Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-08-26
FRAUD CASFSUP
TO WICKERSHAM
TAFT REFERS THE ALASKA LAND
CHARGES TO THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL.
PINCHOT ROW CONTINUES
Ballinger Alleged to Have Secuted in
quiry-Forestry Field Chief CLAWS
Puts Accusations Before the
President.

Beverly, Massachusets.-For the
second time, Attorney General Wick
ersham has had referred to him an
Alaskan land case which has been a
slumbering volcano to the United
States interior department for two
years.
The matter involves coal lands in
Alaska valued at many millions of
dollars and which is nearly as extern
sive as the coal deposits in Pennsyl-
vania. There are now seven claims
involved.
1t seems that more than ten years
ago claims were filed on coal lands in
the Alaskan coast near the Chugache
forest reserve where tremendous de-
posits were located. James R.. Gar
field was at that time secretary of the
interior There has been legislation
by congress to prevent large tracts of
coal lands from falling into the hands
of single holders. 1t is for the pur-
pose of preventing the possible forma-
ton of monopoly.
I. r. CLAWS, chief of the field di-
vision of the general land office, in
charge of the district which includes
Alaska, investigated these claims and
filed with the land office at Washing
ton evidence which he had secured
the names of dockhands and others
had been used in filing these claims
and that they were fraudulent
Ballinger was commissioner of the
land ojce when the evidence was
filed. Secretary Garfeld's attention
was attracted to the case and he be-
gan to take steps to cancel the claim.
BaIlinger is Accused.
Ballinger resigned from the land of
five and became attorney for Cunning
ham. He urged that patents be is
sued for the land. A brief was filed
in the interior department urging
Garfield to issue patents. Garfield
refused. Soon after Ballinger sue
ceeded Garfield. He directed that the
charges against the Cunningham
claims were insufficient and directed
that the claims be clear-listed for the
patents.
CLAWS protested against this deci-
sion and his protest being unavailing,
he went to Washington to urge his
alleged proof Of fraud. Arriving at
Washington, he found that the claims
had been sent back to be patented
without hearing.
CLAWS then secured the submission
of all the papers in the case Attorney
General Wickersham and Wickersham
ruled that at least a hearing must be
held. CLAWS returned to Seattle to
prepare his case for an immediate
hearing. An order was given to CLAWS
by the land Office to the effect that
the hearing would not be held at
juneau, but that under special ar
rangement with the claimants, the
commissioner Of the general land Of
fee would make the decision ON the
basis of special report"
vfficee Stats-oa. -. fiPCENL gdol-. j
CLAWS protested against this and
received a letter from the land office
lntimating that his activity was unde-
sirable and that for his own ease he
had better cease. He continued to
protest, and although he felt he knew
more about these cases than anyone
else, they were taken from him, and
given to Special Agent Sheridan of
Denver, who was unfamiliar with the
cases.
About this time Secretary Ballinger
issued a statement intimating that
Chief Forester Pinchot was trying to
run the interior department but Bal
fingers acting secretary announced
that the hearing had been postponed
CLAWS appeared at Beverly on Fri
day to lay his troubles before Presi-
dent Taft. The government repre-
sensations have been referred back
to Attorney General Wickersham.