Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-12-09
SEC, BALL|NGER
IS ABSOLvED
SECRETARY WAS HONEST AND
FAITHFUL IN ALL ACTS,
-NGRESSMEN SAY.
MAJORITY REPORT OF COMMITTEE
Senator Nelson and Colleagues Sub
scribe to Complete vindication.
Opinion Disputes the Mi
nority Decision.

nority Decision.
Washington, Dec 8.-Vindicatirs
Secretary of the Interior Ballinger UP
on all the charges brought against him
and condemning his accusers as hav
ing been inspired by a deep feeling OF
animosity built upon supposed diff
ference in policy respecting conserva
ton, a majority of the congressional
committee which investigated the So
called Ballinger-Pinchot case submit
ted it's report to congress.
Democrats Submit Report.
The conclusions of the Republicans
were submitted to the Democrats at
a meeting of the full committee this
morning, and Senator Nelson, chair
man, put the majority report to a vote
The Democratic members, with Repre-
sentative Madison, voted against it,
After stating that the evidence pre-.
scented related in the main to charges
of various kinds against Mr.. Ballinger
|
sources, l.. R. CLAWS and Clifford Pin
chot, the majority announced the fol
lowing conclusions:
The evidence has wholly failed to
make out a case. Neither any fact
proved, nor all the facts put together
exhibit Mr.. Ballinger as being any
thing but a competent and honorable
gentleman, honestly and faithfully per
forming the duties of his high office
with an eye to the public interests.
Republicans Sign Report.
The report was signed by Senators
Knute Nelson, chairman, Frank G.
Flint, George Sutherland and Elihu
Root, and Representative Samuel w.
Mccall of Massachusetts, vice chair
man, Martin E. Olmsted of Pennsyl-
vania and Edwin DENLY of Michigan,
all Republicans.
Prejudice Is Charged.
In speaking of the luminosity"
created by differences respecting the
conservation of natural resources, the
majority 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
anyone whom they supposed to be op-
posed to their views. They thus came
to regard Mr. Ballinger with suspicion
and to regard the most natural and
innocent acts occurring in the ordi.
nary course of department administra-
ton as furnishing evidence of some
sinister purpose"
The report makes the following spe-
cific findings: THAT the charges and
insinuations against Secretary Bal
linger 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 censurable.
Says He Acted in Good Faith.
THAT the reservations of water
power sites by Secretary Ballinger
were made in good faith and not in
enmity to the government, and that no
Injury appears to have been done to
the government and the cause of con-
servatiOn by either the reservations 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
aI mi fra Of bo
clamatiOn law presented features just
ly subject to criticism. No unfair
criticism or improper conduct on Sec
rotary Ballinger's 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.
THAT he is not an enemy of nor
hostile to a reasonable and judicious
policy of conservation and that no
ground whatever has been shown
justifying the opinion that he is not
faithful and efficient public officer"
Alaska Is Declared Safe.
After setting forth the fact that the
entire known coal fields of Alaska,
covering more than 100000 acres, is
still in government ownership, the re-
strife between Secretary Ballinger
port takes up the bearing upon the
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 finds that the in
terests of the people as owners of the
Alaskan coal fields are not threatened
or endangered under existing condi-
tons"
Interest in congress centered in the
reporting to both houses of the find
ings of the special joint committee
which for eleven months has busted
itself with the charges made against
Richard A. Ballinger, secretary of the
interior. Three reports were filed
majority report clearing the cabinet
officer of all the charges, a minority
finding condemnation Of him and an
individual report by Representative
Madison, Republican of Kansas, also