Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-01-26
Aitemnisd Coal Grab.

Washington, jar. ga close scru.
Tiny OF the offer of John E. Blllsine, OF
Seattle, 10 mine Alaskan coal, aud pay
the government q royalty Of 90 cents
A ton, was begun today by the Senate
committee on territories, OF which Seus'
tor B.Yeridge Ia chairman.
The offer has brought new factor
into the BAlliDgor.Pincho. controversy,
aud has been made the background for
charges thst threaten to OPEN up vast
Alaskan scandal, Bsllaine has made
The charge that "olher interests" nov
maintain a lobby "ed by former Uoited
States Senator" in support OF another
bill for dsposIng OF coal lands, under
which, he says, the government would
ex end 40 unconditional guarantee to
railroads these interests propose to
build Ia Alaska, and would virtually
donate to them at $40 an sore one or
more coal tracts OF 8, 900 acres.
This bill, according to BillsIne, Is
being urged for the purposes OF Cana
dian syndicate row controlling psttl-
ally completed railroad from Seward to
the ccal claims. The lobby is sleo
working, he Gays, In favor cf q group
of American capitalists who are trying
to grab lands Ia The Katalla coal field.
The disputed Cunningham clsim, about
which The G,avis charges against Score.
tary of The Interior BilliDger center, are
g., H. Rafallo 6ald
Ballaine says his proposition would
net the government sbtu $40, 100000
on a 900 acre tact OF coal land.
Alaskan affairs are brewing at the
Capitol, and 1t hiss become known thai
Delegate Wickersham, Of the territory,
has, 10 sn official letter, requested sscre-
tary OF War Dickinson to order out OF
Washington Majlr w. P. Richardson,
cbaIrmsn OF the A'ssksn Road Commits.
siop. Wlckershsm ssSs Dickinson is
exsrtiug altogether too much iOHu nee
With congressional committees.
Wicksrsbam appeared before the Sem
ate committee on territories when the
Alaskan couDcil bill WAS under distu'-
sion, and charged that while Richardson
claimed 10 be the adviser OF the sd.
minlslrstIon on Alaskan matters he vas
10 fact lobbying 10 behalf OF special IN
terssls, smong them the Guygen-
helm interests.
Asa result WickershSm and Rloh-
ardsou had an encounter In the corridor
of the Capitol which almost cnlmius,ed
/ 10 fis.icuhs. Now the Alaskan situation
assumes the appearance OF an armed
truce.
| Washington, Jan. 26.-Dsclarlng
that he will probe into the part that the
srmy Is ssid to have taken In The al
tenn pied grab of Alaskan coal lands, and
promising sensational testimony Which,
| be says will show thst G1ggenheim In
teres,s are 10 control of every branch OF
the government OF Alaska, Delegate
Wicktrstam, from tteItsrrItofy ofAlssks,
today made a formal written request oil
the B,llinger.Pincdot investigating CON-
uni,les, to be allowed to appear before
the committee produce witnesses sod
te1ducl cross.exsminstlous.
The letter makes nc mention OF The
things Delegate Wickershsm isJs he eau
prove. BE simply rel1ssis that he may
represent his territory before the CON-
mittee. TIE sensational story Of MsjOr
BeIlaIue has set the entire Capitol sgog
today. |, Is stated by administration
leaders that nothing can prevent the Bal
liDger investigation from Developing 10
to The most stupendous scandal 10 the
government for yesrs.
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TSs Market.