The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-20
BALl|AGER MAKES
EMPHATIC DENIAL
Says He Never Advised. Ordered
or Supported Any Fraud
Upon Government.
EXPLAINS CONNECTION WITH
ALASKA COAL LANDS
Accuses His Intelligent Critics
OF Wilfully Distorting His
Views and Acts.

WASHINGTON. Nov. l0.-Replvinr
10 charges made in a magazine, Secrc-
tary Ballinger Of the interior derarf-
ment today denied many reports rs.
Gently circulated concerning the con.
duct of bis department.
10 say that | ever have advised.
ordered or lent support to auv effort
10 PcTpeluate fraud upon the govern.
ment, he SAID, ''is not only false. bnt
Is intentionally so, if made bv any one
VINO mas taken the trouble 10 INQUIRE
INTO the facts
In In explanation of the charges in con
nectlon with the Alaska coal lands he
went INTO the history of President Roosc-
NelI withdrawal from entry of all
coai lands IN Alaska in 1906. showing
that the order was so modified bv See
retary Garfield as 10 validate an an.
PIlcatlohS made prior 10 May l6. 1907.
&c lhcn called attention 10 the fact
that, IN hlS annual report of 1907 as
commissioner of the general land Of
flee, he had recommended action bv
congress 10 prevent any formation, Of
com nplnatlons or trusts by claimants TO
coal lands, and adds:
Garfield and Pinchot.
90 The antitrust clause of the Alaska
coal act as finally passed Nav 2S. loOs.
was not submitted by Mr.. Clifford Pin.
chot. but was submitted as n sunccs-
lon TO Secretary Garfield by Rcprcscn-
tative Herbert Parsons of New York.
IN his letter. of May 7, 1908, and IA
Torabiy considered and indorscd bv the
secretary IN his report 10 congress. -
Mr.. Ballingcr then stated that no
Alaskan coal claims have been pai
ented. and says that the investigation
or such claims with view OF deter
mining their validity OF invaliditv have
been vigorously prosecuted
Mr, Balhnger denounced as a ''plain,
ordinary Justification report that he
IS. interested in $4,000 shares of the
Alaska Petroleum and Coal company.
Further Denial.
The statement that | or nv former
firm was attorney for this company or
ever advised or counSelcd IN its effort
Ia acquire title to public lands is also
without basis IN fact. - he added
Mr.. Ballinger said ii was true that. i'm
hls private practice after he had re.
signed as Commissioner of the Land Of
ne. he had been consulted in the prcpar.
alton of articles uf incorporation under
:hc law Of 1908. which had been ap-
proved by The president and which per
mitted the entry Of as much as $500
acres Of Goa; lend. but not true that
' i'H'' ~ 'ill6 VI ~ 'uN ttOfT con nee
ton he had gwen any advice looking
10 fraudulent act against the govern.
mcnt
Asked about "A statement that he had
said that thc proper course TO take with
the public domain WAS To 'dividc il M
among the big corporations and let the
people who know how 10 make money
out of il. - Mr.. Balingcr replied,
so aslnIne statement hardly merits
denial OF | yp1I,. 4,
statement. Such a thought could not hc
entertained by any normal Intelligence
What ] really think i'm regard to the pub.
lie domain and the conservation Of nat.
ural resources may he found in my Of
fetal reports rs commissioner Of tho
general land Office and in my present
annual report. soon 10 he published il
have not only been consistently in thcI
of conservative movement but
] have sought 10 give permancucc along
lines reasonably within the spirit OF
present law and to secure additional
adequate laws
BE made an equally emphatic denial
Of statement that his firm is known
rs the Standard Oil legal advisory in
Seattle.
Mr.. Balluger also made response 10
a chaIgc that, in granting rights Of way
TO Hill and Hartman railroads through
the Dcscbutcs Canyon in Oregon, he had
rendered impossible the construction of
a power plant in the canyon. Admitting
that the department had given its mp
prGyal to the applications. Mr., Ballingcr
said that this course had been pursued !
undrr the law, and IN pursuance of the |
wishes of people Of the section affected,
but not without taking the precaution
OF inserting 4 requirement that, when
II ,cacd for power plant purposes. each |
railroad should elevate It's tracks a hun !
lrcd iccl,
But this action he said, insured 10 the /,
nconlc Of Central Oregon competing lines /
oT railroad and at the same time guarau
trcG the use Of the water power when
the country needs il. lie also quoted
..--.--..I. 10 tLn cns.. In chow lLni L. nrn. |