The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-05

partment. it's bureaus, officers and EN-
ploycs, and of said bureau of forestry
its officers or employees, as 1t may deem
desirable"
Will Have Muen Authority.
The authority to sit during sessions
of congress and in recesses, to require
the attendance Of witnesses and the
production of papers, usual to con-
gressional inquiries, is granted by the
resolution. 1t is provided further that
any person refusing to obey the pro-
cess of the committee or to answer
any question propounded shall be
d emed guilty of contempt, and juris-
diction is conferred upon the court of
appeals of the District of Columbia
to try and determine any such chart. 8
of contempt. ... .a.
Employment Of assistance, legal or
otherwise" is specifically authorized.
This provision is for the purpose of
enabling the committee to procure the
services Of able attorneys to take
charge of the probing, so far as the d.
recting of questions is concerned. It is
the intention Of President Taft to have
the committee name some competent
attorney to conduct the case, and IL is
possible that both Of the principals to
the controversy may be represented by
counsel
1t was agreed by all persons who
have given close attention TO the Bal
linger- Pinchot squabble that the in
vestigation should be open to the pub
lie and this is ordered by the resolu-
ton. One # the big rooms in the new
senate office building will be used for
this purpose.
Jones Makes Address.
In presenting the resolution Mr..
Jones said:
THE various departments and bu-
reaus of the government are organized
to do it's business in the interests Of
the people. Every official is but the
servant and agent of the people to act
for them under and within the limits
of the law. The efficiency of public
service depends much upon the conf
dence of the people in the honesty and
integrity of their servants and agents
1T is sad commentary upon the
state of public opinion that the mo-
ment man accepts a public office he
becomes a scoundrel in the eyes of
many of our people and his previous
life Of honesty and rectitude is no
warrant of official integrity. His acts
are misconstrued and his motives
questioned. Insinuation and innuen-
does are freely made under the guise
of the public welfare but in reality to
foster some private interest. Popular
views are taken advantage of to dis
credit an official, who, after investi-
eating all phases of a subject, NAV
reach a decision at varince with some
private interest.
Condemned Before Trial.
MANY do not stop to think how
seldom have government officials gone
astray compared with their opportuni-
ties and temptations for wrong doing
In the 125 years of our national life
few of the men in high positions have
been actuated by other than the biph-
est and most patriotic motives. This
should cause our people TO hesitate to
accept charges of base conduct against
their public servants without investi-
cation and proof.
The press and magazines OF the
country for several months have been
filled with charges against the present
secretary of the interior and his con-
duct of the office he holds. These
charges range from petty insinuations
and fnnuendoes to direct charges Of
malfeasance and misconduct in office
which, If true, show that he has most
unworthily discharged his trust. A
moments thought should cause an
honest and fair minded man to hest
tate to accept such charges against
man whose whole life heretofore
has been one of the highest rectitude
and against whom no dishonorarhle
charge has ever been made in either
70.