The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-06
CONTROVERSY ID
 BE INVESTIGATED Congress Will Probe BaIIinger-
 Pinchot Affair COMMITTEE TO BE NAMED Thorough and Complete Inquiry Will Be Made of Administration and Conduct Of the Interior De-
 partment.
COMMITTEE TO BE NAMED

ln6 EIeSluenI WHICH gives 10 II dll the force of general law
 A committee of F is to be appoint ed to conduct the investigation, six of whom shall be designated by Vice Pres ident Sherman and six by Speaker Can non
 Unquestionably Senator Nelson, chair man of the Senate committee on public lands, will head the list of senators. and this doubtless will result in his selec- tion as chairman of the joint commit tee. The scope of the investigation is outlined as follows:
 ''The committee is hereby empowered and directed to make thorough and complete investigation of the admins traitor snd conduct of the interior de- partmeni it's several bureaus, officers and employees, and of the bureau of for estry in the agricultural department, its officers and employees, touching or re- lating to the reclamation, conservation, management and disposal of the pub lie lands of the United States, or any lands held in trust by the United States for any purpose, including all the nat
 
 committee is authorized and empowered to make any further investigation touch ing said department, its bureaus, officers or employees, and of said bureau of for estry, it's officers or employees as 1t may deem desirable.''
 Authority Is Granted.
 The authority to sit during sessions of Congress and in recesses, to require the attendance of witnesses and the produc- tion of papers. usual to congressional in- qniries, is granted by the resolution. It is provided further that any person re- fusing to obey the process of the com mittee or to answer any question pro- pounded shall be deemed guilty of con- tempt and Jurisdiction is conferred upon the court of appeals of the District of Columbia to try and determine any such charges of contempt
 Employment of assistance, legal or otherwise is specifically authorized. This provision is for the purpose of en- abling the committee to procure the ser vices of able attorneys to take charge of the probing, so far as the direct ing of questions is concerned. It ia the intention of President Taft to have the committee name some competent attorney to conduct the case and it is possible that both of the principals to the con- troversy may be represented by coun- sel.
 It was agreed by all persons who have given close attention to the Ballinger- Pinchot squabble 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 build ing will be used for this purpose.
 Speech of Senator Jones.
 In presenting the resolution in the Sen ate Mir. Jones said
 The various departments and bureaus or the government are organized to do it's business in the interests of the peo- pie. 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 the confidence of the people in the honesty and integrity of their servants and agents.
 Tt is sad commentary upon the state of public opinion that tho moment a ii<ih dCCcplS u puDllC OHlCe ne becomes a scoundrel in the eyes of many of our people and his previous life of in- tegrity and rectitude is no warrant of official integrity. His acts are miscon strued and his motives questioned. h. situation and innuendoes are freely made under the guise of the public welfare, but in reality to foster some private inter- est. Popular views are taken advantage of to discredit an official who. after fnVnGfiOaffnO nf may reach a decision at variance with some private interest.
 Few Officials Go Astray.
 Many do not stop to think how sell dom have government officials gone astray compared with their opportunities and temptations for wrong doing. In the 125 years of our national life few of the men in high positions. have been actuated by other than the highest and most pa trfotic motives. This should cause our people to hesitate to accept charges of base conduct against their public serv- ants without investigation and proof
 The press and magazines of the coun- try for several months have been filled with charges against the present Secre- tary of the Interior and his conduct of the office he holds. These charges range from petty insinuations and innuendoes to direct charges of malfeasance and misconduct in office which,. if true. show that he has most unworthily discharged his trust. moments thought should cause an honest and fairminded man to hesitate to accept such charges against man whose whole life heretofore has been one of the highest rectitude and against whom no dishonorable charge has ever been made in either private or public life.
 BaIlinqer's Record.
 Such man is the present Secretary , of the Interior. He is over 50 years of age. an honored graduate of Williams college and lawyer of distinction He came to our state in 1889 and has lived there ever since. He was a superior jildge for four years and mayor of the city of Seattle, Wash, and his admin istration of that office has been model ] for his successors He accepted the of- flee of commissioner of the general land office at the urgent solicitation of Secre- tary Garfield, who knew personally his sterling character and exceptional ability TTe did not seek that office. He accept ed his present position only upon the earnest solicitation of the President He did not seek it. It meant nothing to him but hard work and poor pay. He gave up large and lucrative law prac- tice simply at the call of patriotic duty. Is it possible that he at once became the scoundrel and arch enemy of the people that he has been depicted in the public press? l cannot believe 1t. If he has used his high office to advance spe- cial interests; if he has sacrificed the people for private or personal gain, let