New-York tribune., 1910-01-21
FULL INQUIRY SURE
F4IR-MINDED MENTOR
INVESTIGATORS.
AH Facts in BalLinger-Pin-
chot Controversy TO Be
Brought Ont.
From The Tribun. Bureau. !

Washington, Jan. 20.-The Ballinger-
Pinchot controversy will be investigat-
ed by special joint COMMITTEES of Con-
gress, composed as follows:
Senators-Knute Nelson of Minnesota
(chairman); Frank p. Flint. of Cali
fornia: George Sutherland, of Utah;
Elihu Root, of New York; Thomas Fl.
Paynter, of Kentucky. and Duncan e..
Fletcher, of Florida.
Representatives-Sam W. Mccall.
of Massachusetts,; NJ E. Olmsted. of
Pennsylvania; z. H. Madison, of Kan
sas; Edwin DENLY, of Michigan; Ollie
James, of Kentucky. and James T.
Lloyd, of Missouri, or a substitute.
-Four of the twelve members OF
Fletcher and Representatives James and
Lloyd-are Democrats. Mr. Madison is
one Of the most prominent insurgents In
the House, being an opponent of Speaker
Cannon and the House rules. Although
Mr.. Mccall is one of the regulars on
the Republican side. his selection is
highly satisfactory, as he is regarded as
one of the ablest and most independent
members of the House.
Representatives Olmsted and DENLY
are strong men. both of them being capa-
BILE lawyers. Senator Nelson was an in
surgent on the tariff bill and is an ag-
gressive and fearless legislator, who
possesses the confidence of the entire
Senate Senators Flint and Sutherland
are lawyers of ability and well informed
on conservation work in the West
. MR. ROOT FOR LEGAL ADVISER.
Mr.. Root, of course, is the ablest law
yer on the committee, and doubtless will
be the adviser to whom the intricate
legal questions which arise will be sub
mitted. Senators Paynter and Fletcher
are among the newer men on the Demo-
cratic side. The former was a Judge
when he was elected to the Senate, three
years ago. Mr.. Fletcher is a lawyer OF
wide experience
The committee will begin work next
week probably on Monday. It is pos
sible that d meeting may be held on Sat
urday to organize and outline a pro-
committee will meet tomorrow to for
mulate plans respecting the investiga-
ton. All hearings will be open to the
public and will be held in one OF the
large committee rooms in the Senate
Office building
Under the language of the resolution
authorizing the investigation any official
soI r.-I, I'll
question may appear and be heard by
the committee, or any subcommittee
thereof, either in person or by counsel
1t is reported that neither Secretary Bal
linger nor Commissioner bennett of the
General Land Office will retain counsel
TO represent him at the hearings. II is
generally understood that Mr.. Pinchot
will retain counsel. and there is rumor
that l. R CLAWS. the former special
agent whose charges against the Depart
ment OF the Interior were largely respon-
sible for the investigation. will have
Francis ]. Heney, of San Francisco, as
his legal representative.
MR. BALLINGER TO EXPLAIN
AS soon as the committee is organized
and ready for business Secretary Bal
linger will submit a letter in which he
will discuss the entire subject compre-
hensively. He will outline his course as
Commissioner of the General Land Of
flee and Secretary of the Interior, and
will explain the animus which. in his
Judgment, led to the bringing of charges
against his administration OF the Interior
It is the purpose of Senator Nelson.
who Is also chairman Of the Committee
on Public Lands, not to permit the in
quiry TO defeat or delay necessary Iegisla-
tion for the protection Of the public do
main. The conservation bills recon-
mended by the President and Secretary
Ballinger and introduced by Mr.. Nelson
will be taken up at the earliest possible
date by the Public Lands Committee
and reported TO the Senate for action.
Although the committee is not required
TO submit final report before the close
of the present Congress, il is regarded as
probable that at least partial report will
be made near the close Of the present
session. The resolution carries an ap-
of 5000 TO meet the ex-
penses of the investigation.