Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-11-20
SECY. BALL|NGER
MAKES DENIAL
That He Ever Advised Any One
To Deiraud the Government
Is Absolutely False.
SOME ONE HAS BEEN LYING
Some Of the Statements About Him
lie CharaCtcriycs ~ simply
Asannc.

Washington. Nov 1g-Replylng TO
charges made In q magazine, Secy
Baningcr Of the interior department to-
day denied many reports recently circu-
lated concerning the conduct Of his de-
partment.
ITO say that over have advised
ordered or lent support 10 any effort
10 perpetrate fraud upon the gov
eminent" he said. 80 not only false,
but is Intentionally 20. n made by any
one who has taken the trouble to in
quire into the facts"
In explanation Of the charges IN con-
ncction with the Alaska coal lands. he
went into the history Of President
Roosevelt's withdrawal from entry Of
IN coal lands IN Alaska In 1906. show
ing that the order was so modified by
Sccv. Garfield as to validate all appllca-
tions made prior TO May i6, 1907. He
then called attention TO the fact that
in his annual report Of 1907 as COM
missioner Of the general land office. he
had recommended action by Congress
To prevent any formation OF combina-
lions or trusts by claimants TO coal
lands. and adds:
''Tho antitrust clause Of the Alaska
coal act as finally passed May 2S 1908,
was not submitted by Mr. Clifford PIN
chot but was submitted as sugges-
tion to Secy. Garfield by Representative
Herbert Parsons Of New York, In his
letter OF May Z, 1903. and favorably
considered and indorsed BY the secre-
tary IN his report TO Congress"
ALASKAN COAL CLAIMS.
Mr.. Ballinger then. stated that no
Alaskan coal claims have been pat
ented, and says that the investigation
OF such claims with a view OF deter
mining their validity or invalidity has
been vigorously prosecuted.
Mir. Ballinger denounced as plain,
ordinary Justification" a report that he
is interested IN $4,000 shares Of the
Alaska Petroleum & Coal company.
THE statement that ! or my former
firm was attorney for this company or
ever advised or counseled In its EFFORT
to acquire title to public lands Is also
without basis In fact" he added.
Mr. Ballinger said Il was true that in
his private practise after he had re-
signed as commissioner of the land Of
fee, he had been consulted In the prep
aration Of articles Of Incorporation I'M
der the law OF 1908, which had been
approved nN INC UItNAhfNA anu WlAA'h
permitted the entry OF as much as 1850
acres Of coal land, but not true that
either in this or in any other connec-
ton he had given any advice looking
10 a fraudulent act against the govern
ment
Asked about statement that he had
said that the proper course to take
with the public domain was to ID
vide n I'D among the big corporations
and let the people who know how TO
make money out OF IT," Mr. Ballinger
replied:
AN AsININE STATEMENT.
go asinine statement hardly
merits a denial OF course, I made no
such statement. Such a thought could
not be entertained BY any normal in
telligence. What ! really think In re-
gard 10 the public domain and the
conservation OF natural resources may
DE found In my official reports as COM
missioner OF the general land office and
In my present annual report. soon TO be
published. / have not only been con-
sistently In the vanguard OF conserva-
tive movement. but | have sought to
give permanence along lines reason
ably within the spirit OF the present
law and 60 secure additional adequate
laws"
He made an equally emphatic denial
. OF a statement that his firm Is known
as the Standard oil legal advisory In
seattle
Mr. Balllngcr also made response to
charge that, In granting rights OF way
to Hill and Hartman railroads through
the Deschutes canyon In OrcgOn,he had
rendered impossible the construction
of a power plant In tho canyon. Ad-
hitting that the department had given
It's approval TO the application, Mr.
Ballnger said that this course had
been pursued under the law, and IN
pursuance Of tho wishes OF people,
at the section affected. but not without
taking the precaution Of infS ting re
quirement that, when needed for power
plant purposes, each railroad shouit
elevate its tracks a hundred feet
But this action. he said, insured L
the people OF central oregon competing
lines of railroad ana at the same tim'
guaranteed the use OF the water pOwe
when the country needs IL. He als'
quoted records IN the case 10 show tina
the proceeding had been In strict com
pliance with the law