Evening star., 1909-08-27
COLlAT|NG THE FACTS
Preparing Report on Cum
ningham Case for President.
WILL BE CONFIDENTIAL
Interior Department Will Make No
Statement About It.
SECRETARY BALL1NGER SILENT
Decisive Action Expected as the Re-
suit Of Controversy Over Admin
istration of Land Laws.


Ballinger-Glavis row is the vel-grounded
opinion in official circles. Whether the
ak will be laid only to the scrub tim
Der. the underbrush. so to speak, or to
some of the tall pines as well, is con-
lecture.
OF course each branch of the service.
the land Office and the forestry bureau,
is hoping the decreasing will be done in
the other office. for each is convinced that
there is where the official axman should
swing his blade. But it is probably not
stretching conjecture to surmise that in
both bureaus there is fear lest the AK
might slip or throw its helve and strike
nearby timber.
Today's press dispatches from Beverly
that is, real dispatches, not outside mat
ter with a Beverly date ine-concur in an
int;mation that President Taft Is cogni-
zant of the friction between the bureaus
and is taking all statements with grain
of salt. Some of the dispatches intimate
that the President is still unconvinced
that anything has been presented to him
warranting disparagement of Secretary
Ballinger thus far.
The expectation that there will be ac-
ton against some officials. in one branch
or the other is based. it is said. upon re-
alization that affairs have gone to such
tanned, and the guilty fall. or il proven
unfounded, the bringers and encouragers
of them must be disciplined. Otherwise,
it is claimed, the public service will be
demoralized.
Report Being Prepared.
President Taft is expected to hew TO
the line, let the chips fall where they
may. The report he demanded from the
acting secretary of the interior of all
the facts in the Cunningham Alaska
coal lands ca Sc is still under prepara-
ton, and it may be three or four days
before it can be forwarded to him.
Some of the agents who were connected
with the case in it's various stages were
absent from Washington and had to be
summoned to return at once and buckle
down to work on the report
1t is said that no statement to the
press will be given by Interior Depart
ment officials upon any features of this
report. 1t is regarded as an executive
document and will be sent direct TO the
President under seal. Any information
as to its nature will have to come from
him. The department has shut up tight
as clam, and all leaks are carefully
plugged.
Acting Secretary Pierce, through all
the fuster. is as cool as a cucumber II
tions floating about he carefully re-
moves the traces before he comes on
the job. In fact, 1t is said he is more
concerned just now over securing JUS
tice for the Indian owners Of oil lands
in Oklahoma. in their contest with the
oil companies, than anything else.
Secretary Ballinger is said to be care
fully avoiding controversial discussion
now going on in the various conserva-
tive congresses meeting in the vest.
and. in fact. is staying away from thsir
sessions. One dispatch says this policy
is in conformity with an intimation
from the President that public contro-
versy would be unseemly at this time.
Two Matters Of Interest
There are said to be collateral features
Of this case which would be of great in
terest to the public, presenting two ques-
tions:
WHO are the financial and capitalistic
interests alleged to be concerned In the
Of the Alaska coal felds?"
What were the political influences back
of the selection Of Mr.. Ballinger to be
Secretary of the INTERIOR"
The Guggenheims. Morgan and Hill are
all thought to be interested in the future
development Of Alaska. No one has con-
nected them with the Cunningham coal
land entries. 1t is said to be certain.
however. that the small entrynnen of 16O-
acre plats, remote from railway and
water transportation, would in the end
have to consolidate their holdings and
syndicate them to make them available.
and 1t is supposed that the great Alaska
promoters have an eye upon the lands
once the entrymen have obtained their
clear patents from the government.
There is no law to prevent their trans
fer and consolidation after the patents
have been granted. provided that there
noe not nrior consnira cv among entry.
men with that very end in view, and this
is the question now at issue in the land
Office.
President Taft is said to be thoroughly
aware of the contemplated exploitation OF
Alaskan resources. and his recent selec-
tion of a new governor of that territory.
to take hold next October, was with a
view of getting clean-handed man. VINO
would be free from all entanglements. the
rarfiications of which are far-reaching
and insldious and who would protect the
government and the people OF Alaska.
not that there is any reflection on the
present incumbent. but to make a clean
sweep and get new blood in the country.
Selection Of Ballinger.
The political influences back Of Mr.
Ballinger's selection for the Interior port
folio ought not to be any great mys.
terry, 1t is said. He was early In the
game one Of the stanchest Taft men on
the Pacific coast. He had gone out of
the Interior Department. and was practic-
ing law on the coast, taking lively
interest in politics the while.
In the campaign he was member OF
the advisory committee OF the republican
national committee, and had the conf
dence OF Chairman Hitchcock. He was
intrusted with great political responsible
ty on the west coast and the inter-
mountain country, and his judgment was
relied upon implicitly.
When the President decided to go to
the coast for a Secretary of the Interior
Mr.. Ballinger's was one of the first names
mentioned, because of his experience In
western affairs generally. His selection
was regarded as very gratifying to Chair
man Hitchcock. who held him In high
esteem in every way.
Land Withdrawn From Entry.
Pursuant to the policy and direction OF
Secretary Ballinger Of the Department of
the Interior. Frank Pearce, acting Sec
retary of the department. today with
drew for temporary site 101 ,660 acres Of
land along the Green river in the state
of Utah in the view Of reporting to Con-
gress these Withdrawals in order that
proper legislation may be enacted by
Congress to preserve power sites to the
government and prevent monopoly.
Accepts Position as Judge.
Isaac Cans, chairman of the Chambe,
of Commerce floral parade committee, to-
day received a letter from Mayor Brett
meyer OF Detroit accepting Mr.. Cans in-