Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-05
INQUIRY BROAD AND PUBLIC
Committee Is Empowered to
Make it Thorough and
Most Complete.
Conduct of Department OF Interior and
Its Various Bureaus to be Conc
Into Searchingly.


the Ballinger- -Pinchot controversy is
ordered by joint resolution today in
troduced in the senate by Mr.. Jones,
and In the house by Mr.. Humphrey,
both of Washington. AS heretofore an
nounced, the provision is for the broad
est kind of public inquiry. the resolu-
tion being of the character requiring
the signature of the president which
gives to it all the force of general law
committee OF IL is to be appointed
to conduct the investigation, six of
whom shall be designated by Vice Pres
ident Sherman and six by Speaker Can
non. Unquestionaibly Senator Nelson
chairman OF the senate committee on
public lands, will head the list of sem
ators and this doubtless will result in
his selection as chairman of the joint
committee. The scope of the invcstiga-
ton is outlined as follows:
SCOPE OF INQUIRY.
"The committee is hereby empowered
and directed to make thorough and
complete investigation of the admins
tration and conduct Of the interior de-
partment, its several bureaus, officers
and employees. and of the bureau OF
forestry In the agricultural department,
its officers and employees, touching
relating to the reclamation, conserva-
lion, management and disposal of the
public lands of the United States, or
any lands held In trust by the United
States for any purpose. including all the
, natural resources OF such lands, and
said committee is authorized and en-
powered TO make any further inNesti-
cation touching said department, its
bureaus. officers or employees, and OF
said bureau OF forestry. Its officers or
employees as IL may deem desirable"
The authority to sit during session
of Congress and in recesses. TO require
the attendance OF witnesses and the
production of papers, usual to con-
gressional inquiries, is granted by the
resolution. 1t Is provided further that
any person refusing to obey the pro-
ces5 of the committee or to answer
any question propounded shall be
deemed guilty of contempt. and
Jurisdiction is conferred upon the
court OF appeals of the District of
Columbia to try and determine any
such charges of contempt.
ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.
Employment of assistance. Tcgal
or otherwise" is specifically authoriZ-
cd. This provision is for the purpose
OF enabling the committee to procure
the services of able attorneys TO take
charge of the proving, so rar as the
directing of questions Is concerned. 1t
is the Intention Of President Taft to
have the committee name some COM
pctent attorney to conduct tie case,
and It is possible that both of the
principals to the controversy may be
represented by counsel.
lt was agreed bV all porSonS who
have given close attention to the Bal
llngcr- Pinchot Squabblc that the in
Vestigation should be open to the
public and this Is ordered by the re-
solution. One of the big rooms In
the new senate office building will be
used for this purpose.
BALLINGER'S DEMANDS.
In presenting the resolution Repre-
sentative Humphrey declared the time
had come when the country demanded
Investigation of the whole matter UNI
derlying the so-called Pinchot-B Ballin-
ger controversy.
''Sccy. Ballingcr has demanded an in
Vestigation and has insisted that II
snail be thorough and wide enough TO
include everything connected with him
and his department" said Mr. hum
phrey, who added:
THE country demands this investiGa-
ton. Let us have light AS L have
known Secy. Ballingcr FOR many years.
so have known Mr.. PiDchot for sew
eral years. I have been u friend OF
both and am today.
IT believe IN their public lives both
have tried honestly to serve the public.
II the facts demonstrated either or
both have been guilty OF any act de-
serving 1t let them be promptly re-
moved from the public service. If there
Is nothing in these charges then let us
have an investigation that Will make
the truth so plain that 1t forever Will
close the lips OF SANDER
PERSONNEL OF COMMITTEE.
Speculation is rife as to the person
mel of the committee to be named tc
make the investigation. Many name.
have been considered but no decision
has been reached. The indications arc
that the following will be selected: Sen
ators-Nelson, Minnesota; Root. New
York; Flint. California;; Sutherland
Utah; Republicans. and Paynter, Ken
lucky, and either Clarke, Argkansis, o.
Hughes. Colorado, Democrats
Members OF the house-DalZell, Penn
syIvania: Mccall. Massachusetts,;
Stephens, Minnesota; Martin, Sout'
Dakota, Republicans. and Howard
Georgia: Moon. Tennessee, or Shirley
Kentucky. Democrats
There is some doubt as to the o.?
pointmcnt OF Senator Flint but It Il
reasonably certain the other Rcpubll