The Detroit times., 1910-09-14
DEMs. ARE SCORED
FLOR CONCERNING
| bALL|NGER
Republican Members of Investigating
Committee Issue Statement Showing
Their EXPERIMENTATION Worst
Method Ward Politics"
70 Decision Reached By Republicans
Because of Absence of
d Quorum.

IN Tuesday TO prepare "a report on
heir findings, failed TO prepare a
Statement, as no quorum was present.
I was reported that Mr.. Nelson had
authority to act for Senator Flint, a
member OF the committee who is In
Europe. This could not be confirmed,
put In any event no attempt was
made to use the proxy. Adjournment
Was taken subject TO call OF Char
.ian Nelson.
I AS the minority" declined TO AZ
lend today's conference and took their
adjournment at Minneapolis until the
aext meeting OF congress, Ii Is prob
BILE that Mr. Nelson will not call an
tther meeting until the return OF Mr..
flint. who, as the seventh member,
would make a quorum
The members at the meeting took
occasion, however, to condemn the &C
ton OF the four democratic members
vnd the one Republican insurzent
member, who delivered report in
Minneapolis last Wednesday. demand
ing the retirement from ONCE OF Sec
1etary Ballinger
They declared the action of what
they term the minority" at Minneap-
oils TO have been according TO the
worst methods of ward politics.
The statement, Conforming the
Minneapolis report was, as follows:
THE hearings OF the committee, ar
.er proceeding for months, were end
I'd in the closing days of the las.
fcssion of congress- There was no
opportunity and no attempt on the
part OF anybody to have the commit
ice meet for the purposes of conversa-
ion on the evidence or to report les
findings to congress prior TO the adj
lournmeDt OF the session. Under the
circumstances that course was mani
testify impossible. The committee Is
lie creature OF special act of con-
ress which fixed the number OF its
members at Il, six senators appoint.
I'd by the yice-president and six rep
csent,tives elected by the house,
Che act carefully defined the powers
md Jurisdiction OF the committee am
contained a mandate that II should
report its findings and conclusions to
his congress.
"A great mass OF testimony has been
akcn, making a direct and collateral
ecord of about 1000 closely written
pages The Issues involved were full
bf movement to the cause OF pure adj
:inistration, To the conservation OF
bur natural resources, 70 the interests
BIZ the government generally and to
he regulations OF some OF its present
bf the government generally and to
he regulations of some of its present
md former officers. The work, there
ore, OF deliberation and decision was
BIZ great importance as we'll rs. OF
treat difficulty. The committee de-
ermined to devote some OF the time
huring the recess OF congress to this
work and decided 10 meet in Mime
polis Sept. 5.
Denis. in Control.
"The day of the meeting found the
Membership widely scattered and only
even OF the II members present.
hree other members were detained
" brief but peremptory engagements.
senator Flint was in Europe and Sen
tor Root on the sea returning from
rguing q case for the government
before The Hague tribunal. Upon re-
assembling two days later, eight gen-
llemen were present and two more
kere reported on the way.
THE eighth member to appear hap
kened TO be Democrat and the men,
Eers OF that party found themselves
ln temporary control. and promptly
lroceeded to turn the circumstance to
khat seemed TO them a party advan'
age. In advance of any conversation
tshatever. upon the evidence, which
newer had been weighed and discussed
In committee, they demanded the pass
hge of resolutions of the most sweep
Ing character. formally finding Secre-
AIRY Ballinger guilty not merely or
harges that had been made, but OF
harges that had only been implied.
Ind of things which never have been
harged. but which persons appearing
it the hearing had alleged against
him.
"Other members of the committee
present protested against such pro-
reedings, which would dispose Of the
ase In the absence of four OF the IL
members, making II possible for
lninority fthe committee to find
he committee verdict, and this, too.
without any consultation or discus
Sion.
But the partisan political end to
De gained by the Decorate minority
became all the more urgent in proper.
ion as the railway trains bearing
t,ther members OF the committee were
bpproaching Minneapolis.
Minority Rushed Matters.
THE minority refused even TO take
IA recess, and the other members, pro-
Nesting against the evident termipa.
Etion to take snap judgment by min
{prity In the absence OF the whole
stribunal. and declining to bear any
Responsibility for thus converting the
Envestigation into a travesty, and for
Ia violation OF the fundamental prin.
fciple which should govern the pro
eedings. withdrew from the meeting
land thus deprived the Democrats OF
Their temporary control OF the COM
tmittee.
"The meetink being left without a
{ouorum. any attempted decision Of
1.-The case would have no more val'divt
ithan would like action OF similar
Number OF men collected at random
| Nm the streets. but the spectacle was
| fpresented Of five gentlemen out Of a
It-ihunal of - created by the con.