The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-10
cretary of the Interior Denounced as
l)nfaithful to Trust and Unfit to
Serve People of Nation
in Public Capacity
|pff REGULAR REPUBLICANS REFUSE
TO ATTEND MEETING OF COMMITTEE
'anuan Nelson Tries to Force Motion for Adjourn
ment, Fails, Leaves and Democrats Give
Out Their Findings

great public wrong. and that their con-
tcre@ts OF the people.
That IN his statement OF September
l5. 1909. to the president and in other
the president, Mr.. Baliinger has been
frequently uncandld; that he has on a
number of occasions been guilty OF dupi-
city, and that his conduct in the prem
iscs was intended To and did have the
effect of deccivnG the president
THAT Mr., Ballinger, while commission
err of the general land office, clear
listed the so-callcd Cunningham claims
on insufficient evidence and under circum-
stances which convnces us he was aware
OF the existence OF other material evidence
which he did not call for or consider. and
prevented the clear-listing of the. claims.
and we find that in so clear-lIsting said
claims Mr.. BnlIinger showed either a
lameBtable want OF capacity aud com
petencc or such disregard for the rights
of the public as amounted TO bad faith.
Holds This Charge Sustained.
That. as commissioner of the gem
eral land office, Mr. BallinGer prepared
the Gale bill; that he appeared before
a committee of the house OF representa-
tivcs in advocacy of said bill, and that
lie then knew and intended that said
bill, If it became a law, would have the
effect of validating the said Cunningham
claims and other coal claims in Alaska.
cause of noncompliance with the law,
THAT after resigning as commissioners
of the general land office Mr. Ballingcr
resumed the practice OF law in Seattle.
Wash. that he became interested as an
attorney In cases which were pending
in the general land office while he was
commissioner and in at least ono case
ho received compensation for his scrv-
ices and that such conduct was highly
rcprchcnsibIe.
while Secretary Ballinecr claims that
because OF his professional connection
with some OF The claimants he turned the
considerations and control OF all Alaska
coal claim matters over 10 Mr.. Frank
Pierce, his assistant. we find from the
evidence that he did not in fact do so.
but on the contrary improperly continued
his connection Herewith ana from time
10 time was consulted By his subordi-
mates and gave directions with regard To
said claims.
Neglected Official Duties.
"'rhat he aided the movement TO force
the Cunningham claims TO n hearing be-
fore the government was ready 10 pro-
cccd and properly produce its evidence
and placed the management OF the cases
in the hands Of an inexperienced young
attorney with full knowledge OF the i'm
portancc OF the cases, both AS TO the
great value of the property, and the fact
that being the first cases OF their kind.
and there being hundreds OF other Alaska
coal claim cases, they were in a measure
test cases.
''tlc encouraged insubordination in the
reclamation service by trying to discrcdit
the director or head OF that service in
a general way and by Issuing orders d.
rect to subordinates in said service, with
out either consulting or communicating
with The proper person or persons III
charge OF said service.
THAT he condoncd highly improper Of
fetal conduct on the part OF Mr., Per
lsins head OF the Chicago office Of the
reclamation service. and instead of rcpri-
manding him, or OF asking for his rcsig
nation as recommended by the director
| and chief engineer. nc retained him III
the same office with incrcascG power di-
| rccling him TO report TO Director Newell
whose authority nc had already over
| ridden
Under thcsc circumstances, and il
view Of these findings. which arc forced
upon us by "a consideration of the cyl
dcuCc VIC are under the stern necessity
OF making n further finding.
Not True to Trust.
THAT Mr.. Ballingcr has not been true
| To the trust rcposcd in him as secretary
of The interior; that lac is not deserving
OF public confidence and that he sboulc
he requested by the proper authoritlc:
TO resign his office as secretary OF the
| interior. .
MIR Lawlcr. assistant attorney OF Tho
| interior department. The report says
| .tcstincd only concerning the So-callec
Iawler memorandum, prepared ny HIN
| at the presidents request under the di'
rcrtion that he should write 1t as If
were the president.
| 1t adds:
MIR I.awicr's partisanship, his violent
| offensive and iraScible demcanor. his cyi'
dent lack Of Irankncss, and his confessed
| animosity toward Mr. Claws. dctrac
greatly from the value OF his iesli
mony.'
As 10 Clifford Pincbot. the rcpor
MIR. pinchot is. SO well known 10 TIN
American people that il is probably I'M
necessary TO refer 10 his standing. ou
OF the presidents WORDS concernin,
him.
Quotations from the presidents lot
ter follow and the report continues;
'We do not think these cHoomium
deserved. We believe the evidence show
Mr. Pinchut To be man Of high char
actor. OF fine honor, Of stainless lntcSrit.
and Of patriotic purpose.
The Flawless Pinchot
I've indorsc this commcndation by th
president and we agree with him tina
Mr.. PiuchoL desired faithfully 10 Sery
the American people to tho best "i M
ability As a witness, he was prompt
mlttcd IS frnught with the slehteS
; suspicion VIC believe that his Who'll
service In his official capacity was actu
ated by sincere love and desire 10
the public good He was Il faithful OF
fetal he was u just officer: he was
. yIgilant and courageous defender OF IN
= public property; that he WAS an cnem
, and implacablc foe 10 the land grabbc
and CRATER; he was the obstructor Q
, the schemes and machinations OF con
: spirators attempting TO scizc the Pnoh
domain. He dared To be insubordinatt
,, Continued on Page Two.