Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-12-10
CARRY BALLINCER
ROW TOCONGRESS
Majority Of PTObers ESOner-
ate Secretary.
SCORE HIS ACCUSERS
Declare He Is Not an Enemy Of Con-
servation and Is a Faithful and Eff
eient Public officer.

servation and Is a Faithful and Eff
eient Public officer.
The majority members OF the Bal
lingerPinchot investigating committee
+ absolutely cleared Secretary Ballinger
81 the charges OF misconduct made
against him by Clifford Pinchot and
I others and sustain his administration
OF the interior department in every re-
/ spect
The majority report, which was
submitted to congress. IS in striking
contrast to that made last September
I by the minority members. who held
that Mr. BGllinger was unfit for Office
and ought 60 be dismissed.
The fight over the two reports will
now be carried into the senate and
the house The minority members OF
4 the Investigating committee held a
meeting and decided to maintain that
/ the report issued in September is the
4 bona iide report of the investigating
committee and that the document sub
nlitted by the majority members is
without official standing.
\ special rule will have TO he adopt.
ed in the house before the fight over
the reports can be carried TO the floor,
| but the Democrats believe they will
be able to get enough votes to accom-
/ plish this In the senate the question
can be brought up without difficulty.
Friends &. the administration expect
to see b!iier contest and perhaps a
good deal Of mud throwing over the
two reports of the committee. They do
not expect Clifford Pinchot To take his
medicine without stirring up further
trouble
The majority report makes the fol.
lowing specific findings
That the charges and insinuatons
against Secretary 8allinger In regard
10 the Cunningham coal land entries
and OF other coal land claims in Alas
Ia are not justified and his conduct in
respect thereto is not justly censur-
able
THAT he was fully justified in re-
voking the Indian cooperative agree
ment
That the restoration 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 TO
the government and the cause OF con
seryation by either the restorations or
Withdrawals.
That. in view OF the opinion of the
a hn Msn fAI 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 re
clamatiOn law presented feature just
/ ly subject 10 criticism. No
unfair criticism or improper conduct
on Secretary Ballinger's part has been
shown nor any action by him not with.
in the sound discretion of the head
Of the interior department In the faith.
ful performance OF his duty.
THAT he Is not an enemy OF nor hos
tile 10 reasonable and judicious pol
icy OF conservation. and that no ground
whatever has been shown justifying
the opinion thht ne - not Idlthiul
and efficient public officer.
Commenting upon the blanket with.
drawals OF public lands by James Il.
Garfield when secretary OF the inter
Tor. the committee says his action was
taken after he asoertained that he
would not be retained under President
TAFT
1t Is said that these Withdrawals
were made "haphazard" from the mere
inspection of land Office state maps
Many OF these lands We're restored to
the public domain by Secretary Bal
finger and a portion were again set
aside
The rewIthdrawals according 10 the
committee were made by Secretary
Ballinger after a careful examination
of maps. notes. data and reports. and
the rewithdrawals embraced all power
sites in the original blanket withdraw.
ais made by Garfield
The report was signed by Senators
Knute Nelson. chairman: Flint. Snth
crland and Root. and Representative
Mccall, Olmsted and DENLY. all Re.
pnhlicans.