Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-09-15
anti BALL|NGER
DEMOCRATS AND INSURGENT
MADISON GIVE OUT THEIR
FINDINGS.
SUSTAIN CLAWS CHARGES
Committee Splits Up in Row and Re-
publicans Will Meet in Chicago
Next Week, Without
Quorum.

minneapolis, Mimi. - An absolute
split has taken place in the member
ship of the Ballinger-Pincho investiga-
ton committee. After day of jock
eying for position, Senator Knute Mel
son, as chairman, adjourned the meet
ing to Chicago, on next Tuesday, and
the Democratic members refused to
concur. deciding to take no part in
the further deliberations of the COM
mittee.
The Democratic members made pub
lie their findings in the Ballinger-Pin-
chot case, supplemented by separate
report by E. H. Madison, the insurgent
Republican congressman from Kansas,
which is not materially different.
The Democratic Report.
The report of the Democratic mem
bers of the joint committee is a volum-
inous document OF $4,000 words, Gov
ering SO typewriter pages.
In historical review Of the pro-
ceedings the report cites the appoint
ment of the committee, defines it's
powers and duties, names the princi-
pals and their attorneys and states
that the labors Of the committee are
confined to Investigating and passing
upon, first, the administration, action
and conduct of the interior depart
ment and it's several bureaus, officers
and employees, and, second, the bureau
of forestry and its officers and employ
es relating to reclamation. conserva-
ton management and disposal Of pub
lie lands or any lands held in trust
by the United States.
Based upon these two issues the re-
port in part follows:
Issue Stated.
Stated affirmatively the issue of
linger is unfit to hold the office of
secretary of the interior; that he has
been unfaithful to his trust as custo-
dian of public lands and specifically
that he sanctioned the future convey
ance Of land not yet gone to patent
where the making of necessary proofs
would involve perjury; that he clear
listed the Cunningham claims and or
dered them to patent with evidence OF
their fraudulent character before him
Or accessible: that as commissioner OF
the land office he prepared the Gale
bill validating Alaska coal claims
that later acted as attorney for claims
before the land Office over which be
had presided; that when validity OF
the act was questioned he accepted
the erroneous opinion Of subordinate
against the interest of the govern
ment and the people; that he deceived
the president as to what took place un
der his instructions in his department
that he construed the Cunningham
group of coal entries without regard tt
the law covering such cases and tina
he condoned improper conduct in su
bordinates in certain cases"
!, CLAWS Is Praised.
CLAWS, summarily dismissed from
} the service, is spoken Of as "a plain
very little imagination, seeing only tn
facts which confront him, with splen
did recollection, aggressive integrit.
and courage, such as few men possess
a courage which stood out against tn
entire interior department in the tigh
for the public interest and the pei
Torrance of his official duty"
Pinchot's high character and pul
pose are set out in the report by citin
from a letter written by the presiden
both to Mr.. Pinchot himself and t
Mr.. Ballinger. Then this:
eve agree with the president tina
!, Mr.. Pinchot's desire was to faithful
= serve the American people to the bes
Of mis- ability Not an act that he con
mitted is fraught with the slightes
suspicion. He was a faithful publ
. official, just officer, vigilant and cou
ageous defender of the public propert.
= lie dared to be insubordinate, if b
: was, in the interest of his country
= would be difficult to give too muc
has done in the building up and d
: veloping of our national forest sy
- tenn"
= The Alaska question is then consi
9 cred, first, as the most importan
The act of congress regarding Alask
- coal lands is set forth with all tt
= steps necessary from location to pa
:, ent In the report certain words an
. phrases in the law are emphasize
= such as Gin good faith;" persons
- eating coal land "who entered in
:, any agreement or association wit
each other"
~ AS to Ballinger's professional CO
;, nection with the Cunningham clair
- ants while he was out of office, aft
~ Will vacate, Fearing Flood.
IS Washington, d. G. - Imminent da