Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-07

In a report expressing it's confidence
In Secretary Ballinger Of the Interior De-
partment. the Ballinger-Pinchot investi-
eating committee finished it's work today.
The report. representing the views CT the
majority of the committee. was presented
to both houses OF Congress at the onArss
ing at noon. At the same time the inde-
pendent reports of the democratic mem
bers Of the committee. and of Representa-
tive Madison Of Kansas also were SUBJ
mitted.
The conclusions of the republicans were
submitted to the democrats at a meeting
of the full committee held at 10 o'clock
this morning. All republican members
except Representative Madison had sign
ed the report. Senator Nelson, chairman
of the committee. put the majority re-
port to a vote. The democratic members,
with Representative Madison, voted
against it,
After stating that the evidence present
ed related in the main to charges of va.
| riOus kinds against Mr.. Ballinger, and
that these came chiefly from two sources
L. r. CLAWS and Clifford Pinchot-the
majority announced the following con-
clusion:
THE evidence has wholly failed to make
| out a case. Neither any fact proved nor
all the facts put together exhibit Mr..
Ballinger as being but competent and
honorable gentleman, honestly and faith
fully performing the duties of his high
office with an eye single to the public in
| terest''
The report was signed by Senators
knute Nelson. chairman; Frank p. Flint.
George Sutherland and Elihu Root. and
Representatives Samuel w. Mccall of
Massachusetts, vice chairman: Marlin E..
Olmstead OF Pennsylvania and Edwin
DENLY of Michigan, all republicans
Condemned by Minority.
A few months ago the democratic mem-
bers. Senators D. L. Fletcher and William
| +. Purcell and Representatives Ollie NJ.
| James of Kentucky and James NJ Gra-
| ham of Illinois, together with Representa-
| tives Edmond H. Madison of Kansas.
progressive republican. put ou; another
report which they maintained to be the
| majority opinion. condenning the con-
duct of Mr. Ballinger as Secretary of the
Interior.
| This report was made public following
meeting of the committee in Minne-
| apolis last September which was not at
tende.l by some of the republicans, who
/ now have eXonerated Mr.. Ballinger and
! therefore the natural minority became a
majority. and the republicans who were
| present, with the exception of Mr. Madi-
| son. withdrew and broke the quorum The
| members who now sign the majority re-
port formulated their conclusions at a
| recent series of meetings.
| In speaking OF the "animoSity'' created
by differences respecting the conserva-
| tion of natural resources, the majority
| of the committee said that the accusers
| evidently had this policy deeply at heart
| and Were evidently disposed to take {;
! most uDfavorable view Of the character
| and motives of any one whom they sup
posed TO be opposed to their views. They
| thus came to regard Mr.. Ballirger with
| suspicion and to regard the most natura
| and innocent acts occurring in the OrIi-
| nary course of departmental administra-
ton as furnishing evidence Of some sinis-
| ter purpose"
Specific Findings.
/ The report makes the following spe-
cific findings:
That the charges and insinuations
against Secretary Ballinger in regard to
| the Cunningham coal land entries, OF
other coal claims in Alaska. are not
justified, and his conduct in respect there.
to is not justly censurable.
THAT he was fully justified in revokins
the Indian cooperative agreement
i That the restorations Of waterpowel
Il sites by Secretary Bailinger were made
I in good faith, and not in enmity to the
government, and that no injury appear,
to have been done to the government anC
: the cause Of conservation by either the
restorations or Withdrawals.
That in view of the opinion OF ths
Attorney General, he was justified II
abandoning the use of the so-called wa
ter users cooperative certificates in con
nection with the reclamation of arft
: lands.
That the administration Of tn,
> reclamation law presented features
e Justly subject to criticism. No unfai
E criticism or improper conduct on Sec
Continued on. Twelfth Page)