Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-08
Insurgents and Democrats Join Forces
in Supporting Change.
DEBATE LASTS SEVERAL HOURS
Attempt to Strike Out Inquiry Into
Forestry Bureau Fails.
HEARINGS TO BE PUBLIC
This Amendment Agreed to without
Observation-Disclosures Made by
Norris, Hitchcock, Martin
and Scott.

WASHINGTON. Jan. THE house late
today adopted the joint resolution provid-
ing for an investigation by congress of the
Interior department and the forest bureau
Supported by the democrats, the house in
surgents succeeded in having the Ballinger-
Pinchot resolution of inquiry so amended
as to require that the appointment of the
investigating committee shall be made by
the house. and not by the speaker. The
vote was 149 to las. The amendment was
proposed by Mr.. Norris OF Nebraska
Representative Fitzgerald of New York
offered in the house today an amendment
to the joint resolution providing for an IN
vestigation of the Interior department and
the forest service, eliminating the forest
service from the inquiry.
1t became evident that the joint resolu-
tion authorizing the investigation of the
Interior department and the forestry bu-
reau would encounter a stubborn resist
ance from the democratic side when Chair
man Dalzell reported a privileged resolu-
ton to the house providing for immediate
! consideration of the resolution.
Representative Fitzgerald of New York
was prepared to lead the fight against the
| joint resolution, for which Mr.. Dalzell APP
peared champion.
III tApldlHlhB why Nllc ihASS SOhiiiAibtSS
reported joint resolution, Mr.! Dalzell
said that after adoption by both houses Of
congress and its approval by the prasl-
dent 1t would become law and would clothe
the special investigating committee OF
twelve with ample authority to summon
witnesses and to require them to testify.
| Mr.. Fitzgerald's opposition was based on
the fact that the forestry bureau was in
cluded in the inquiry, which he considered
, unnecessary, in view of the fact that there
were no charges against the office
| An agreement to limit the debate to
three hours with the privilege of offering
amendments, was reached and the discus
sion Immediately opened and Mr.. Fftzger-
aid introduced his amendment
Mr. Fitzgerald opened the debate, de-
claring he was heartily in favor of this
investigation, he expressed the opinion
that It should be narrowed so as to elimin-
ate from the inquiry Mr.. Clifford Plnehot
whose only offense," he asserted "has
been that he has been too active against
land thieves and land grabbers, and SO
as to deal only with the grave charges
which have been made against the offlcia
integrity and personal honor of a member
Of the presidents cabinet. " (Mr. Bal
linger)
VI MI PlIIBeTdlO SdlO ne InOuBHl IL DenSdlH
the dignity OF congress to aske the presi.
dent to investigate a member of his cabi
net and therefore. he was opposed to 9
joint resolution which would require the
executives signature.
Referring to Secretary Ballinger's letter
to Senator Jones asking that the fores
service be included in the proposed investi
cation, Mr.. Fitzgerald objected to Mr.. Bal
linger's attempting to dictate the charac
ter of the inquiry to be made,
| Mr.. Fitzgerald offered two amendments
to the pending resolution aimed to elimin
ate the forest bureau from the proposed
investigation.
Replying to Mr.. Fitzgerald Mr.. Dalzel
said house committee such as was pro.
posed in Representative Hitchcock's reso
lution providing for an investigation OF
the land office, would give no power tC
procure full information bearing on the
matter in question, while the resolution
reported was of sufficient scope to pro
vide the fullest kind of an inquiry.
Speaking in favor of the resolution, Rep
resentative Norris of Nebraska, said tina
the proposed investigation was such an i'm
portant matter that he believed the si1
members Of the committee to represent tn,
house should be elected by that body in
I stead OF being appointed by the speaker
and he offered an amendment to tha
effect.
Representative Hitchcock of Nebraska
questioned the right of Mr.. Ballinger tC
dictate the form Of the investigation tha
congress shall make, and declared the sec
retary had ''resorted to the tactics of tn,
cuttlefish in attack" Mr.. Hitchcock ex
planned that, when attacked. the cuttlefisl
opens an ink bag and darkens the sur
rounding water, retreating in the obscuritl
II occasions.
rs not the gentleman playing the cut
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