The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-08

is the text of the letter written by Gift
ord Pinchot to Senator Dolliver. the
reading Of which resulted in his dis
nissal from the Forestry Service yes
Cerday.
In accordance with your request, |
M glad TO make 4 statement concern
ing certain actions of Messrs. Prince
and Shaw, chiefly in reference to
claims for coal lands located within
the Chugash National Forest. BY my
direction they have prepared an Off
cial report upon the subject, which
am transmitting at once to the secre-
tary OF agriculture. This report shows
that Messrs. Price and Shaw made pub
lie certain Official information regard
ing the so-called Cunningham claims
for coal lands in Alaska. The effect
OF the publication was to direct crit
zeal public attention to the actions of
the Interior department
1T shows also that they countenanc-
ed the publication by L. r. CLAWS of
certain facts concerning these claims
after he had been dismissed from Of
flee, and that in other ways they en-
deavored to direct public attention to
the imminent danger that the Alaska
coal fields, still in government own
ership. might pass forever into pri-
vate hands, with little or no compen-
sation to the public.
Property Made Public.
The report makes it clear that the
information in reference to the Cum
ningham coal claims lin Alaska) made
public by Price and Shaw was properly
within the knowledge Of the forest SER
vice. because these claims lie chiefly
within a national forest. This infor
nation was also of . nature proper to
be made public, unless there are Sc
crets which the people of the United
States are not entitled to know con-
corning the source, nature and prog
ress of claims made for portions of the
public lands.
The rumor that the CLAWS report to
the president was prepared in or by
the forest service is incorrect. At
Glavis's request l sent Shaw, as it was
proper I should, to Chicago to assist
him in arranging his material for sub
mission to the president. No mate
rial contained in the CLAWS report was
contributed either directly or Indirect
ly by any member of the forest SER
vice.
'Messrs. Price and Shaw were con-
fronted by an extraordinary situation.
Information had come to them which
convinced them that the public inter-
ests in a matter within the line Of Of
fetal duties were in grave danger at
the hands of fraudulent claimants to
these coal lands. Action through the
usual official channel. and finally even
an appeal to the president. had result
ed because of what l believe to have
been a mistaken impression of the
facts in eliminating from the govern
ment service, in the person of CLAWS,
the most vigorous defender of the peo-
pies interests. Furthermore, the re-
fusal of the secretary OF the interior
to assume responsibility in the cases
had left the conduct in the hands of
subordinates. each of whom was appar-
emily committed in favor of patenting
these claims.
Acted From Sense Of Duty.
Finally. from the report as a whole
it is aburdantly evident that the action
of Price and Shaw was taken with the
single object of protecting the property
of the people of the United States. 1t
is clear not only that they acted from
high and unselfish sense of public
duty but that they deliberately chose
to risk their official positions rather
than permit what they believed to be
the wrongful loss of public property.
You asked me what recommended
ton would make to Secretary Wilson
as to Price and Shaw. Without hest
tation l shall take the position that
their action violated a rule Of propri-
ETY. as between the departments. 1t
deserved a reprimand and has re-
ceived one. But I shall recommend,
likewise without hesitation, that no
further action in their case be re-
quired. My reasons for this recon-.
mendation are as follows:
The action of these two men was
most unusual. but so was the situation
which called it forth. The best proof
is that congress itself has been asked
to take the extraordinary step of inves-
tigating the department of the inte'
rior, Notwithstanding that it is a part
of a coordinate branch Of the govern
ment. This action of congress can not
be ascribed to the conduct of two SUBJ
ordinate officials.
Price and Shaw successfully di-
rected attention to national danger.
They increased the peoples interest
in the peoples property and power
fully fostered the desire to conserve
it. There is now far less chance that
Alaska coal fields will pass into the
hands of fraudulent claimants than
there was before they acted. They
acted on what they believed to be
trustworthy information. Many con-
celebrations, which had not been
brought home to the Presidents mind.
as appears from his letter of Sept.
-. had weight with them.
Rules Only for Efficiency.