The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-06
FAMOUS WRANGLE
BEFORE CONGRESS
Light Will Be Let Into
Ballinger- Pinchot
Inbroglio.
NOW HITEW ASKING
WILL BE ALLOWED
Demand Is Made That Hearing Be
Public and Complete No Mat
ter What Bones May Rattle.
Speculation Rife as to
Personnel Of Probing
Committee.

WASHINGTON. January 5.-Investi-
CATION OF tho Ballinger-Pinchot con-
troversy is ordered by Joint resolu-
ton to-day introduced in the Senate
by Mr.. Jones. and in the House by
iHr. Humphrey. both OF washington
AB heretofore announced, tho provision
is fer the broadcast kind of public in-
quiry. the resolution being OF tho
character requiring the signature OF
the President. which gives to it all
the force of general law.
a committee of twelve is to be ap-
pointed TO conduct the investigation.
SIX of whom shall be designated By
Vice President Sherman and six by
Speaker Cannon. unquestionably Sem
ator Nelson. chairman OF the Senate
Committee on Public Lands. Will head
the list OF Senators, and this doubtless
Will result in his selection al chair
man OF the joint committee. The scope
of the Investigation Is outlined as fol-
lows:
.yrie committee is hereby empowered
and directed to make thorough and
complete investigation of the admins
3tration and conduct OF the Interior De-
partmcnt. It's several bureaus, officers
and employees. and of the Bureau Of
Forestry in the Agricultural Depart i
fnent. Its officers and employees touch-
ing or relating to the. reclamation. con-
.aervation, management and disposal
OF the public lands OF the United
States, or any lands held in trust by
The United States for any purpose. In
Guiding all the natural resources OF
such lands. and said committee is au-
1tiiorized and empowered to make any
further investigation touching said de-
fpartmeDt, it's bureaus. officers or cm-
ployes, and or said Bureau of Forestry,
It's officers or employees. as It may deem
desfrable"
Wide Authority Given.
Ths authority TO sit during sessions
I. OF SiongrssH and In ryeccEses. X, o. re-
anire the attendance OF vii nessea and
the production OF papers usual to-
congressional inquiries. is granted by
: tho resolution. II ID provided further.
TINT any person refusing to obey tho
process of the committee or to an
swer any question propounded shall be
deemed guilty Of contempt. and juris-
diction IS conferred upon the Court
OF Appeals of the District of Columbia
10 try2and determine any such charges
of contempt.
Employment OF assistance, legal or
otherwise" is specifically authorized.
This provision Is for the purpose OF
enabling the committee to procure the
services OF able attorneys to take
ciiarge of the probing SO far as the
directing of questions Is concerned. 1t
is the intention of President Taft to
have the committee name some COM
gpetent attorney TO conduct the case,
and 1t Is possible that both OF the
principals TO the controversy may be
represented by counsel.
1t was agreed by all persons who
have given close attention to the
lsallinger-Pinchot squabbie that the
Investigation should be open TO the
public and this is ordered by. the
resolution. One of the big rooms In
the new Senate Office building will be
used for this purpose.
III presenting the resolution Mr..
Jones said:
'9The various departments and
/ bureaus of the government are or
ssanized to do its business in the in
terests of the people. Every official
is but the servant and agent of the
people to act for them under and
within the limits OF the law. The
efficiency of public service depends
much upon tho confidence of the peo-
pie In the honesty and integrity Of
their servants and agents.
i Sad Commentary.
'It Is a sad commentary upon the
state of public opinion that the mo-
ment a man accepts public Office he
becomes a scoundrel In the eyes of
many Of our people, and his previous
4 life of honesty and rectitude Is no
warrant Of official integrity. His acts
are misconstrued and his motives
questioned. Insinuation and inundoea
are freely made under the guise OF
the public welfare. but in reality to
foster some private interest. Popular
views are taken advantage of to dis
at, Inv ~.
eating all phases Of a subject, may
reach a decision at variance with some
private. interest.
Many do not stop to think how sel-
dom have government officials gone
astray compared with their oppor-s
tunities and temptations for wrong
doing, In the hundred and twenty-five
years Of our national life few Of the
men in high positions have been
8actuated by other than the highest and
most patriotic motives. This should
cause our people to hesitate to accept
charges OF base conduct against their
public servants without investigation
and proof.
Tho press and magazines of the
country for several months have been
filled with chnrges against the present
Secretary of the Interior and his con-
duct OF tho office he holds. These
charges range from petty insinuations.
and inuendoes to direct charges Of
! malfeasance and misconduct In Office.
which, II true, show that he has most
sunworthily discharged his trust. A
moments thought should cause an
honest and fair-minded man TO hesl-s
tate to accept such charges against q
Il man whose whole life heretofore has
been one OF tho highest rectitude and
against whom no dishonorable charge
has ever been made In either private
pr public life. ~ 4sg # x 35}s.
Bnilingers Record.
"Such a man Is the present secre-
: tary Of tho Interior He is over: fifty
years OF age, an honored graduate OF,
Il WILLIAMS College, and "a lawyer of, dis
ainction. Fe came to our State In 1889.
N and has lived there ever since, He
aHas ~ superior Judge for four years
n ma fha Sea tia