Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-09
This Will Require Another Test Vote
in the House.
PNCHoT HEAD OF MOVEMENT
Belief at Washington Deposed For
ester Will Lead Opposition.
FURTHER sHAKEUP MAY COME
Officials Fearful of Result of Prob
able Open Fight to BE started
on AdministratiOn---Pi
chOt win Not Talk.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5--Anothor fight
between the insurgents and the organiza-
ton in the house has been precipitated by
the action Of the senate committee on
public lands today In reporting a resolution
authorizing the appointment by the vice
president and speaker of a jolnt committee
to investigate the Bahinger- con-
troVersy.
The senate committee not only reported
a substitute for the Jones' Humphrey reso-
luton, but anticipated reference to It of
the resolution adopted in the house yes-
terday by agreeing that It's action shall
stand as a substitute for the house measure.
This course will necessitate action by tho
house the senate measure and ssye &c
the house regulars opportunity TO turn yes
terday's defeat into victory
1t is reported that the senate organization
is sending out a call for absentees 80 as to
be ready to put the substitute resolution
through when it is reported ON Monday.
Another report, apparently well founded
Is that the house organization is likewise
getting it's membership in readiness for
fray and that a desperate attempt will be
made to have the senates resolution
adopted In lieu OF the measure agreed upon
by the house. ~
In preparing the substitute for the senate
resolution the committee on public lands
used a part Of the original Jones Humphrey
draft and a part of the house resolution.
So far as the scope of the inquiry is
concerned little change is made. The power
to summon witnesses is placed in the hands
of the chairman of the joint committee or
the chairman OF any subcommittee instead
of in the hands OF the vice president or the
speaker. The provision as to the punish
ment of persons deemd guilty Of contempt
was adopted. The appropriation to carry
ON the investigation ~as fixed at $4,000.
PInchot Center of Discussion.
| The dismissal OF FORESTER tlncnVt by the
| pre- sldeht ana the victory OF the lnsurgsnt
ltepupncAns and democrats in the house
| yesterday on The matter OF the selection or
che investigating cominiJree was the sole
topic OF conversation at the capitol To-Day
PRIOR TO the convening of the house.
There was much reluctance to discuss
| for the public prints the official "cleaning
out. OF the forestry bureau, but talk was
! Freera with reference to the fight yesterday
on the floor OF the house.
From the supporters OF Speaker Cannon
1t was denied that the insurgent victory
was in any way triumph over the
speaker. II was pointed out that the whole
controversy was an administration fight,
that the resolution itself was the one dc
sired by the president and that the speaker
was in no way concerned In fact he was
personally glad to be relieved OF the re-
sponsiblity OF naming the investigating
committee which could only bring HIM
criticism from one sida or the other, It
was said.
Norris Sees HIT at Cannon.
Representative Norris OF Nebraska, the
linsurgent author of yesterdays amendment
taking away from the speaker the right
to name the investigation committee, had
no doubt that the vote of the house showed
a lack of confidence in Mr.. Cannon
That vote illustrates one thing to the
country unmistakabIy and that is that the
members Of the house do not trust Speaker
Cannon" he said. PERSONALLY / had no
interest in the controversy in which Secre-
tary Ballinger and Mr. Pinchot are in
: volved and no inclination one way or the
other. / did not believe the speaker should
name this committee and thus prejudice In
advance the investigation in favor of one
of the principals In the affair and a ma
} 1ority OF the house took the same view.
! II was a vote OF lack Of confidence IN
, Speaker Cannon and cannot be construed
any other way.
The insurgents were Inclined 10 the view
; that time was not ripe for the expression
4
Taft's action In dlsmssing Forester Pinchot
q and his immediate assistants in the forest
, service While nearly all of the members
o. the senate talked confldentally to news
. paper men concerning the situation, they
, forbade the publication Of their statements
in the form OF interviews.
. PInchOt COurted Dismissal.
Y From the private expressions OF opinion,
however the idea seemed to prevail that
Mr.. Pinchot must have believed that II he
: continued in the government service he
would have been trammeled TO a certain
extent In the giving Of testimony before the
congressional investigating committee.
Not all OF Mr.. Pinchots friends In con-
gress, and It Is admitted on all sides that
he has many sympathizers, thought ho
was justified in precipitatng his official
decapitation.
One OF the insurgents in the senate who
I has been a particular warm friends Of Mr..
c Plnchot said that 1t made little difference
whether the house or Speaker Cannon ap-
s pointed the house members Of the inves-
tigatng committee that the personnel Of
i the entire committee was of little con-
: sequence 10 either OF the principals to the
3 Ballnger- Pinchot controversy.
c 1t was argued that the very fact that the
h inquiry was 70 be public would prevent a
: whitewash, for It was we'll known that the
, public was so intensely interested IN the
proceeding that It would Judge for itself
d and the decision, II IL was TO be final,
e would be rendered by the people.
e George p. McCabe. the llcitor of the
Agriculture department called on Mr. Pin
s ohot IN his office early In the day and
a presented to him a letter from Secretary
4 Wilson which designated Mr MoCabe as
4 acting forester.
= Albert Il. Potter, an assistant forester
e In the service who has been previously de-
d sgnated by the secretary to relieve Mr..
b Pinchot as forester being in the west and
e not able to return for several days. Il be-
e came necessary this morning 10 nams som
cue else In his place. MT Plnchot gave