The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-26

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The adj
ministration's probe into the Balm
ger-Pinchot controversy is on.
With the meeting today of the Joint
senate and house committee for the
taking of testimony in the investigas
ton of the conservation squabble
and it's outgrowth of charges and
counter charges begins what promises
to be the biggest overhauling OF the
affairs OF government departments
since the ventilation OF the famous
postoffice scandals Of seven years ago.
l.. r. CLAWS. former chief OF the field
division Of the general land office,
was summoned this morning as the
first witness.
Two policies are on trial-the Let
ter OF the law" and the Spirit OF
the statutes" with Richard Archilles
Ballinger. secretary OF the interior.
aligned with the former, and backed
by the administration strength. and
Clifford Pinchot, former chief forester
and his associates, with the wrath OF
the Roosevelt policies as their invis-
ible aid.
Twelve men, six senator's; Nelson
(Rep. Mimi; Flint, (Rep. CALI;
Sutherland, (Rep. Utah.); Root, (Rep.
N. "; Paynter, (Dem. KY; Fetch
err, (Dem Fla), and six representa-
tives: Mccall (Rep. Mass.); Ohm
stead. (Rep. Pa; DENLY. (Rep.
Mich): Madison. (Rep. Kas.); James,
(Dem. Ky.) and Graham (Dem. Ills.):
constitute the investigating tribunal.
Before these men all the parties to
the controversy must appear and ex-
In4r
ters at issue. The committee expects
to start with the principal figures, Ga
viz, Rallinger, Pinchot, ex-associate
forester Overton w. Price, and A. w.
Shaw. late assistant law officer OF the
forest service-all the last three hav-
ing been dismissed from ONCE by
presidential order on Jan. z.
Scores OF others will be examined
and the committee. or at least por-
ton OF II. will probably make a trip
through the west and to Alaska dur
ing the summer. to secure facts. A re-
port of the findings Of the committee,
therefore, is not expected until the
next session OF congress. Operating
under an authorization from congress
which gives 1t practically all the pow
ers OF federal court and makes man.
datory a minute delving into every
ramification OF the controversy, the
committee will go to the bottom or
the muck heap.
Long before the IL investigators
were In their seats In the big hearing
room Of the senate Office building. a
crowd had filled every inch of space
and overlooked into the hall.
In accordance with q provision or
the joint resolution creating the com
mittee. CLAWS was permitted to bring
with him as counsel l.. ID. Brandeis, OF
Boston, and Joseph b. Cotton, of New
York Pinchot, Price and Shaw are
represented by Attorney George w.
Pepper, Of Philadelphia.
The Ballinger-p inchot controversy
started with mere difference or opin-
ion between government officers. Bal
linger had refused to acquiesce in a
request by Secretary OF Agriculture
Wilson, made on behalf of Pinchot. to
withdraw certain lands bordering on
forest reserves, for ranger sites. Bal
linger insisted that the action was IL
legal. since II was only an excuse TO
add more lands to the acreage OF the
reserves, whereas such action was
only authorized by executive proclama
ton. While that small incident was
still ranking IN the minds OF both bel
ligerents there came charges. rumors
and reports of wholesale reservations
by Ballnger OF lands formerly with
drawn hv Secretary Garfield IL was
tContInued ON Page EIeven.D