PART II.-Correspondence relating to the appointment of Mr. R. A. Ballinger as Commissioner of the General Land Office and as Secretary of the Interior.. 19-26 PART III.-Communications to the President and replies thereto and other correspondence and papers relating generally to so-called Ballinger-Pinchot PART IV.-Alaska coal claims and related subjects.. VOLUME II. 65-871 PART V.-Power of the Executive to withdraw public lands from entry.. 1027-1069 PART VI.-Withdrawal of public lands for protection of water-power sites. 1071-1136 PART VII.-Cooperation between Indian Office and Forest Service...... 1137-1238 PART VIII.-Reclamation Service: Correspondence between Secretary Ballinger and R. H. Thomson, George W. Perkins, S. H. Hedges, and other miscellaneous letters. 1294-1302 1303-1308 Correspondence relating to Roosevelt Dam... 1308-1310 Correspondence and documents relating to Lake Tahoe matter. 1310-1316 Documents relating to treaty with Mexico providing for equitable 1322-1331 1331-1366 Conduct of Chicago office of Reclamation Service by E. T. Perkins.. 1366–1434 LETTER OF SECRETARY BALLINGER REQUESTING INVESTIGATION. 159 THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, MY DEAR SENATOR: Any investigation by Congress of the Interior Department or of any of its officers should be sufficiently broad and far-reaching to put at rest the suspicions, criticisms, and representations of corrupt or improper practices heretofore charged against the present administration thereof; and, furthermore, such investigation should embrace the Forest Service, since I have reason to believe that the pernicious activity of certain of its officers has been the source of inspiration of these charges and involve in part the common administration of the public domain. The best interests of the. Interior Department require a broad and thoroughgoing investigation, and I assure you it can not be made too broad in its scope to suit me and those under me, who have likewise suffered indignities, unjust censure, and deliberate misrepresentation of facts that are plain upon the records. I therefore court the widest and fullest inquiry by Congress into these matters, and since you have stated to me your desire to aid me in establishing before Congress and the country the injustice of the attacks which have been made and reiterated from time to time, I shall hope that there will be no delay in the offering of a proper resolution of investigation. The investigation called for by House resolution No. 142, to make a full and complete investigation of the conduct of the General Land Office of the Department of the Interior during recent years relative to coal lands and other public domain in the Territory of Alaska, etc., is entirely too narrow to accomplish a full and impartial investigation such as I desire. Very truly, yours, Hon. WESLEY L. JONES, R. A. BALLINGer, Secretary. United States Senate. (5) |