The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-11-20
Holly ANSWER
FRAUD CHARGES
Secretary Balinger Gives
Singing Denials.
TALKS OF ALASKA COAL LANDS
Says Pinchot Did Not Submit Anti
Trust Clause.
Interior Department Chief Declares He
IL Not Interested In Alaska PEE
troIeum and Coal Company
His Firm not standard
OH Counsel.
TALKS OF ALASKA COAL LANDS

Washington, Nov. 1e.--RepIying 10
charges made In a magazine publfca-
ton Secretary Ballinger of the Interior
Department today took occasion to
deny many reports which trecently have
been circulated concerning the conduct
of his Department and to explain 9TH
ers.
ITO say that ever have advised, or
dered or lent support to any effort to
perpetuate a fraud upon the Govern
ment," he said, SIS not only false but
is Intentionally SO IL made by any ona
who has taken the trouble to inquire
into the facts.
connection with the Alaska coal lands.
he went into the history of President
Rooseveits withdrawal from entry OF
all the coal lands of Alaska In 1906.
showing that the order was so modified
by Secretary Garfield as to validate all
applications made prior to May 1e. 1907.
Mr. Ballinger then called attention to
the fact In his annual report OF 1907
as Commissioner of the General Land
ONCE he had recommended action by
Congress to prevent and punish the
formation of combinations or trusts by
claimants to coal lands and adds:
"The antitrust clause of the Alaska
coal act as passed May rs. 1908, was
not submitted by Mr.. clifford Pinchot.
Dut WAS submitted Us q ouSktbtiOH To
Secretary Garfield by Representative
Herbert Parsons of New York In his
letter of May Z. 1908. and favorably
considered and Endorsed by the Sec
rotary In his report to Congress"
Investigates Coal Claims.
Secretary Ballingar then stated that
no Alaska coal claims whatever have
tigation OF all such claims with view
of determining their validity or invalid
| ity has been vigorously prosecuted.
Mr.. Ballnger denounced as "a plain.
| ordinary Justification" q report that he
IL interested in $4,000 shares OF the
| Alaska Petroleum and Coal Company.
| seThe statement that / or my former
| firm was attorney for this company or
ever advised or counsel1ed It in It's e.
/ fort to acquire title to public lands Is
also without basis In fact" he added.
/ 1t was true that In his private prac-
| tice after he had resigned as Commis-
/ sioner OF the Land once he had been
consulted I'm the preparation OF articles
/ of incorporation under the law Of 1908.
which had been approved by the Press
ident and which permitted the entry
| of as much as 1850 acres OF coal land
but not true that either In this or any
other connection he had given any adj
| vice looking to a fraudulent act
| against the Government.
Asked about a statement luAL ne 8AiU
| that the proper course to take with the
public domain was to divide II up
among the big corporations and the
| people who know how to make money
| out of It," Mr.. Ballinger replied:
"Hardly Merits Deniai.v
80 asinine a statement hardly mer-
| its a denial. OF course / made no such
statement. Such thought could not
| be entertained by any normal intelli-
gence What l really think In regard
to the public domain and the conser-
walton of natural resources may be
found In my Official reports az Commits
sioner OF the General Land Once and
| in my present annual report soon 70
be published. / have not only been
consistently in the vanguard OF the
conservation movement, but have
sought to give IL permanence along
lines reasonably within the spirit of
the present law and to secure adequate
additional laws"
He made equally emphatic denial OF
a statement that his firm is known as
the Standard Oil legal adviser In Sc
attic.
Mr., Ballinger also made response 70
a charge that in granting rights OF
way to the Hill and Hartman railroads
through the Deschutes Canyon In Ore
xon he had rendered impossible the
construction OF a power plant In the.
canyon. Admitting that the depart-
ment had given this approval 70 the
applications, Mr.. Ballinger said that
this course had been pursued under the
law; and In pursuance of the wishes
of the people OF the section affected.
but not without taking the precaution
OF inserting a requirement that when
needed for power plant purposes each
OF the railroad companies should ele-
vate it's tracks hundred feet But
this action he said insured 70 the peo-
ple of Central Oregon cosipeting lines
OF railroad and at the same time guar
anteed the use of the water power
when The country needs II. He also
quoted the records In the case to show
| that the proceedings had been In strict
compliance with the law.