Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-08
ADOPT REPORT SUSTAINING
CHARGES MADE BY PINCH0T

ecutive meeting of the Balllnger-Pin-
chot investigating committee today
Senator Duncan w. Fletcher, Democrat,
introduced a resolution holding that
the secretary of the interior was an
unfaithfuI public officer and should be
removed.
Representative Madison. the Republt-
can "insurgent" from Kansas, offered a
substitute resolution holding that the
charges which had been made by Gift
ford Pinchot and Louis CLAWS, for
mer chief of field division Of the
general land office. were sustained.
Representative James (DemocraD of
Kentucky offered an amendment to
Representative Madison's substitute
resolution providing for the removal of
Mr.. Ballinger from office and Mr.. Mad
ison accepted the amendment.
The vote came up on the substitute
of Mr.. Madison as amended by the
motion of Mr.. James and the roll was
called. Those voting for the substi-
tute were Senator Fletcher, f. w Pur-
cell of North Dakota, Democrat;
Representative James NJ Graham OF
Illinois, a Democrat; Representative
Madison and Representative James.
REPUBLICANS LEAVE ROOM
While the vote was being taken SEN
ator George Sutherland of Utah, Re-
publican, and Representative Samuel
w. Mccall of Massachusetts, Republl-
can, left the committee room, insisting
that the full committee should be pres
ent.
The Democratic members replied that
they had been months considering the
evidence, that quorum was present
and had right to transact business.
Senator Nelson, the chairman Of the
committee, took the vote, voting pres
do hn n
that no quorum was present.
Mr. James made the point of order
that no member had raised the point
of no quorum.
The committee then took a recess
until Friday, when reports in keeping
with the resolution of Senator Fletcher
and the amendment thereto offered by
Representative Madison will be submit
ted.
When the committee met the follow
ing members were present: Republl-
cans-Senator Nelson, chairman; Sena-
tor sutherland, Representative Mccall,
Representative Madison; Democrats
Senators Fletcher and Purcell, Repre-
sentative Ollie M. James of Kentucky
and James M. Graham of Illinois.
Chairman Nelson, in opening the 5es-
sion. stated that he had received tele-
graphic advices that Representative
Denby, Republican, who had been de-
tanned in Michigan on account of the
urinary election, would reach Minneap-
oils tomorrow; also that Representa-
tive Olmstead, Republican, would be
here Friday. He suggested that 1t was
only fair that a recess should be taken
until Friday in order to permit them
TO participate in the deliberations of
the committee.
RESOLUTION SCORES BALLINGER
Senator Fletcher, however, offered the
following resolutions:
EResoived, that from the weight of
the evidence submitted to the COM
mittee we find as follows:
"First that Richard A. Ballinger, as
secretary of the interior, has been
unfaithful and inefficient in the dis
charge of his official duties.
Second, that he Is unfit for the
very responsible position he holds.
"Third, that the vast amount of pub
lie property under his control and
the larger public interests are not
safe in his hands.
"Resoived, further. that the public
good demands his prompt removal
from said office.
"Be it further resolved that report
to the congress be prepared setting
forth the grounds and reasons as
shown by the evidence for this finding
and recommendation, including other
matters referred to this committee, and
that the same be submitted to this
committee on Friday next at 10 o'clock
a. M"
substitute:
ASKS BAILINGER's REMOVAL
"Resolved, that the findings OF the
committee be as follows, and report
based thereon be prepared and report
ed to congress:
"First, that the charges made by l..
r. CLAWS against Secretary Ballinger
be sustained; that in the matter Of
the disposition of the Cunningham
coal lands Mr. Ballinger was not a
faithful trustee of the interests of the
people, and did not perform his duty
In such a manner as to properly pro-
tect such interests
Second that the charges made by
Mr.. Pinchot should be sustained that
Mr.. Ballinger's course in the admins
tration of the department of the in
terror has been characterized by a
lack of fidelity to the public interests,
that this has been shown in his treat
ment of the Cunningham coal claims,
the restoration of water power sites
to entry without intention to re-with-
draw and in his administration of the
reclamation service, the latter result
ing in unnecessary humiliation to the
director and tending toward the disin-
tegration of the service. He has not
shown himself to be that character Of
ir'end to the policy of conservation Of
Alr natural resources that the man
Mould be who occupies the important
15ast Of secretary of the interior In our
1overnneut, and he should no longer