The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-01-21

WASHINGTON, January THE
last twentyfour hours have been fruit
full of sensations in the Ballinger- Pin
chot controversy, eliminating this even
ing in the, removal of Forester Pinchot,
Associated Forester Price and Assistant
Law officer Shaw of the forest service.
This action was taken by the president
after two cabinet discussions of the
Pinchot letter to Senator Dolliver, read
in the senate yesterday.
President Taft was both personally
and officially hurt by Forester Pin
chot's letter.
In private conversation last night
and today Taft said that if he should
yield to his personal feelings he would
remove Pinchot forthwith, but he felt
that he should regard only his official
duty. He added that he felt sense of
responsibility to the people in protect
ing the dignity of the presidency, which
he felt had been affronted by Pinchot g
action in sending letter to the senate
in spite of the executive order prohibit
ing such activity on the part of subor-
dinate officials of the government. The
letter, moreover, was regarded by the
President as rejecting upon himself,
thus constituting double breach of
discipline that could not be overlooked.
Cabinet Divided.
At today's cabinet meeting opinion
was reported to be divided as to the
propriety of removing Pinchot, some of
the Presidents advisers counseling
postponement until after the conclusion
of the investigation about to be I'M
dertaken. Acknowledgement Wicker
sham was strongly in favor of the i'm
mediate removal of Pinchot, and this
advice, agreeing with the President s
inclination. resulted in tonight Is letter
of removal.
1t is said on good authority that Pin
| chot recently remarked that the Presi-
dent dared not remove him and this re-
mark reached Taft IS ears. II did not
serve to allay the feeling between
them.
Pinchot was smiling tonight, appar-
emily unrufhed by the order of re-
moval. He said he had absolutely moth
ing to say. Secretary Ballinger could
not be found.
! Letter of Dismissal.
President Taft Is letter to Forester
Pinchot informing him of his dismissal
follows:
"The White House,
i "Washington, January Z, 1910.
f'Sir: The secretary of agriculture
informs me that on December 90 your
associate forester. Mr.. Price. went to
| him and proposed to resign on the
ground that he had been engaged with
Mr.. Shaw, assistant law officer, in in.
stipating the publication in various
newspapers and magazines of articles
attacking the good name of Secretary
Ballinger and charging the interior de-
partment and the land Office with cor
ruption. The secretary thereupon wrote
a note to you under date of December
90 asking for your recommendation IN
the premises. You did not answer, but
| on January you had conversation
with him in which you said You wished
to make statement which should be
read in the senate at the same time
, that my message transmitting the rec
ord in the CLAWS case reached there
and that you thought you could induce
; Senator Dolliver to introduce the state
ment for you.
), Against Secretary's Advice.
'tThe secretary advised against sucl
/ a course, but asked you for recon-
mendaton as to accepting Price Is resig
nation, in order that he might bring
the matter to me, to whom, he told you
: IL must ultimately come. because ] had
considered the CLAWS charges and had
! passed upon them.
"Withont further conference with
the secretary and before making re-
port TO him you succeeded in making
] public by having il read in the senate
, | "A letter from you stating that you had
sufficiently disciplined Messrs. Price
, and Shaw by reprimanding them, and
that your recommendation would be
that no further punishment was requir
cd, aud this before that recommends
ton was submitted 10 the secretary
aud me, whose power and duty II wal
i, 10 determine, upon Prices admissions
as 10 his completely. what action should
be taken with respect 10 his resigna
/, ton,
SIN order 10 understand the full
pnrp0rt OF your letter In which y0t
, admit the completely ~ Price aud SHAW
in the publication in iho pTesh, n
should be said that the substance u
, the claws shafRes sas that Secretary
nsllingoT and lh0 others we're ali ~
Tested by corrupt wish a. pateni sa so
J called Cunningham claims upon enh
! lands ln AlaskHi thst fhe qnrsiio
! whether These claims Nore ffaudulenl
: ~ NOT lfnr ned ~ be- decided up0u ih,
Z evidence afief both ihe Waited hiairl
: and ihr eiHimgpis bed bapn hfaldl lhaI
ll eYfIY laifni be- nu ffrfuiltr hei y
! completely niihlp ibe iunsaielipp o