The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-12-07
BALL niger
AN|M()SI I \
Responsible for Fight
Against the Secretary
Z --Committee Report

representing the views oil the majori-
IS of the committee, was presented 10
both houses of congress at the open
INC AT noon. AT the same time the
Independent report of the Democratic
members and the report OF Mr.. Mad
ison Of Kansas were submitted. The
conclusions of the Republicans we're
submitted TO the Democrats at a
meeting Of the full committee held at
10 o'clock this morning. All Republi.
can members except Representative
Madison had signed the report Sem
ator Nelson. chairman of the commit.
tee, put the majority report so a
vote. The Democratic members. with
Representative Madison, voted against
It,
Majority Report
- After stating that the evidence pre-
= senied related in the main TO charges
of various kinds against Mr.. Balling-
er and that these came chiefly from
two sources-L. r. CLAWS and Clifford
Pinohot-the majority announced the
following conclusion:
~ eallineer Honest
The evidence has wholly failed to
make out case. Neither any fact
proved. nor all the facts put together,
exhibit Mr.. Ballinger as being any
thing but competent and honorable
gentleman. honestly and faithfully
i performing the duties of his high Of
flee with an eye single to the public
interest
= The report was signed by Senators
Knute Nelson, chairman; Frank ?
Flint, George Sutherland and Elihu
= Root, and Representatives Samuel w
Mccall Of Massachusetts, vice chair
man, Marlin E Olmstead OF PennSyl-
yania. and Edwin DENLY of Michigan,
all Republicans.
= "A few months ago, the Democratic
members. Senator'S D. H Fletcher
end William E. Purcell and Represent
tauves Ollie NJ. James of Kentucky,
and James NJ, Graham. OF Illinois. to-
. gether with Representative p H.
Madison OF Kansas, progressive
Republican, put out another
report which they maintained
10 be the majority opinion. condemn
iug the conduct OF Mr.. Ballinger as
secretary OF the interior.
This report was made public fol-
lowing a meeting of the committee in
Minneapolis. last September. which
was not attended by some of the Re-
publicans, who now have eXonerated
MI Ballinger, and therefore, the ma
tural min ority became a majority and
the Republicans who were present,
with the exception of Mr.. Madison,
withdrew and broke the quorum.
The members who now sign the ma.
jority report. formulated their conclu-
sions at q recent series OF meetings.
AnlmosIty Charged
In speaking of the animcSlty Great
ed by differences respecting the con
eervation OF patural resources. the ma
jority of the committee said that the
accusers evidently had this policy
deeply at heart and were evidently
disposed TO take a most unfavorable
view Of the character and motives OF
any one whom they supposed to be
opposed TO their views They thus
CAME TO regard Mr. Ballinger with
suspicion and to regard the most ma
tural and innocent acts occurring IN
the ordinary course OF department ad-
ministration as furnishing evidence
OF some sinister purpose"
The report makes the following
specific findings
That the charges and insinuations
against Secretary Ballinger in regard
TO the Cunningham coal land entries,
or other coal land claims in Alaska,
are not justified and his conduct in
respect thereto is not justly censur-
able
That he was fully justified in re-
Yoking the Indian cooperative agree
ment,
That the restorations of water
power sites by Secretary Ballinger
were made In good faith and not In
enmity 10 the government. and that
no injury appears to have been done
10 the government and the cause OF
conservation by either the restoration
or Withdrawals,
That In view of the opinion OF the
attorney general, he was justified In
abandoning the use of the so-called
water users cooperative certificates
in connection with the reclamation OF
arid lands
That the administration Of the
reclamation law presented features
justly subject to criticism. No un-
fair criticism or improper conduct on
Secretary BalIingerS part has been
shown nor any action by him not
within the sound discretion Of the
head OF the interior department In
the faithful performance OF his duty
hostile to a reasonable and judicial
policy of conservation and that no
ground whatever has been shown jus"
tfying the opinion that he is not a
iaAhiul and efficient public officer.
Alaska Coal.
After setting forth that the entire
known coal fields OF Alaska. covering
mere than eight million acres, are
sui In government ownership. the re-
port takes up the bearing upon the
strife between Secretary Ballinger
and other officials OF the government,
including several of his subordinates.
and Mr Pinchot. who was deposed as
government forester. The report then
says
\ Your committee flnds that the i'm
terests Of the people as owners OF the
Alaskan coal fields are not threaten
ed CT endangered under existing CON
ditions."
Speaking Of the Cunnlnah ham claims
the committee finds that II would be
improper for it to pass upon the
| merits OF these claims and thus pre-.
Judge them while they are pending
IN they are regular" the reporf
says, patents should be allowed Ii