Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1910-12-16
.ACQU!I BALL!NGER
MEMBERS OF CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE REPORT FAVOR.
ING INTERIOR SECRETARY.
HIS EFFICIENCY SUSTAINED
CrItice Of Cabinet Official Held Over
Jealous In Findings of Nelson and
Colleagues = Coal Land Entries
Taken Up.

Washington, Dec. 8.-Exonerating
Secretary Of the Interior Ba.linger on
all the charges brought against him
and condemning his accusers as hav-
Ing been inspired by deep feeling of
animosity, built upon a supposed diff
ference in policy respecting conserva-
ton. a majority of the congressional
committee which investigated the So
called Ballinger-Pinchot case sub
mitted its report to congress.
After stating that the evidence pre-
sented related in the main to charges
OF various kinds against Mr.. Ballinger
and that these came chiefly from two
sources-L. R. CLAWS and Clifford
Pinchot-the majority announced the
following conclusion:
THE evidence has wholly failed to
make out a case. Neither any fact
proved nor all the facts put together
exhibit Mr.. Ballinger as being any
thing but competent and honorable
gentleman. honestly and faithfully
performing the duties of his high Of
fee with an eye single to the public
interest"
Signed by Nelson and Others.
This report is signed by Senators
Knute Nelson. chairman; Frank p.
Flint. George Sutherland and Elihu
Root. and Representatives Samuel w.
Mccall of Massachusetts,, vice-chair
man; Martin e. Olmsted of Pennsyl-
vania and Edwin DENLY of Michigan,
all Republicans.
A few months ago the Democratic
members, Senators D. U. Fletcher and
William e. Purcell, and Representa-
tives Ollie M. James OF Kentucky and
James M. Graham of Illinois, with
Representative Edmond H. Madison
OF Kansas. progressive Republican. is.
sued another report, which they
maintained to be the majority opinion.
condemning the conduct of Mr.. Bal.
linger as secretary of the interior.
This report was made public after a
meeting of the committee at Mime.
apolis last September, which was not
attended by several of the Republic.
ans who now have exonerated Mr..
Ballinger.
coal-Land Entries Taken Up.
The report contains the following
specific findings:
THAT the charges and insinuationa
against Secretary Ballinger in regard
to the Cunningham coal-land entries,
or other coal-land claims in Alaska,
are not justified, and his conduct in
respect thereto is not Justly censur.
able.
THAT he was fully justified in re-
voking the Indian cooperative agree
ment.
THAT the restoration of WATERPROOF
er sites by Secretary Ballinger were
made in good faith and not in enmity
to the government and that
no injury appears to have been done
to the government and the cause Of
conservation by either the restora'
tions or withdrawals.
THAT in view of the opinion Of the
attorney general he was justified in
abandoning the use Of the so-called
water users cooperative certificates
In connection with the reclamation Of
arid lands.
THAT the administration of the re.
clamation law presented features just.
ly subject to criticism. No unfair criti.
cism or improper conduct on Secre
tary Ballinger's part has been shown,
nor any action by him not within the
sound discretion of the head of the
interior department in the faithful
performance of his duty.
"That he is not an enemy of nor
hostile to a reasonable and judicious
policy of conservation, and that no
ground whatever has been shown
justifyins the opinion that he is not a
faithful and efficient public officer"