The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-08-26

tracts of coal land from falling into
the hands of single holders. A bill
was put through congress allowing as
many as four coal claims TO be worked
together, but In case more than four
claims were consolidated the title to
the claims would fall.
Some of the first Alaskan were
owned BY Clarence Cunningham OF
Walla Walla Wash. and some were
held for United States senators. l. R
CLAWS. chief of the field division of
the general land Office In charge OF the
district which includes Alaska, inYes-
. tieated these claims and filed with the
land Office at Washington evidence
which he had secured and which he
maintained showed that the names OF
dock hands and others had been used
in filing these claims and that they
were fraudulent Richard A. Ballinger
was commissioner of the land office
when this evidence was filed, Secretary
Garfelds attention was attracted to
the case and he began TO take steps to
cancel the claims.
eallln9er as Attorney.
Ballinger resigned from the land
| office and became attorney for Gun
patents be issued for the land. and
brief was fled In the interior depart
ment urging Garfield to Issue the pat
ents Garfield refused. Soon after
Ballinger became secretary Of the In
terror succeeding Garfield, he directed
that the charges against the Cunning
ham claims (35 of them in alb were
insufficient, and directed that the
i~tn TO- IN,
the land office.
CLAWS protested against this decis-
ion and his protest being unavailing.
he went to Washington TO urge his
proof of fraud. Arriving at Washing
ton he found that the claims had been
sent back to be patented without hear
ing
CLAWS then secured the submission
OF all the papers In the case TO Atty.
Gen. Wickersham. and Wickersham
| ruled that at least a hearing must be
held and 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 direct On
the basis of evidence taken by spe~
| cial representative.
CLAWS protested against this and
received a letter from the land Of
| fee intimating that his activity was
[ undesirable. and that for his own sake
1t would better cease, He continued
| 10 protest and although he felt that
| he knew more about these cases than
anyone else. they were taken from
| him and given to Special Agent Sher-
idan in Denver a man who had had
i only one years experience and was
entirely unfamiliar with tho cases
Sheridan was directed TO expedite
| the case.
CLAWS then made a final protest
against the hearing being held before
the government could finish the col
| lection OF evidence. and he wrote and
wired 10 the law officer of the forestry
service. Shaw, urging that the forest
ry people do all In their power TO
avoid hasty action. The forestry ser
vice had Jurisdiction because part of
| the ccal claims lie In the Chugach for
| est reserve.
Upon the representation OF Shaw.
! Secretary Wilson wrote TO Secretary
Rallinger requesting postponemonl
| and Shaw went at once TO the Interior
department and asked 10 sec all the
files bearing on these cases. He was
refused access to the papers. and this
is said 10 be the first time In the his
tory OF the forest service that another
government department denied 1t ac-
cess 10 publIc documents
AT about this time Secretary Bal
llneer gave out a statement In Seat
Tie saying that Chief Forester Plnchot
was trying 10 run the Interior Depart
nent but Ballinger's acting secretary
announced that the hearing had been
postponed.
Last Friday CLAWS appeared here at
Rcverly to lay his troubles before
President Taft Claws representations
have been referred to Atty. Gen.
Wiokersham second time and are in
his hands At the same time state
ment was given out at Denver setting
oct. 18th for a hearing al Seattle OF
the so-called Alaska-coal cases and on
the same dav Acting Commissioner of
tbe General Land Office Schwartz
govo out statement from Washing
ton showing the activity of the In
terior Department In prosecuting
frauds and IN Withdrawing lands of
special value,