Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-07

lon in relation to the Ballinger-Pincho
controversy.
Preceding this incident Senator
Joncs's Joint resolution for nm investi-
gation of the interior department anC
the forestry bureau wns referred to the
committee on public lands, but the ref
crencc was not made until after much
discussion of a resolution by Senator
Ncwlands instructing the committee on
public lands to report within two Seeks
bills putting into effect Secy. ! Alln-
gers recommendations in his annual
report on the conservation of natural
resources. The Newlands resolution
also was referred to the committee on
public lands.
While the senate was taking this ac-
tion, the house declined to enter upon
q discussion OF the joint resolution in
troduced by Mr. Humphrey The reso-
luton went over until tomorrow
In the senate Mr.. Pinchot's letter
caused a genuine sensation.
In addressing his letter to Senator
Dolliver, Mr.. Pinchot indicated that 1t
had been written at the request OF
the Iowa senator, but 1t was addressed
to him as chairman of the committee
on agriculture, thus making II an off,
cial document
He said that Messrs. Price and Shaw
had prepared as official report upon
their actions which he was transmit
ting to the secretary of agriculture.
This report shows that Messrs. Price
and Shaw made public certain informa-
ton regarding the so-called Cunning
ham claims for coal lands In Alaska"
said Mr.. Pinchot. 1.-THE effect of the
publication was to direct critical pub
lie attention to the action of the In
terlor department
1T shows that they countenanced
the publication by L. P. CLAWS of GER
tain facts concerning these claims after
he had been dismissed from office and
that in other ways they endcavored to
direct public attention to the imminent
danger that the Alaska coal fields still
In government ownership might pass
forever into private hands with little
OF no compensation TO the public"
PINCHoT FOR PUBLICITY.
This information, Mr.. Pinchot adds,
was OF nature proper to be made pub
lie. unless there are secrets which the
people of the United States arc not
entitled 10 know concerning the source,
nature and progress of claims made
for portions of the public lands"
The rumor," he said, that the CLAY
Is report to the president was prepared
In or by the forest service is Incorrect.
AT GlaNls'S request / sent Shaw. as 4.
was proper l should TO Chicago, to as
sist him In arranging his material for
submission to the president"
After saying that these officials had
acted on information concerning the
danger of the loss of the Alaska coal
lands, Mr.. Pinchot continued.
Action through the usual Official
Ch1nnGlQ
to the president. had resulted (becaus,
OF what I believe TO have been mis-
taken Impression OF the facts) In elm
mating nom the government service in
the person of CLAWS. the most vigorous
defender of the peoples interest. Fur
thermore. the refusal of the secretary
OF the interior to assume responsibility
In the cases had left their conduct Who'll
ly in the hands of subordinatcs, each
OF whom was apparently committed
In favor OF patenting these claims"
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 prop-
erty. Having violated a rule of pro-
pr1ety as between the departments, Mr..
Plnchot said they deserved a repri-
mand and had received one.
But l shall recommend" he added,
without hesitation. that no further ac-
ton In their case is required"
Mr., Pinchot said the action of these
subordinates was most unusual. but
suggested that the situation that called
II forth was quite as unusal.
Price and Shaw" he said, Success
fully directed public attention to a ma
tional danger. They increased the peo-
ple's interest in the peoples property
and powerfully fostered the desire 20
conserve IT. There is now far loss
chance that the Alaska coal fields VIII
pass into the hands of fraudulent
claimants than there was before thoy
acted.
"They acted on what they believed
to be trustworthy information Many
considerations which had not been
brought home to the presidents mind
AS appears from his letter OF Septem.
Der l3. had weight with them.
RULES OF OFFICIAL DECoRUM.
The rules of official decorum exist
In the interest of official administration
and Of that alone. II they are used t.
prevent honest and yigilant official.
from saving the property of the public
their purpose Is violated, and they be
| come worse than useless. Price anS
Shaw concede that they did transgi cs;
| propuety. But measured by the emer
gency which faced them. by the purity
OF their motives. and the results whici
they accomplished. their breach of pro
priety sinks well-nlGt to insignia
| canoe"
Mr. Plnchot said he disclalmed an
Intention or desire to shirk any part q
his own legitimate responsibility 10
what was done by these two subordi
nates. What they did. he added, rails
ed question OF principle that shoul
not be obscured either by persona
consideration or by possible mistake
on their part. They had. he said. don
for the people of the country what tn
people would have done for themselyo
had they been In situation to do 4
Upon the conclusion of the discus
sion OF the Pinchot letter, the pres
dents message transmitting Attorne,
General Wickcrsham's report on til
Ballinger cnse was laid before tho ser
ate, but Mr.. Wickcrsham's long repo,
was not rend- IL WAS referred to III
committee on Slblic lands
Senator Nelson. chairman of III
committee on public lands. has called
meeting for Saturday morning to cor
slider the several resolutions rclatin
to the investigation OF the BaIlingc
Pinchot controversy.
lI I,vr THE DI-nDIE