Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-13
TAKES NO CHANCES
Secretary Ballinger'S Action
on Alaskan Coal Claims.
JUDICIAL DECISION SOUGHT
Recommends Adjudication by Dis
trict Court of Appeals.
ONLY WAY TO AVOID CRITICISM
Head of Interior Department to In
clude Important Legislation
in Annual Report.
JUDICIAL DECISION SOUGHT
ONLY WAY TO AVOID CRITICISM

In order to prevent further criticism OF
the Interior Department for its handling
of the Cunningham Alaskan coal claims,
which precipitated the Balinger-P Pfnchot
investigation, Secretary Ballinger will
recommend in his annual report that Con-
gress be asked to authorize the placing of
these cases under the jurisdiction of the
Court Of Apeals of the District of Colum-
bia for consideration and adjudication.
Mr.. Ballinger last night issued a state
ment containing an excerpt from his an
nual report, which had been placed in the
hands of the President before the latter
left for Panama. The proceedings in the
Cunningham cases have been conducted
under the personal direction of the Presi-
dent for several months, Mr.. Ballinger
says.
All Referred to President.
The Secretary made it clear to his land
officers, it is said, that in view of the
public criticism Of the departments con-
duct of the cases he desired that np ac-
tion should be taken upon them until such
action first had the personal sanction of
the President.
Following is the statement issued by
THE Secretary Of the Interior will say
in his annual report:
"A class Of entries known as the Cum
ningnam entries, made In 1907. have pro-
voked wide discussion and popular inter
est, largely because of their alleged value
and method of attempted acquisition.
Wholly unfounded charges have been
spread broadcast involving the attitude
of departmental officers toward these
cases.
Transfers Recommended.
In view Of these condition 1 deem it
of the highest importance that all these
cases, Involving thirty-three entries. or
$3.50 acres of coal lands, be transferred
frcm the jurisdiction of the general land
office directly to the Court of Appeals Of
the District of Columbia for considera-
ton and adjudication. without the neces-
sity of a ruling as to the validity or IN
validity of said entries by the commits
sioner CT the general land Office. as is
now required in such cases. This proce-
dure may well be provided by special d.
rection in the bill now pending in Con-
gress for the authorizations Of appeals In
land cases from the Interior Department
to that court
Refers to Vague and Distorted View
While the decision of these cases by
officers CT the land department would be
as impartial as a decision by court
of justice. it would not have the effect
of putting at rest the vague and dis
torted notions entertained by many as
to the wholly disinterested motives OF
department officers ON whom the burden
now rests for their disposition.
For several months, at the instances
of the Secretary of the Interior. these
cases have been placed under the special
direction of the President, with the view
that no action should be taken without
his personal sanction.
1.-The recommendations in this respect
and acticn of the department have been
wholly upon the initiative of the Secre-
tary of the Interior"