The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-08

The majority members of the Bal
! linger- Pinchot investigating committee
absolutely clear Secretary Ballinger of
the charges of misconduct made against
him by Clifford Pinchot and others. and
sustain his administration OF the Inter
Tor Department in every particular. The
majority report. which was submitted to
Congress yesterday, is in striking con-
trast 20 that made last September by
the minority members, who held that
Mr. Ballinger was unfit for Office.
The fight over the two reports will
now be carried into the Senate and the
House. The ~minority members of the
committee held meeting yesterday and
/ decided to maintain that their report,
/ drawn last September, is the bona fde
report OF the investigating committee
and that the document submitted by the
majority members yesterday is without
/ official standing.
Only "MajOrity Report"
! The minority members will contend
tAat their report was adopted by a ma
! jority Of the committeeman, who attend
ed a meeting regularly called by the
chairman in St Paul last September
and that as such i'll is the only ma
jority report entitled to consideration by
Congress.
Several Of the Republican members of
the committee were absent from the St
/ Paul meeting and the Republicans who
loga
that the Democratic report was a snap
affair"
One Republican, Representative Mad
ison. of Kansas, an insurgent, joined
with the Democrats in the report which
they made condemning Secretary Bal
linger three months ago. With the as
sistance of Representative Madison the
Democrats controlled the St Paul meet
ing by a vote of I'VE TO four, and when
the regular Republicans realized What
the Democratic game was, several of
them withdrew from the meeting so as
10 prevent the presence of a quorum.
A special rule will have to be adopted
in the House before the fight over the
reports can be carried to the floor. but
the Democrats believe they will be able
10 get d sufficient number OF votes TO ac-
Complish this In the Senate the question
can be brought up without any difficulty
Friends OF the administration expect 10
see a bitter contest over the two reports
Of the committee.
Signed by Republicans.
The majority report sent to Congress
yesterday is signed by Senator Nelson. |
OF Minnesota. chairman; Senator Flint, of
California. senator Sutherland. OF Utah: |
Senator Root of New York, and Repre- |
.sentatives Mccall. OF Massachusetts,: Ohm |
sted. o. Pennsylvania, and DENLY, OF |
Michigan. all Republicans.
The majority members say that the |
charges against Mr. BaIlinger seem to |
have had their origin in strong feeling |
OF animosity created by a supposed diff |
ference in policy respecting the conserva-
ton of natural resources. The accusers, !
OF whom Mr.. Pinchot was the chief one |
had this policy very deeply al heart, and |
in the opinion OF the majority members. |
were evidently disposed to take most |
unfavorable view Of the character and /
motives OF any one whom they supposed |
TO be opposed TO their views They thus 4
came 10 regard Mr.. Ballinger with sus-
piciOn.
l.
wholly failed 70 make out a case Neither /
any fact proved, nor all the facts put |
together. exhibit Mr.. Ballinger as being !
anything but a competent and honorable |
gentleman. honestly and faithfully per- |
forming the duties Of his high Office"
Makes Specific Findings.
The majority members make these spe-
cific findings:
First. That the charges and insinuations against /
Secretary BaIlingeT in regard TO the Cunningham /
coal land entries or other coal land claims In /
Alaska are not justified
Seeond. That he was, under the Circumstances
stated fully justified in reyokiRg the Indian co
operative agresment
Third. That the reservations of WaterpoWer SITES 1
by Secretary BallingeT made IN good faith and /
moi in enmty 10 the government and policy Of con- /
serGtiOn OF natural resources. but pursuant to an
honest opinion to the legality Of the Withdrawals
in which many mcdrber OF the Senate and House, |
well as many competent and disinteresed author
tiles in private life. agree with him.
justified In Action.
Fourth. That, in view Of the opinion Of the At |
torney General he justified in abandoning the |
use Of the sccalled water users Cooperative eertih-
Gates in connection with the reclamation Of and
lands.
Fifth. That the administration Of the rerama-
ton law presented features Justly subject to c7iti.
cism. More projects were undertaken than the
money In hand could complete; SINE projects applied
to little government land and wholly OF
chiefly for the benefit Of private lands.
Sixth. That he is not an enemy Of nor hostile to
a reasonable and iudicious policy Of conservation.
The committee critieises Louis r.
CLAWS, Mr.. Pinchot's chief witness, and /
in commenting upon the blanket with
drawals of public lands made by James
r. Garfield when he was Secretary of |
the Interior says that this action was
taken by him after he ascertained that I
he would not be retained under Presi-
dent Taft
In regard TO the criticism OF Secretary Il
Baliinger because of his abrogation of n
the Indian cooperative agreement rela-
tive to logging and numbering on Indian
reservations the committee says that the 4
operations were being carried on by the II
Bureau of Forestry in a wastefm and 4
extravagant nature and entailing loss to 4
the Indians
The committees report covers eighty II
seven printed pages AT Chairman Mel Il
sons request. $4,000 copies were ordered II
printed by the Senate Secretary Bal 4
linger had no comment to make upon the
report. II
Indorse Taft's Views.
The Lincoln Park Citizens Associa-