The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-01-11
P|NCHOT FIRED
Taft DiSmiSSeS him fOr
WritingLetter tOSenatOr.
CANNON REVERSED IN HOUSE
Appointment of a Committee to In
vestigate Secretary Ballinger
Taken From Speaker and
Made Elective.
CANNON REVERSED IN HOUSE

Washington, Jan. S.-After a cabi-
net meeting lasting nearly four hours
President Taft caused the announce
ment to be made that he had directed
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson 10
dismiss Clifford Pinchot from the Of
fee Of forester Of the agricultural de-
partment. Later on 1t was made
! known that Secretary Wilson. In ac-
cordance with q decision Of the presl-
dent and the cabinet, had dismissed
Overton w. Price. associate forester
and Mr.. Pinchot's chief assistant. and
Alexander c. Shaw. assistant law Of
Acer of the forest service. rhe action
of the president on the eve of the con
gressional investigation into the ale
cations and insinuatlons against Sec
retary of the Interior Ballinger's con
duct OF the policy Of conserving natu-
raj resources is certain to cause a
sensation.
Cannon Reversed.
Coupled with the dismissal OF For
ester Pinchot was the significant ac-
ton of the house of representatives in
connection with the joint resolution
for an investigation of the charges az
fecting Secretary Balllnger. Through
a combination Of Democrats and Re
publican insurgents. aided by personal
friends OF Mr. Pinchot. the house re-
jected that provision Of the resolution
which directed Speaker Cannon to
choose the representatives who should
SIT on the congress committee OF in
quiry. The Cannon organization. which
stood behind the resolution for an IN
vestigation. was overturned by bare
majority of three Under the resolu-
ton as amended the house members
of the Joint committee Of inquiry will
be elected by the house Itself.
The decision to dismiss Messrs. Pin
chot. Price and Shaw was reached al
a regular session Of the cabinet a
later session was devoted to the prep
aration and revision OF letter written
by President Taft to Mr.. PinchOt, Civ
ing the reasons why Mr.. Pinchot was
to be removed from the government
service. Briefly these reasons were
that. contrary TO instructions from Sec
retary Wilson. Forester Pinchot had
written a letter to Senator Dolliyer to
be read publicly in the senate de
Tending Price and Shaw after they had
admitted that they had inspired the
magazine and press campaign against
Secretary Ballinger: that Mr.. Plnchot
had cast reflections in the DOlliyer let
ter on the action of President Taft in
directing the dismissal of Louis X.
CLAWS. Of the public land office. the
man who charged that Mr. Ballinger
and other officers Of the interior de-
paitment had been guilty of improper
Official conduct in connection with
Alaska coal land claims. and that Mr..
Pinchot had intimated in the Dolliver
letter that without the magazine and
press exploitation Of Price and Shaw
the administration would have allowed
fraudulent coal land claims in Alaska
TO be patented. According to President
Taft. Mr.. Pinchot wrote to Senator
Dolliver to Offset in the public mind
the presidents decision in the CLAWS
case. Mr. Pinchot in this letter paid
a high tribute to Mr.. CLAWS AMI indi-
Gated that President Taft had erred In
dismissing him. and, by inference. that
Mr.. Claws charges against Secretary
BalIinger we're based upon proper
grounds.
In official circles It is said there was
no difference of opinion at the cabinet
meeting in regard to what course
should be taken with respect to
Messrs. Pinchot, Price and Shaw.