Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-11-20
CHARGESbR|NG
INDIGNANT
REPLY
BALLINGER DEFENDS
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
Declares Magazine Article At
tackiog Him is Malicious and
False Explains Alaskan Coal
Land Case,

lby Morning journal special Leased WireI
Washington. Nov. ta-Rcplymg to
charges made in a magazine, secre-
tary Ballinger of the interior depart
ment today denied many OF the re-
ports recently circulated concerning
the conduct Of his department,
70 say that | ever have advised,
ordered or lent support to any effort
to perpetuatc q fraud upon the gov
ernment" he said. Us not only false.
Nbut is Intentionally so II made by any
one who has taken the trouble to In
quire into the facts"
In explanation of the charges in
connection with the Alaska coal lands
he went into the history of President
RooseVelt's withdrawal from entry all
the coal lands of Alaska in 1906.
showing that the order was so modi-
fled by Secretary Garfield as to vail
date all applications made prior to
May Is, 1907 He then called atten-
tion To the fact that in his annual re-
port of 1907, as commissioner of the
general land officc he had recon-
mended action by congress to prevent
aud punish the formation Of eombina-
tions or trusts by claimants to coal
lands and adds:
The antitrust clause of the Alaska
coal act y finally passed May 2s.
1908, was not submitted by Mr.. Gif-
ford Pinchot, but was submitted as a
suggestion to Secretary Garfield by
representative Herbert Parsons OF
1908, and favorably considered and
indorsed by the secretary in his report
to congress"
Mr. Ballnger then stated that no
Alaskan coal claims whatever have
been patented ana SAYS that the inyes-
tigation Of all such claims with view
OF determining their validity or inva-
lidity have been vigorously prose-
cuted.
Mr. Rsllinger denounced Us "a
plain. ordinary falsificatIon'' d report
that he IL interested in i55, 900 shares
of the Alaskn Petroleum and Coal
company
The statement that ! or my for
mcr firm was attorney for this COM
pany or ever advised or counsclled IL
IN It's effort to acquire title to public
lands is also without basis in fact
he added
MIR Balingcr said II was true that
in his private practice after he had
resigned as commissioner OF the land
office he had been consulted in the
OF articles of incorpora-
tion under the law OF 1908. which had
been approved by the president. and
which permitted the entry of as much
rs $50 acres of coal land. but not
rur that either In this or any other
connection had he given any advice
ooking to q fraudulent act against
he government
Asked about statement that no
lad said that the proper course to
AXE with the public domain was Ia
divide 1t up among the big corpora
ions and let the people who know
low, make money out Of It" Mr.
iallinger replied
$50 asininc a statement hardly mcr-
Is denial OF course, | made no such
tatcmcnt. such thought could not
ic entertained by any normal intelli-
,cncr What really think in rc-
,ard To the public domain and con
ervaton OF natural resources may BE-
nuud in my official reports as com
missioner of the general land Office.
nd iu my present annual report soon
10 Doe published. ! have not only been
IN the vanguard OF the
oser,atlon movement but have
ought to give il permanence along
rcs reasonably within the spirit OF
Ia
untc additional laws"
He made equally emphatic denial ot
statement that his firm is known
& the standard oil legal advisory IN
cattle
Mr. Ballinger also made response 10
charge that in granting rights OF
ay to the HIN and Hartman rail
,ads throgh the Des Chutcs canyon
oregon. he had rendered impossi-
e the construction OF q power plant
the canyon. Admitting that the
parimcnt had given its approval TO
.c applications. Mr. Ballinger said
.is course nHd been pursued under
BE- ttv and in pursuance of the
ishr- uf tine people of the section
fretrd hut not without taking the
.cD8IUou ~ inserting q -equlr men,
at when needed for power plant
irpoe.s each al the railroad COM
mics should elevate its tracks
indrrI feet Eut this action. he
id. insured to the people of central
-epon competing lines or railroad
Id ut the same time guaanteed the
o. of water power when the country
eds IL He also quoted the records
g had been In strict compliance with