The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-07
LETTER
CREATES SENSATION
Reading in the Senate Of Communication From Head Of
Bureau Directed to Senator DolIiver Makes Depart
mental Controversy Doubly Intense.

danger of the loss of the Alaska coal
lands, Mr.. Pinchot continued:
Action through the usual official
channels. and finally even an appeal
to the president had resulted (because
of what l believe to have been a mis-
taken impression of the facts) in
eliminating from the government
service in the person of CLAWS the
most vigorous defender of the peoples
interest. Furthermore. the refusal OF
the secretary of the interior to assume
responsibility in the cases had left
their conduct wholly in the hands of
subordinates. each of whom was ap-
ing these claims
Rule Of Propriety.
Price and Shaw. he said. deliberately
chose to risk their official positions
rather than permit what they believed
to be the wrongful loss of public
property. Having violated rule of
propriety as between the departments.
Mr.. Pinchot said they deserved a
reprimand and had received one.
But l shall recommend" he added,
without hesitation that no further
action in their ease is required"
Mr.. Pinchot said the action of these
subordinates was most unusual, but
suggested that the situation that called
it forth was quite as unusual. Price
and shaw" he said: successfully d.
rected public attention to national
danger. They increased the peoples
interest in the peoples property and
powerfully fostered the desire to con-
serve it, There is now far less chance
that the Alaska coal fields will pass
into the hands of fraudulent elements
than there was before they acted. They
acted on what they believed to be
trustworthy information. Many con-
siderations which had not been brought
home to the presidents mind. as ap-
pears from his letter of September 13.
had weight with them.
THE rules of official deeorum exist
in the interest of official administra-
tion and of that alone. Ii they are
used To prevent an honest and vigilant
official from saving the property of
the public their purpose Is violated.
and they become worse than useless.
Price and Shaw concede that they did
transgress propriety. But measured
by the emergency which faced them.
by the purity of their motives. and the
results which they accomplished. their
breach of pronriety sinks well nigh to
insignificance."
Mr. Pinchot said he diselaimed any
intention or desire to shirk any part
of his own legitimate responsibility
for what was done by these two sub
ordinates. What they did. he added,
raised a question of principle that
should not be obscured by personal
consideration or by possible mistakes
on their part. They had. he said. done
for the people of the country what
the people would have done for them
selves had they been in a position to
do it. Upon the conclusion of the dis
cussion of the Pinchot letter. the
presidents message transmitting At
torney General Wickersham's report on
the Ballinger case. was laid before the
senate. but Mr.. Wickersham's long
report was not read. 1t WAS referred
to the committee on public lands.
Senator Nelson. chairman of the
committee on public lands. has called
a meeting for Saturday morning to
consider the several resolutions re-
lating TO the investigation of the Bal
linger- Pinchot controversy.