The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-01-07
LAND FRAUD PROBE
Congress Takes Up BaIIin-
ger.PinChOt Scandal.
JOINT RESOLUTION OFFERED.
Committee of Twelve to Conduct
Investigation and to Compel
Attendance of Witnesses
With Documents.

Washington, Jan. 6.-Investigation
Of the Ballinger-Pinchot controversy is
ordered by joint resolution introduce
ed in the senate by Mr.. Jones and in
the house by Mr.. Humphrey, both of
Washington.
The resolution calls for the broadest
kind of inquiry and is OF such charac-
ter as to require the signature of the
president, which will give it all the
force of law.
A committee of twelve is to conduct
the investigation, six designated by
Vice President Sherman and six by
Speaker Cannon.
Unquestionably Senator Nelson, chair
man of the senate committee on pub
lie lands, will head the list of sena-
tors, and this will result in his selec-
tion as chairman of the joint commit
tee.
The scope of the inquiry is thus out
lined:
The committee is hereby empowered and
directed to make a thorough and COM
plete investigation of the administration
and conduct of the interior department,
its several bureaus, officers and en-
ployees and Of the bureau of forestry In
TIE agricultural department, its officers
and employees touching or relating TO
the reclamation, conservation, manage
ment and disposal of the public lands OF
the United States or any lands held in
trust by the United States for any pur-
pose, including all the natural resources
of such lands.
And said committee is authorized and
empowered to make any further investi-
cation touching said department, its bu-
reaus, officers or employees and of said
bureau of forestry, its officers or em-
ployees as it may deem desirable.
Authority is given the committee to
sit during sessions of congress and in
recesses and to compel the attendance
of witnesses and the production of
documents.
Any person refusing to obey the
process of the committee or to answer
any question propOunded shall be
deemed guilty of contempt, and juris-
diction is conferred upon the court Of
appeals of the District of Columbia
to try such charges of contempt.
Employment of assistance, legal or
otherwise" is authorized. This pro-
vision is to enable the committee to
procure the services of able attorneys.
1t is the wish of President Taft TO
have the committee name some com
petent attorney to conduct the case,
and it is possible that both principals
may be represented by counsel. The
investigation will be public.
In presenting the resolution in the
senate Mr. JOnpS said.
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 insin-
uations and innuendoes to direct charges
of malfeasance and misconduct in office
which If true show that he has most un-
worthily discharged his trust.
II he has used his high office to ad-
vance special interests, If he has sacri-
feed the people for private or personal
gain. let 1t be shown.
II, on the other hand, the people have
been deceived and he has been unJustly ac-
cused that should be shown not only
that Justice may be done him, but that
public confidence in the honesty and in
tegrity of its public servants may be re-
stored and strengthened and the animus
OF the attacks disclosed.
Senator Jones explained at length
Secretary Ballinger's position with ref
erence to the conservation of the ma
tion's natural resources and conclud-
ed by asserting that the secretary
wanted no whitewash, but rigid, thor
ough. complete investigation.