hum
phrey resolution, but it will be compe-
tent for the investigating committee
either to broaden or narrow the inquiry.
Ii the advice of many leaders is fol
lowed this inquiry will be restricted as
much as possible, especially as Mr..
Pinchot is eliminated from the dispute
as an official factor,
Cannon to Bow to Will of House
The question Will receive it's next at
tention on the floor of the senate. The
present situation is: The house has
adopted the resolution providing for
the appointment of it's members of the
committee by the house itself rather
than by the speaker, as was originally
provided. Without awaiting official
notification as to the action of the
house, the senate committee on public
lands has decided to report the resolu-
ton In such form as to authorize the
selection of the house members by the
speaker. PROFESSIONALLY, this action
was taken with the intention of compH-
menting the speaker and it will be re-
ported to the senate.
Speaker Cannon, it is said, feels that
it will be impolitic for-him to take ad
vantage of this condition and override
the expressed order of majority of the
house, and it is probable, therefore,
that the senate will steer clear of a con
troversy with the other chamber. 1t is
now said that the speaker will prefer
that the house elect the committee. In
case this course prevails the republican
members probably will designate their
members in caucus and it is claimed
that in that event the insurgents would
participate in the caucus proceedings.
No matter how the general situation
shapes itself, the controversy between
the secretary of the interior and Mr..
Pinchot is expected to be the principal
topic in congressional circles during the
week.