Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1910-12-07
.BALLINGER IS
EXONERATED
Competent, Faithful, Honor
able and Honest Servant
Declares Committee
HIS ENEMIES FAIL N CASE
Charges and Insinuations as to
Cunningham Claims in AL
aska Not Justified.

Washington, Dec. 7.-Vindcating
Secretary of the Interior Balinger up
on all charges brought against him,
and condemning his accusers as hay
ing been inspired by the deep feeling
of animosity built upon the supposed
difference in the policy respecting
conservation, the majority of the con-
gressional committee which investi-
gated the Ballinger-Pinchot case to-
day, submitted its report TO Congress.
After stating that the evidence pre-
sented related in the main to charges
of various kinds against Mr.. BalIinger
and that these came chiefly from two
sources, l.. R. CLAWS and Clifford Pin
chot, the majority announced the fol-
lowing conclusion:
The evidence has wholly failed to
make out a case Neither was any
fact proved nor do all facts put to-
gether exhibit Mr.. Ballinger as being
anything but a competent and honor
able gentleman, honestly and faithful
ly performing the duties of his high
Office with an eye single to public in
terest."
The report Is signed by Senators
Knute Nelson, chairman; Flint, Suth-
erland and Root, and Representatives
Mccall, Olmstead and DENLY all Re-
publicans. In speaking of the Ami
mostly created by differences respec-
ting the conservation of natural re-
sources, the majority of the commit
tee said that the aecusers evidently
had this policy deeply at heart and
"evidently were disposed to take the
most unfavorable view of the charae-
! ter and motives Of any one whom they
supposed to be opposed to their views
They thus came to regard Mr. Ballin-
ger with suspicion and to regard his
most natural and innocent acts occur
ring in the ordinary course of depart.
ment administration as furnishing
evidence of some sinister purpose" ;"
The report makes the following specif
ic findings among others: THAT the
charges and insinuations against Sec,
retary Ballinger in regard ri the Gun
ningham coal land entries or other
coal land claims in Alaska are not
justified and his conduct in respect
thereto not justly censurable."
THAT he was fully justified in re-
voking Indian cooperative agreement.
THAT restorations of water power
I sites by Secretary Ballinger were
made in good faith and not in enmity
to the government, and that no in.
jury appears to have been done to the
government and the cause of conserv.
alton by either restorations or with.
drawals. THAT in view Of the opin.
ion 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 the arid lands"
THAT the administration of the re.
clamation law presented features
justly subject to criticism. No unfair
criticism or improper conduct on Sec
retary 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 the enemy of, mol
hostile to reasonable and Judicial
policy of conservation, and that NJ
ground whatever has been shown jus
tifying the opinion that he is not 8
faithful and efficient public officer"
Regarding the Cunningham cases
the report in view of the imputations
heaped upon the general land Office
and the secretary of the interior, rec
ommends that the cases be transferr
ed to an appropriate court for hearing
and decision.
Two Minority Reports.
Washington, Dec. THE majority
report was presented to both houses
of Congress today, at the same time
reports of the Democratic members
of the committee and of Representa-.
tive Madison, an insurgent, which
condemned Ballinger, were also sub
mitted.
GALL FOR IRELAND"
| pAPTv MINIS AT nnPK