The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-08

the matter in question, while the reso-
luton reported WAS of sufficient scope to
provide for the fullest kind of an in
quiry.
Speaking in favor Of the resolution Rep
resentative Norris of Nebraska said that
the proposed investigation was such an
important matter that ne believed the six
members of the committee to represent
the House should be elected by that oody
instead Of being appointed by the speak
er, and he offered an amendment to that
effect.
Representative Hitchcock of Nebraska
questioned the form of investigation that
Congress shall make and declared the
secretary had s.resorted TO the tactics OF
the cuttlefish In attack"
Mr.. Hitchcock explained that when at
tackled the cuttlefsh opens an ink bag
and darkens the surrounding water. re-
treating in the obscurity It occasions.
rs not the gentleman playing the cut
tleflsh little to protect the forest ser
vice?" inquired Mr.. Humphrey of Wash
ington.
IF the gentleman knows of anything
against the forest service let him offer
a resolution providing for an investiga-
ton of 1t, and I will support It," retorted
Mr.. Hitchcock testify amid democratic
applause.
1iGNC yes FiCfSfTVds
II don't know either of these gentlemen,
but grave charges have been preferred
against Mr.. Ballinger. and l favor an in
vestgation of them. The charges are
definite enough and ugly enough to war
rant it."
Representative Martin, democrat, of
Colorado, criticised the forest service and
the administration of Chief Forester Pin
chot. He quoted Mr.. Pinchot as saying
that he had administered the forest SER
vice entirely within the limits of the
law, but II this was the case, said the
speaker, there were some laws in the
country that were In sad need OF Amer
icanization.
The speaker declared the forest service
had included in the reserve in Colorado
thousands of acres of lands which were
properly agricultural and mineral lands.
He believed this situation existed gener-
ally throughout the west.
Mr.. Martin favored the Humphrey res
olution without any amendment whatever.
Representative Martin was here over
whelmed by series of pointed questions
from both the republican and democratic
sides.
Representative Sims Of Tennessee want
ed to know why Mr.. Taft retained In
office such a man as you describe Mr..
Pinchot to be-"
Representative Martin replied.
Dismissal In Prospect.
There were indications that that Of
fetal would not be retained in Office in
definitely, at least"
Can you name a single violation of
law by Pinohot?" demanded Mr.. Cooper.
You say you are wholly familiar with
this question from first hand experience
and not from information CLEANED through
Pullman car windows-then tell US about
what l ask
Mr.. Martin replied that his Office was
full of information about cases which
looked like offenses.
Representative Cooper of Wisconsin
proposed another amendment making all
hearings either by the committee or its
subcommittee open to the public. which
was agreed to by the rules committee.
Representative Underwood of Alabama
opposed extending the inquiry to the
forestry service. He said the only Sc
rious charge against Pinchot was ''perni-
cious activity in protecting the public
lands of the United States" which was
made patent He was asked If tho In
vestigation was to be extended and
why the treasury department was not In
cluded as to embrace the sugar frauds.
Mr.. Underwood said the men selected
for the proposed committee should in
clude members Of the minority instead
merely the selection of the majority.
Amendment Is Lost,
Mr.. Fitzgerald offered another amend
ment which wss afterwards lost by an
overwhelming majority providing for an
investigation of the coal land cases In
the interior department by a special
House committee of seven members. In
concluding tho debate for the minority
Mr. Fitzgerald said apparently the en-
tire investigation proposed had been ar
ranged In advance and the House was
merely going through the farce of rau-
flying what had been agreed upon by the
White House.
Representative Scott of Kansas oon-
cluded the debate in favor of the adop-
ton of the resolution. He declared he
spoke as a personal friend of Mr.. Pinchot
when he stated that the scope of the
resolution was no broader than mr.
Pinchot desired, nor the country de-
manded.
The Norris amendment providing for
the selection of this six House members
of the committee was adopted by an aye
and nay vote of 40 to 49, 1--WE voting
present Mr.. Fftzgerald's amendment
eliminating the forest service from the
inquiry was lost fy the overwhelming
vote of 65 to 22s.
The resolution was then adopted by
a viva voce vote without q dissenting
voice. The House at $50 o'clock ad-