New-York tribune., 1910-01-07


son II he had authorized the Pinchot
communication. Mr. Wilson declared
emphaucally that he had not He told
the President, moreover. that he had is
sued Instructions to all his subordinates
in accordance with the recent executive
order forb.dding officials to make repre-
sentations 70 members Of Congress with
out the permission Of their superior of
fcers
The President then summoned the
Secretary Of State to the White House
and consulted him regarding Mr.
Pinchot's act. Mr.. Knox expressed the
view that the Pinchot letter was an act
of open and fragrant characterization and
one which the President could not afford
10 condone
The Attorney General was then called
by telephone and when he arrived 1T
the White House he expressed the same
view as Mr.. Knox. The course of the
chief forester was carefully reviewed.
His recent defiant letter TO the President
and his speech made at the University
club in New York We're discussed. Sec
=
ness TO take any action the President
considered proper. and asserted his con-
fdence that il would not be difficult to
ind an equally capable forester for Mr..
Pinchot's place.
MAY BE DECISION TO-DAY.
The President reserved his decision in
the premises. but il is the belief of some
clude tomorrow that a situation has
rived where patience ceases to be a
virtue and that the dignity Of the ad-
ministration demands Mr. Pinchot's sep
araton from the federal service. AS has
been told before in these dispatches,
Messrs Price and Shaw are already
marked for dismissal, although it has
been the purpose Of the President TO re-
frain from taking that action until the
close Of the forthcoming Investigation.
Cf course, Mr. Pinchots separation from
the service would make no difference
with the investigation.
The Ballinger- -Pinchot controversy was
made doubly intense to-day by the read
ing in the Senate Of letter addressed
BY Mr. Pinchot to Senator Dolliver, in
which the course adopted by L. r CLAWS,
with the assistance of Messrs. Price and
Shaw. of the Bureau of Forestry. was
warmly approved. In this communica-
Ton the chief forester not only upheld
lhe criticisms Of Secretary Ballinger. but
suggested that the President himself
had been mistaken in the facts when he
removed MI CLAWS from the pubic ser
vice
The reading Of Mr. Pinchot's letter
as l"llo"ed with close attention in the
Senate especially the parts of it in
which the Chief Forester acknowledged
mat subordinates in his office were re-
s. onsible for the newspaper and maya
zine attacks on the Department of the
Interior.
ORDER VIOLATED. SAYS HALE
As soon as Mr.. DoIIiver had taken his
seat Mr. Hale was recognized. He re-
felred 10 the Pinchot communication as
d remarkable letter" He acouitted
Mr. Dolliver Of any purpose TO prejudice
the public mind regarding the merits Of
tie controversy between the Secretary
Of Tie Interior and the Chief Forester
but added that the inevitable effect of
the letter would be to sharpen the con-
troNersy a1d 10 confuse the public as to
lhe facts at issue. Mr. Hale intimated
that Sir Pinchot's letter was d violation
OF the executive order prohibiting subor-
cinates H. the departments from dis
cnssing public business. even with mem
befs of Congress. except by permission
.; the heads of the depa rtments TO which
Tic, are attached.
Mr- Finchot's letter dated January >
N"S @ddressed 10 Mr. Doliver, who said
lie fiad asked the Chief Forester for in
800 -i'h as 10 the reported activity Of
me rofest Service in promugating and
keeping alive accusations against the
DFHartment Of the Interior Mr. pfncbot
SAID that overton W. Price. Assistant
Forester and a. G shaw assistant law
officer Of the Forest Service did make
pubic certain official information re-
garding the Cunningham coal Iand
claims. Mr Pinchots letter was ad-
dressed 70 MI Doliver. as cbairnoan of
hs Committee on Agriculture Tins
Continued on fourth pa -