Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-18
LAND OFFICE REJECTS CLAIMS TO
FOUR IMPORTANT GROUPS
i IN ALASKA.
COMPANIES OBTAINING LANDS
IN NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS
Other Claims Where Consolidation i.
Contemplated or Accomplished to Be
Turned Down-Goverpment Agents
Conducting Thorough Investigation
Other News.
Especial Correspondence


Washington, Dec. 1s.-A new turn
has been taken in the matter of the
Alaska coal lands, by reason of re-
ports which have been revived at the
general land office, recommending the
rejection of four important groups of
claims.
The famous Cunningham group, said
to represent one of the richest areas
OF anthracite coal in the world, has
been under investigation at big hear
ing at Seattle, for long time 1t is
generally expected that these claims
will finally be cancelled.
Now comes the news that, the Smith,
Chezum, Hartman and Feed groups of
coal claims, all in Alaska, and all I'M
derstood to be immensely valuable,
have been investigated in detail by
special agents, and that the reports
have come to Washington, recommend
ing that all of them be rejected. The
reason given is the same in all cases;
that there is reason to believe these
claims were taken with view to con-
|Solidating them in the control of a
single big interest, contrary to the
law.
Under the present statutes, coal
claim may not exceed 100 acres, and
nobody may take one except for good
faith operation in his own behalf. II.
after taking and proving up and get
ting patent, he shall decide to CONSOLE
date with a claim that somebody else
has secured in good faith and without
thought of consolidation, there Is no
law against it.
The point is that they think about
consolidating after they get their pat
ents; under no~ circumstances must
there be any understanding about con-
solidation in advance OF the patentlng
Of the lands.
The land office special agents have
been at work on these four groups for a
long time, and the fact that the men
in charge have recommended adverse
ly to patenting them, is taken to in
dictate that the talk about projected
frauds against the government in Alas
ka has not by any means been ground
less. These four are important groups;
and it is pointed out that if in respect
of all of them there is so much evil
dence of intended fraud as to justify
rejection, there is certainly some
ground for all the noise that the con-
servation interests have been making
about the Alaska situation.
1t is expected that in the further
discussion of the demand for con-
gressional investigation of the entire
Alaska situation, the adverse reports
on these four groups will figure very
prominently. They have already been
seized upon as the proof that there
lis a good deal which needs to be un-
derstood by congress before it goes
ahead with legislation in the interest
of Alaska.
Secretaries to members of the house
are preparing to wage a campaign to
nave their names put on the govern
ment pay roll. They have made similar
efforts in the past and have been de-
feated by their employers on the floor
of the house. Now, however, the se--
retaries have a good working organ
ton and they propose to make their
fight with the assistance Of members
of the house who look with favor on
their program.
Under the existing law each MEM
Der of the house is allowed s125 a
month for the employment of a secre-
tary. The monthly checks are made
out by the sergeant-at-arms in the
name of the members. A great many
of the members employ secretaries and
pay them the full amount authorized
by law simply by endorsing the check
over.
There are number of members of
the house, however, who are holding
out on their secretaries. In other
words they do not pay them the 1925