The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-02-16
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the record shows he had al his dis
posal the entire field force and he also
had explicit notice that 1 had pledged
the entire field force of the department
for a report in these cases at certain
time.
He has failed however, and the re-
port can not be made. You have been
placed in charge OF the Cunningham
group Of Alaska coal cases for the
express purpose of properly comPlet-
ing the Investigations speedily end
thoroughly and thereafter TO conduct
the hearings upon which the govern
ment viii endeavor to cancel the
claims. Enough Of the record has been
recited to advise YOU that 1 expect THIS
result 10 be accomplished.
CLAWS said he received copy OF TINS
letter before Sheridan received the
original.
Vertrees took up with CLAWS the
character Of his instructions as to the
investig CATION Of the Alaska coal cases.
CLAWS said it was his purpose TO ex-
anime all the 500 or 600 cases before
reporting on any.
Tertrees then read from the record
BallingeF's original instructions to
CLAWS, which were to file individual
and separate reports from time to time
to the end that action might be taken
without further delay. The witness
would not admit this meant he was TO
complete his investigation in one group
before going to another.
Vertrees sought to show by his sue
ceeding questions that IL was CLAWS
action IN not submitting separate re-
ports from time to time which caused
all the trouble. CLAWS said he deemed
his way of conducting affairs the best
At one point Of the examination At
torney Brandeis answered for the wit
ness.
Let the witness answer the ques-
I lions. remarked Nertrees.
CLAWS. in response to questions by
/ Chairman Nelson. said there were only
about 30 of the 500 Alaska claims that
had gone to final entry and that 80
Of these were in the Cunningham
group.
QUOTES R0OSEEELT'S MESSAGE
You said yesterday" remar ked Yer
/ trees to the witness that you regarded
/ Ballinger's act in stating that he was
coming to Washington to see what con-
gress could do for the relief of the
Alaska coal claimants as one OF the
reasons for his not being fit for office.
In that connection I would like to read
the following paragraphs from Presi-
1 dent Roosevelt's message to the six
E tieth congress He says:
The regulations should permit coal
/ lands TO he worked in sufficient guam
I tity by the several corporations. The
present limitations have been absurd,
1 excessive and served no useful purpose,
/ and often render il necessary that there
should be either fraud of else abandon
ment OF the work Of getting out the
coal.
1.-THE coal land laws should be
/ changed so as to meet the peculiar
needs Of the territory. This should be
attended TO at once, for the present
areas OF the public domain for specu-
Iative purposes and cause an immense
amount OF trouble, fraud and litiga-
ton
vertrees also read into the record
part of the testimony of former Secre-
tary Garfield before the house commit
tee on public lands favoring a change
/ in the local land laws so as to permit
Of the pettioning Of claims where it
was shown the full price had been paid
TO the government and where the total
area did not exceed something under
( 5000 acres.
-''Under date of January %. 19oS.''
said Vertrees. you telegraphed the
commissioner of the land Office saying
/ Coal entries mentioned in your letter
January should not be clear listed
LettepbfolIows:'
yes. 50 telegraphed," replied
Claws.
And doesn't the record show that
on the day that telegram was received
the order clear listing, entries was re-
voked?"
Yes, sir"
This was done without even wait
| ing for your letter of explanation ~
Yes. sir"
And that is the way the matter has
remained until this day."
YES. sir, as far as 1 know"
Vertrees devoted the latter part of
the afternoon session to showing that
when the land Office ordered the Cum
ningham claims TO be clear listed for
patent in January, 1907. Special Agent
II. X. Love, who had had charge of
the cases, had made two reports that
were regarded as favorable.
Claws would not admit that the re-
ports were favorable, but insisted that
they warranted further investigation.
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