The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-12-08

MAJORITY UPHOLD
MR.. BALLINGER
IN REPORT PRESENTED To CON.
GRESS YESTERDAY.
No Grounds for Opinion That He
is Not a Faithful Public
Servant.
SAYS CLAWS WAS RENuss

Secretary of the Interior Ballinger
upon all the charges brought against
him. and condemning his accusers as
having been inspired by deep feel
ing of animosty built upon sup
posed difference in policy respecting
conservation, a majority of the con-
'gressional committee which investi-
gated the so-cailed Ballinger-Pinchot
case submitted it's report to congress.
The reports were accepted in both
houses without comment. The plan
of action to be followed by the
Democrats has not been determined
on, but II is said a resolution will be
presented to carry the recommends
ton made for the secretary's re-
moval.
An effort will undoubtedly be
made to put the house on record as
TO its opinion of the majority re-
port. Some of the Democratic MEM
beers OF the house favor demanding
consideration Of the report at the
first opportunity.
Officials Of the Interior depart
ment declined to make any comment
on the majority report.
81 have no comment to make on
the report Of the committee" said
Secretary Ballinger.
In case the speaker permits the
matter TO take its course, il is held
by parliamentarians that resolu-
ton demanding a vote will be neces-
sary. Such a resolution would have
q to go TO some standing committee for
report. As no such committee would
relish the responsibility the resolu-
tion would probably be pigeonholed.
The general feeling 10 that there
viii be no alton on the report at
this session. which means not at all,
for the report loses force with the
expiration of the present congress in
March.
Q The report makes the following
specific findings:
. That the charges and insinuations
against Secretary Ballinger In rela-
ton to the Cunningham coal land en-
tries or other coal land claims in
! Alaska are not justified and his con-
duct in respect thereto is not justly
censurable.
That he was fully justified in re-
voking the India cooperative agree
ment.
That the restorations of water
power sites by Secretary Ballinger
we're made in good faith and not in
lenmity to the government
and that no inquiry APPEARS TO have
been done to the government and
the cause of conservation by either
the reservations or Withdrawals.
/ That, in view OF the opinion of
the attorney general he was justified
in abandoning the use of the so
called water users cooperative GER
tificates in connection with the
reclamation OF arid lands.
That the administration of the
reclamation law presented features
justly subject to criticism. .
No unfair criticism or improper con-
duct on Secretary Ballinger's part
has been shown nor any action by
him not within the sound discretion
of the head of he interior department
in the faithful performance, of his
duty.
THAT he is not an enemy Of. nor
hostile to a reasonable and judicious
policy of conservation, and that no
ground whatever has been shown
justifying the opinion that he IS not
a faithful and efficient public
officer"
Alaska Coal Lands.
After setting forth the fact that
the entire known coal fields OF
Alaska covering more than eight mil
lion acres, Is still in government
Ownership, the report takes up the
bearing upon the strife between
Secretary Ballinger and other offi-
lcials of the government, including
several of his subordinates, Mr.. Pin
chot who was deposed as government
forester. The report than says:
"Your committee finds that the in
Iterests of the people and owners of