The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-24
COAL LAND CASES
ARE DISCUSSED
Secretary Garfield and Commits
sioner BaIIinger Talk With
Prosecutors.
Mr.. BOOTHS RECORD Is
KEPT FROM VISITORS
They Fail to Learn That He Was
Private Attorney for Some
Defendants.

Utah s coal land prosecutions and
suits were the subject of a conference
held at the Commercial club Saturday
afternoon. Present al the conference
were Secretary OF the Interior j. X.
Garfield. Commissioner of General Land
Ofice R. A Ballinger, Special Prosscu-
tor Fred G. MAYNARD, United States Dis
trict Attorney n. E, Booth snd others.
Commissioner Bal6nger said after the
confidential nature, and that he was not
al liberty TO disclose all that had been
said. He said. however. that it was
largely for the purpose of obtaining first
hand information for Secretary Garfield
and himself inasmurh as they both took
Office after the prosecutions and suits
here had started.
lis there to he any change in the
policy Of the Government in these suits
and prosecutions - Judge Ballinger
was asked
No. none ut all was the reply.
"As matter of fact, the cases are in
the hands Of the Department OF jus
tics. and not Of the Interior Depart
ment -
Alleged Change of Tactics
One man who was present at the con-
ference declared that slight change OF
tactics had been agreed upon with refer
ence 10 the suits but no change in the
policy of the Government toward push
ing them lust what this oracuar ut
teTance really means could not be
learned.
District Attorney Booth s friends
kept close enough to Messrs. Garfield
and Ballinger during the entire day to
prevent anybody from informing them
that Mr. Booth had himself advised
clients TO make entries on coal lands
which the Government is now trying to
set aside as fraudulent. and the officials
left as ignorant on this subject as when
they came. Mr.. Booth probably brea thed
easier after their departure.
Looks Over Local Offices.
Judge Ballinger did not leave with
the other members of the party In
stead he remained over until 11:45
o clock, and then took the train for
Boise. During the evening he went
through the United States land Office
and the Surveyor General S office. un-
der the escort of Register F.. D. R.
Thompson. Receiver NJ NJ. Kaighn and
Surveyor General Thomas Hull
United States land Office at Boise and
nj Coeur d 'Alene and from the latter
place Will visit his home at Seattle He
and Secretary Garfield win join each
other again at North Yakima, Wash,
on July 6.
Judge Ballinger Talks,
In conversation with q Tribune re-
porter at the Knutsford Saturday even
ing Judge Ballinger said:
Ny trip is not To inaugurats any
thing in particular, but TO look over the
situation and inspect as many land of
fees rs possible IN general way. On
the way here from Denver Mr.. Garfield
and myself had a conference with the
members of the State Land Board. and
ascertained their wants. They are anx-
ious that the State s selections of land
which have not been approved by the
General Land Office be acted upon as
speedily as possible, and T have prom
ised them that that will be done. AS
] understand it, large number of Sc
lections have been held up for one cause
or anofhe -