The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-14
VAIN EFFORT TO
 SECURE HARMONY Taft Is Trying to Get Disrupted
 Parg In Harness Again MANY RUMORSE IRE AFLOAT
Administration Circles Fear That Francis J. Heney and James R. Garfield May Appear in Defense
 of GIavis and Pinchot.
By PATTERSON sTEALEY.

Washington, January 1s-- Special. J. The BaIlinger-Pinchot controversy. with its corollary insurgent propositions. the conference committee on the Ballinger Investigations resolution and the commit tee personnel, took a slump today. The scene of action was transferred to the White House where the President con- ferred with number of the insurgents with the idea of restoring party harmony and incidentally securing committee in which he has confidence" In order to give the President all the time he needs the conference committee did not even hold meeting and before next week it need not be expected that the commit tee will be appointed.
 There were a dozen different kinds of rumors going the rounds but the facts are that the organization Is as much up in the air as the democrats and insur- gents and no course has been decided upon until the President tries his hand on harmony while longer.
 One rumor was to the effect that eff forts are being made to get the republi- cans united again by giving the insur- gents representation on the committee securing their votes and then naming the two democratic members without con- sulting that party. Another was that the committee would not contain an in- surgent but four organization men and two democrats of their own selection in the hope that the insurgents would be left out In the cold by themselves. At the present stage, however, it is all spec ulation with the President and crafty old Uncle Joe trying to find some way to redeem themselves
 The organization met with another de- feat today. Late in the afternoon Rep resentatiye Payne of New York, the re- publican floor leader, became tired and concluded he would adjourn the House. He made the motion but much to his surprise and disgust the House promptly voted 1t down and Leader Payne was forced to remain until the usual quitting time.
 It developed today that one reason why there Is opposition in administra- ton circles to that provision of the House Ballinger resolution allowing the accused witnesses is due to the fear that Francis j. Heney the San Francisco graft fighter, would be counsel for Gla- wis, while ex-secretary James R. Gar field. Bailingers predecessor. would ap- pear for Pinchot.
 According to members of the rivers and harbors committee the agitation for bond issue has at least had the effect of making certain annual appropriations for rivers and harbors improvements to an amount that will give the several pro- jects throughout the country all that can be expended during each year.
 Washington is still full of delegations which have been appearing before the committee and all of them are optimistic over the forthcoming bill. Col. M. T. Bryan of Nashville, president of the Ten nessee River Improvement association. left for home today feeling well satis- fled that the Tennessee from Chattanooga to the mouth at Paducah, Ky. would be we'll taken care of.
 Henry Grahim Gilbert, the faithful old negro servant of former generations of Havemeyers, Jays and Bigelows, body servant of Samuel J. Tilden and later major domo for G. F. Kunz, died on Tuesday at Lincoln hospital and will be buried tomorrow afternoon.
 Gilbert was born in Hampton. Va, about 1S2 His father was a Scotchman and his mother real old southern ''mammy" He went to the war as ser want to Col William Jay. In the If years while he was body servant and butler to Samuel J. Tilden he came to know most of the men prominent in poll itics MT. Tilden was saved much trou- ble and many annoyances through Gill; bert.
 Nearly all the Alabama members have united in indorsing John B. Smith for the Montgomery district attorneyship. Hc will be presented to the Attorney Gen eral by Senator Bankhead Saturday. Smith is a democrat and only the most optimistic have any idea that he will be appointed.