The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-08-24
ALASKA CASES
Continued From Page One)

greSS allowing as many as four coal
claims to be worked together. but in
ease more than four claims We're con-
solidated the title to the claims would
fail
Some of the first Alaska claims We're
owned by Clarence Cunningham of
Walla Walla, Wash, and some We're
held for United States senator's L. R.
CLAWS, chief of the field division of the
general land Office in charge of the dis
trict which includes Alaska, investi-
land office at. Washington evidence
which he had secured and which he
dOckhands and others had been used
in filing these claims, and that they
were fraudulent. Richard A. Bailinger
was commissioner of the land office
when this evidence was filed Secre-
tary Garfield's attention was attracted
to the case and he began to take steps
to cancel the claims Ballinger re-
signed from the land office and became
attorney for Cunningham. AS attor-
ney he urged that patents be issued for
the land, and brief was filed in the
interior department urging Garfield to
issue the patents. Garfield refused
Soon after Ballinger became secretary
Of the interior succeeding Garfield, he
directed that the charges against Gun
ningham claims (35 of them in alb
were insufficient and directed that the
claims be clear listed for patent in
the land office. CLAWS protested against
this decision and his protest being un-
availing, he went to Washington to
urge his 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 to AttOr-
ney General Wickersham, and Wicker
sham ruled that at least a hearing must
be held and CLAWS returned to Seattle
to prepare his case for an immediat
hearing. An order was given to CLAWS
the hearing would not be held at Ju-
neau, but that under special arrange
Wi hn oil ir,,o, re ho
sioner of the general land Office wou
make the decision direct on the basis
of evidence taken by special repre-
sentative
CLAWS protested against this and re-
ceived a letter from the land offic
, intimating that his activity was unde-
sirable, and that for his own sake it
would better cease. He continued to
protest, and although he felt that he
knew more about these cases than any
one else, they were taken from him
and given to Special Agent Sherida
in Denver. a man who had had .mly
one years experience and was entirely
unfamiliar with the cases. Sheridan
was directed to expedite the case.
CLAWS then mode final protset
against the hearing being held before
the government could finish the COL
lection of evidence and he wrote and
wired to the law officer of the forestry
service. Shaw, urging that the forestry
people do all in their power to avoid
| hasty action. The forestry service had
jurisdiction because part of the coal
claims lie in the Chugach forest re-
serve.
Upon the representation of Shaw
Secretary Wilson wrote to Secretary
Ballinger requesting a postponement,
! and Shaw went at once to the inter-
ior 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 that
another government department denied
1T access to public documents.
At about this time Secretary Bal
finger gave out statement in Seattle
saying that Chief Forester Pinchot was
trying to run the interior department
but Ballinger's acting secretary an
nounced that the hearing had been
postponed
Last Friday CLAWS appeared here al
Beverly to lay his troubles before
President Taft CLAWS representations
nave been referred to Attorney Cen
eral Wickersham a second time and
are in his hands. At the same time a
statement was given out at Denver
setting ctober Is for a hearing at Seat
tie Of the so-called Alaska coal cases
and on the same day Acting Commits
sioner of the General land Office
Schwartz gave out statement from
Washington showing the activity of the
Interior rfx s,,