The Washington times., 1910-12-14

Clifford Pinchot, deposed chief for
roster, IN a statement issued this morn
ing. demands that Congress shall vote
upon the various reports submitted tc
IL By the Ballinger-PinchOt investigat-
Ing committee
Mr.. PinChOt takes the position that
Congress, having set the Investigation
afOOt, ought now 10 decide as among
the three reports before IL It has been
apparent for some time that the powers
in Congress tried TO avoid the en-
Darrassment OF vote. and preferred
that the report should lie indefinitely
on the tables of the presiding officers Of
House and Senate Prosressives and
Democrats have been trying 20 devise
means 10 force the houses 20 act upon
the report
PTejudgment of Case.
In the statement which he puts out
today Mr. P1nchot very vigorously in
sists that the majority report. which
vindicates Secretary Ballinger, repre-
sents prejudgment Of the case which
everybody expected, and which Il 50
obviously a prejudgment that II IS nee
e-sarys in fairness to all Concerned. that
Congress shah determine for itself
which Of tbs three reports II regards as
right
of course the report Of the majority
in favor. OF Mr. Ballinger has excited
little interest and less surprise" says
Mr. PinchOt in his statement From
the beginning IL was known what the
tenor Of the report would be Their
report was forecast and discounted so
completely that polls Of the committee.
true 70 the actual result. were pub
Hshed in the papers 6 few hours after
its appointment. The standpat ma
jOrity did only what was expected OF
them Not only so, but they did the
easy thing It takes vastly more moral
courage to assume the responsibility Of
deciding against 8 man IN high place
and with powerful friends than to de-
eide for him The whitewssh Of Senator
Lorimer IS a good example
Opinion Of the Public
The people long ago decided that
Judge Madison and the minority were
right. Interest now centers IN the Ques-
ton Of what action Congress is going TO
take on the report BY joint reSOlu-
ton Congress directed the investigation
Of Mr. BaUinger- Tire, effort, and
money have been spent on il. but as yet
there is no final result There can be
none until Congress acts When a court
appoints q master to take testimony,
ind facts. and make recommendations.
the court is bound to consider the mas
ter's report and make final decision Of
the questions involved. In the case Con-
gress is the court 1t named a committee
20 take testimony It cannot now fairly
avoid the responsibility of ruling on the
reports OF the committee.
Il am not concerned for my own repu-
tatiOn OF fortune in this matter" con-
tinues Mr.. Pinchot- Irrespective OF
whether the action Of Congress will IA
vOr Mr. Ballinger or condemn him, II IS
evident the people want their Represen-
tatives to make a record Of their own
on this question. The constituents OF
the men who voted for this investiga-
ton are entitled to know which OF the
three reports the committee has submit
ted Congress approves
Chance to Go on Record
Certainly the standpatters IN Con-
g-ess, who believe in the BaIIinger kind
Of conservation. should have g. chance
to 90 on record to that effect
''One important observation should be
made After the standpat majority had
said what il had to say in defense OF
Mr. BallinEer. It proceeded to give vigor-
Gus support to the coal land policy