Omaha daily bee., 1910-09-08
He offers Resolution Saying Secretary
Should Be Removed.
MADISON HAS "A SUBSTITUTE
Two Republicans Leave While Vote is
Being Taken,
PosTPoNEMENr ASKED BY NELSON
Chairman Requested TINT No Action
he Taken UntiI Messrs. Denny and
OImstcrs Arrive and Makes
Point of No Quorum.

! MINNEAPOLIS. Mlnn., Sept. 7.-At al
executive meeting OF the Ballinger- Pinchot
invesu eating committee today, Senator
duncan w. Fletcher Of Florida, a democrat.
introduced resolution holding that the
secretary Of the interior wss an unfaithful
lpubhc officer and should be removed.
! Representative Madison. the republican
linsurgcut from Kansas. offered substitute
resolution, holding that the charges which
have been made by Clifford Plnchot and
Louis CLAWS, O fermcr chief OF field divi-
sion cf the general land office, were sus-
itained.
Representative James democrat of Ken
lucky offered an amendment TO Represen-
tative Madisons substitute resolution pro-
viding for the removal Of Mr.. Balllnger
from office and Mr.. Madison accepted It,
The vote came UP on the substitute of
Mr.. Madison amended by the motion Of
lNIr. James and the roll was called. Those
lVoung were Senator Fletcher Of Florida.
Democrat; w. E. Purcell of North Dakota,
democrat; Representative James NJ. Gra-
ham of Illinois, democrat; Representative
Madison, republican and Representative
james
When this vote was being taken. Senator
George Sutherland of Utah, republican, and
Representative Samuel w Mccall OF Mas
sachusetts, republican, le't the committee
room. insisting that the full committee
should be present,
The democratic members replied that they
had been for months considering the evil
dence that a quorum was present and had
a right to transact business. Senator Nell
son. the chairman OF the committee. took
the vote, voting present himself and then
made the ruling that no quorum was
present
Mr.. James made the point OF order that
no member had raised the point Of no
Quorum.
The committee then took a recess until
Friday at 10 o'clock. at which time reports
lin keeping with the resolution of Senator
lFIetcher and the amendment thereto Of
lrered by Representative Madison viii be
\ submitted.
Fight Members Present.
When the committee met the following
members were present:
Senator Nelson, republican. chairman;
Senator Sutherland, republican; Represent
ative Mccall republican, and the following
democrats: Senators Fletcher and Purcell
and Representatives ollie M. James of
Kentucky James NJ Graham Of Illinois
Representative Madison Of Kansas repub-
hcan, was also present.
/ Chairman Nelson in openeing the session
stated he had received telegraphic advices
that Representative DENLY of Michigan, re-
publican, who had been detained in Miehi-
gan on account of primary election there,
would reach Minneapolis tomorrow morn
ing, also that Representative Olmstead of
Pennsylvania, republican, would be here
Friday 1t was suggested in view of the
fact that these two members were on their
way 1t was only fair to them that recess
.alt a.
order to Kermit them to participate in the
deliberations of the committee
Mr.. FIetcher's Resolution.
Senator Fletcher, however. offered the
following resolutions
Resolved. That from the weight of the
evidence submitted to the committee we
find that:
First That Mr.. Richard A. Ballnger as
secretary OF the interior has been unfaith-
full and inefficient In the discharge Of his
official duties
Second. That he is unfit for the very
responsible position he holds.
Third. That the vast amount Of public
property under his control and the large
public interests are not safe In his hands
Resolved further. That the public good
demands his prompt removal from said
office.
/
BE it further resolved, That a report to
congress be prepared setting forth the
grounds and reasons as shown by the evil
dence for this finding and Recommendation
, including other matters referred to this
committee and that the same be submitted
to this committee on Friday next at 10
o'clock a m"
Madison offers Substitute.
Mr. Madison offered the following sub
stitute:
: Resolved, That the findings OF the COM
mittee be as follows and the 'eport based
thereon be prepared and reported to con-
gress:
First, That the charges made by L. r.
: CLAWS against Secretary Balllnger should
be sustained; that in the matter Of the
disposition OF the Cunningham coal lands
Mr. Ballinger was not a faithful trustee of
the interests OF the people and did not per-
. form his duty in such a manner as to
properly protect such interests.
Second, That the charges made by Mr.
Pinchot should be sustained; that Mr. Bal
lnger's course in the administration of the
, Department Of the Interior has been
; characterized by a lack OF fidelity to the
public interests that this has been shown
in his treatment OF the Cunningham coal
claims, the restoration OF the water power
: sites to entry without intention TO re-with-
draw, and in his administration of the
reclamation service. the latter resulting
in unnecessary humiliation 10 the director
and tending towards the disntegration cf
the service. He has not shown himself to
be that character OF friend to the policy
Of conservation OF our national resources
that the man should be who occupies the
= important post Of the Secretary Of the In
, terror in our government and that he
should no longer he retained IN that Of
flee"
a This motion and substitute was laid aside
and the following resolution offered by
Representative Madison:
Resolved That It is the sense OF those