The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-09-15
ANTI. BALL|NGER
DEMOCRATS AND iNSURGENT
MADISON GIVE OUT THEIR
FINDINGS.
SUSTAIN CLAWS CHARGES
Committee Splits Up in a Row and Re.
pubIicans Will Meet In Chicago
Next Week, Without
Quorum.

Minneapolis, MINI. An absolute
split has taken place in the member
ship Of the Ballinger-Pinchot investiga-
tion committee. After a day of jock
eying for position, Senator Knute Mel
son, as chairman, adjourned the meet
ing to Chicago, on next Tuesday, and
the Democratic members refused to
concur, deciding to take no part in
the further deliberations of the com
mittee.
The Democratic members made pub
lie their findings in the Ballinger-Pin-
chot case, supplemented by a separate
report by E. II. Madison, the insuTgent
Republican congressman from Kansas,
which is not materially different.
The Democratic Report.
The report OF the Democratic mem
bers Of the joint committee is a volum-
nous document OF $4,000 words, Gov
ering SO typewriter pages.
In a historical review of the pro-
ceedings the report cites the appoint
ment OF the committee, defines its
powers and duties, names the princi-
pals and their attorneys and states
that the labors of the committee are
confined to investigating and passing
upon, first, the administration, action
and conduct of the interior depart
ment and its several bureaus, officers
and employees, and, second, the bureau
of forestry and its officers and employ
es relating to reclamation. conserva-
ton management and disposal of pub
lie lands or any lands held in trust
by the United States.
Based upon these two issues the re-
port in part follows:
Issue Stated.
Stated affirmatiyely the issue OF
the first branch is that Secretary Bal
linger is unfit to hold the office of
secretary of the interior; that he has
been unfaithful to his trust as custo-
dian of public lands and specifically
that he sanctioned the future convey
ance of land not yet gone to patent,
where the making of necessary proofs
would involve perjury; that he clear
listed the Cunningham claims and or
dered them to patent with evidence of
their fraudulent character before him
or accessible; that as commissioner of
the land Office he prepared the Gale
bill validating Alaska coal claims;
that later acted as attorney for claims
before the land Office over which he
haH npaoi1nH. thof uyhap uo1fJffu %
the act vas questioned he accepted
the n opinion of a subordinate
against the interest of the govern
ment and the people; that he deceived
the president as to what took place un-
der his instructions in his department.;
that he construed the Cunningham
group of coal entries without regard to
the law covering such cases and that
he condoned improper conduct in SUI
bordinates in certain cases."
CLAWS Is Praised.
CLAWS, summarily dismissed from
the service, is spoken of as "a plain,
matter of fact young American, with
very little imagination, seeing only the
facts which confront him, with splen-
did recollection, aggressive integrity
and courage, such as few men possess,
a courage which stood out against the
entire interior department in the fight
for the public interest and the per-
Torrance of his official duty"
Pinchot's high character and pur.
pose are set out in the report by citing
from a letter written by the president
both to Mr.. Pinchot himself and to
Mr.. Ballinger. Then this:
"We agree with the president that
Mr.. Pinchot's desire was 10 faithfully
serve the American people to the best
OF his ability. Not an act that he COM
mitted is fraught with the slightest
suspicion. He was a faithful public
official, just officer, vigilant and cour-
ageous defender of the public propert,
Ile dared to be insubordinate, if he
was, in the interest of his country. 1t
would be difficult to give too much
credit to Mr.. Pinchot for the work he
has done in the building up and de-
veloping of our national forest sys-
tenn"
The Alaska question is then consid-
cred. first, as the most important.
The act of congress regarding Alaska
coal lands is set forth with all the
steps necessary from location to pat
ent. In the report certain words and
phrases in the law are emphasized.
such as lin good faith" persons To-
eating coal land who entered into
any agreement or association with
each other"
AS to Ballinger's professional con-
nection with the Cunningham claim
Nil Nacate. Eearinn EIona -