The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-08
Yesterday by Vote of 149 to
TAG, House Takes Power of
Speaker of Appointing Spe-
cial Committee.
LIVELY DISCUSSION
BEFORE VOTE TAKEN
House Insists That Conserva-
ton MuddIe Be Investigated
BY a Committee That Is Not
Prejudiced.

Washington. Jan. S.-Speaker Can.
non was deprived of the power Of ap-
pointing the committee to investigate
the Interior Department yesterday.
The house, by a vote of 149 to 146, de-
cided to make the appointments itself.
Five members voted present"
So Unexpectedly was the victory ac-
complished that the insurgents and
their democratic allies could scarcely
announced the vote. For an instant
almost complete silence reigned, then
the storm broke and for almost a full
minute the noise in the chamber was
deafening. After that the democrats,
jubilant that they had helped to pierce
the hitherto impervious armor Of the
speaker. seemed willing to abandon
their fight against the resolution itself
which all afternoon had appeared too
broad to suit them, and most all of
them voted for it on a viva voce vote.
The organization leaders made no at
tempt to conceal their confusion. There
was a hurried conference at Represen-
tative Dalzells desk and for a time
the insurgents feared that their tri-
umph was to be short lived, as three
of twenty-six republicans who voted
for the amendment have never been
classed with their number. and they
! suspected that at least one Of them
| might have voted in the affirmative
that he might move to reconsider in
event the amendment carried.
Three Are Friends Of Pinehot.
But no such move was made, al
| though several of the regulars whom
Representative Dwight. the whip"
| had been unable to corral when he
made his roundup for the vote, began
struggling in and another vote would
| have been even closer. 1t developed
that the three regulars who voted for
the amendment were all stanch friends
of Chief Forester Pinchot, and that
they had favored the election of men,
bers of the committee by the house to
insure an impartial jury to try what
is popularity known as the Pinchot-Bal-
linger case. They were Representa-
tive Ames of Massachusetts and Fish
and Parsons of New York.
| The insurgent ranks had but one de-
serter Steenerson Of Minnesota.
Strangely enough, Fitzgerald. of New
York, was the only Democrat to cast
his vote with the Republican regulars.
although he led the minority fight on
the joint resolution.
! Mr.. Fitzgerald previously announced
that he was opposed to the principle
Of the amendment, as he believed the
speaker elected by the majority should
have the power to appoint the mem
bers of the committees.
! Republican leaders attributed their
defeat to the large number Of absent
ees, but the tide Of battle was really
turned by Mr.. Pinchot's three friends
| Nearly Entire Day Consumed.
| Practically the entire day was de-
voted to the consideration of the joint
resolution, which was taken up after
the reading of the Presidents inter
state commerce and antitrust mes
sage had been concluded. The Demo.
|
to narrow the proposed investigation
to the General Land Office, contend
| ing that as no such charges as had
been made against Secretary Ballin-
ger had been preferred against Forest.
er Pinchot, there was no reason for
dragging the latter into the inquiry.
Mr.. Fitzgerald said he opposed hav.
| ing the Investigation made by Mr.. Bal.
fingers friends, as would be the case
if Congress proceeded on authority of
a resolution which required the Presi.
dents signature to make 1t operative.
He asked for an investigation by q
special House committee of the Gen.
eral Land Office. but he was unable
to rally the strength of his own party
to his amendment when it came to a
vote.
The resolution, as 1t goes to the
Senate, provides for an investigation
/ committee of twelve members, six to
he appointed by the President Of the
Senate and six to be elected by the
House.