The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-25
TAFT ORDERS A
PROBE IN ALASKA
THE PRESIDENT TAKES HAND IN
QUARREL BETWEEN TWO OF
HIS OFFICIAL FAMILY.

Beverly. Mass. Aug. 25.-For the
second time Attorney General wicker
sham has had referred to him an Alas
kan land case which has been a vom-
iting volcano to the United States in
terror department for two years. The
matter involves coal lands in Alaska
valued at many millions of dollars
and which is nearly as extensive as
the coal deposits in Pennsylvania
There are now seven claims invoIv-
ed. 1t seems that more than two years
ago claims were filed on coal lands on
the Alaskan coast, near the Chugach
forest reserve, where tremendous de-
posits OF coal had been located. James
r. Garfield was at that time secretary
of the interior. There had been lgis-
lation by congress to prevent large
tracts Of coal land from falling into
the hands Of single holders. That is,
10 prevent possible formation of a
monopoly
A bill was put through congress al
lowing four coal claims to be worked
together, but in case more than four
claims were consolidated the title to
the claims would fail. Some of the
first Alaskan claims were offered by
Clarence Cunningham, OF walla Wal
la, Wash, and some were held for
United States senators.
CLAWS Starts inquiry.
r. Claws, chief Of the field divi-
sion OF the general landoffice. in
charge of the district, which includes
Alaska, investigated these claims and
filed with the landoffice at Washing
ton evidence which he had secured and
which he maintained showed that the
names of dock hands and others had
been used in fling these claims and
that they were fraudulent.
Richard A. BaHinger was commits
sioner OF the landofice when the evil
dence was filed. Secretary Garfield's
attention was attracted to the case and
he began to take steps to cancel the
claims
Ballinger resigned from the landof-
fee and became attorney for Cunning
! ham. AS attorney ne urged that pat
ents be issued for the land. A brief
was filed in the interior department,
urging Garfield to issue the patents
Garfield refused.
BalIinger Closes Case.
Soon after BaIifnger became secre-
tary of the interior, succeeding Gar
! field. He directed that the charge
against the Cunningham claims (thir-
| ty-five of them IN alb were INSULT
cient and directed tnat the claims be
clear listed for patents.
CLAWS protested against this deci-
sion and received a letter from the
landoff1ce intimating that his activity
was undesirable and that for his own
good he would better cease He con-
tinued to protest and although he felt
he knew more about these cases tnan
anyone else they were taken from him
and given to Special Agent Sheridan,
! of Denver. a man who had only one
! years experience and was unfamiliar
| with the case.
Sheridan was directed to expedite
1 the case.
Secretary Wilson Called Ia.
CLAWS made a final protest against
| the nearing being held before the gov
ernment could finish the collection OF
evidence and he wrote the forestry de-
| partment, urging them to use all their
power to hasten action. The forestry
service had Jurisdiction because part
Of the coal claims lie in the Chugach
forest reserve. Secretary Wilson wrote
to Secretary Ballinger. requesting a
postponement, and sent a man to the
interior department. and asked to see
the files bearing on these cases. He
was refused access to the papers and
this is said to be the first time in the
history of the forestry service any
other government department was de-
MED access to the public documents
Appeals to President.
Friday, CLAWS appeared at Beverly
to lay the troubles before President
Taft. CLAWS representations have
been referred to Attorney General
Wickersham a second time and are
| now in his hands.
| At the same time a statement was
issued at Denver naming oct. is as
the date for a hearing at Seattle Of
the so-called Alaska coal cases and
on the same day Acting Commissioner
of the General Land office Schwartz
gave out a statement from Washing
ton showing the activity OF the inter-
Tor department in prosecuting frauds
and in withdrawing from entry public
lands of special value.
Il