Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-18
The Cunningham Claims.

The Cunningham Claims.
The greatest interest. Of course. will
center about the views expressed by the
committee with respect to the Cunning
ham coal claims. Every member Of the
committee recognizes the Importance OF
proper and effective conservation of the
great mineral resources OF Alaska. The
coal fields OF this territory are partiou-
larry valuable. and, as the testimony de-
veloped among the earliest prospectors
and claimants for mining rights therein
were those who figured In the controversy
as belonging to the cunningham
group
With respect to these claims. the ma
iOrty of the committee may be expected
TO report that Mr.. Ballinger has abso
lutely no interest in them and that he did
nothing which could be construed as
wrong In order to bring about the tssu-
aace OF patents for the $3.50 acres OF
coal lands which the claims covered. The
charges OF Mr.. CLAWS that Mr.. Ballinger
stopped the investigation of the Cunning
ham coal claims will be declared TO be
without foundation.
In a word. there will be no comfort
IN the majority report for Mr.. CLAWS.
,lr Pinchot, Mr.. Garfield. Mr.. Newell.
Lead of the reclamation service. Or Tor
my of the men who have stood by
them.
Their conduct will be condemned by
Inference. IL not by specification. There
X no intention to make the report
lassionate denunciation OF the as
safIants of Secretary Ballinger. 1t Is
realized that anything of this KIND
would defeat the end desired-the alb,
,,lute vindication of the Secretary and
;Ic administration, which has stood
yally behind him.
The Dissenting Reports.
The reports of Mr. Madison and the
mocrats are expected to take con-
;~ary view. holding that Mr.. Ballinger
=. ted improperly with respect to the Cum
iingham claims. that he was not justified
a his criticism of the reclamation service
ard that his policy with respect to water
over sites was not in the public interest
The administration and the regular re-
Gblicans will insist that these views are
r.ompted by partisan politics. that Mr.:
Madison is an insurgent republican and
tat the democrats are attempting 10
l.. AXE capital for use in the coming cam
align.
The obvious reply to this is a counter
arge that like consideration Influenced
majority of the committee 1t Is al
ether improbable that Mr.. Pinchot
4 Mr. Garfield will remain qufescent
der the reflections the majority of the
mmittee will cast upon them. They be-
we the public already has passed ]udg-
INT upon the evidence the committee
taken, II having DcSH eAHduStlNcIS
scented in the daily press. They be-
re the verdict OF the people is in their
vrr. Consequently they have little APP
,hension as to the character of the
Illusions the majority of the commit
will report.
Ballinger's Future.
IN interesting question will arise when
t5e reports are made public. Will Secre-
tary Ballinger remain in Office or not?
The Secretary has insisted that he has
no intention of resigning. He has even
gone so far as to say that he will re-
main in office throughout the present ad
ministration. It is altogether likely, how
ever. that before many months are passed
there will be a new Secretary of the In
terror, in spite of the results of the con-
gressional investigation which is nearing
a conclusion. Another interesting ques-
ito Is: What effect will the expected win
iication" have upon the November cleo
lions?
No Verdict Yet, Says Madison.
KANSAS CITY, July 1s.-Representative
r. H. Madison, a member of the joint
congressional committee. in a message
today to the Associated Press from his
home In Dodge City. Kan, declared that
m conclusions had heen reached in The