The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-01-05
Withdrawal From Entry of
Public Lands Brings
Matters to Crisis.
TOO LARGE.
TO BE SUPPRESSED
Forester, Eager TO Garry Out Con
servatiou Policy, Prefers
Charges.

On June L Attorney General WICK
/ cTsham oyerrulcd the Pierce decision
/ The CunHiughams then preferred 10
stand under the OLD Law, and CLAWS
received orders from the land Office Jc
hurry his investigation. Later SPECIAL
Land Agent Sheridan wa placed on the
cases. sUpersediug CLAWS CLAWS had
protested and asked for time in which
10 complete his investigation, and when
he found his protests uuaVaili1g he
photographed 10 Acting Law officer
Shaw, Of the Forestry Service. stating
that there were about 200 claims in TIE
Chugach national forest reserve in
/ Guiding the Cunningham group, which
were about 10 proceed TO trial. and ask.
ing the cooperation Of the Forestry
Service
on July p. Secretary Of Agriculture
/ Wilson requested Secretary Bsuiuger
not 70 tx dates for the hearing OF these
claims until he could md out, from the
local forestry officers, the 4El reasons
for the request for pOsCpOnemeut-
2 day later Law Officer shaw, Of the
1 Forest Service, called at the General
! Land Office, and requested that ne be al
lowed 70 examine the record in the
cases, which was refS-ed. He reported
the refusal 70 Associate Forester Price.
VINO with Shaw then called on Chief Of
Field Service Schwartz. OF the General
( Land Office II was on this occasion
that the statement "Pinch0t Is trying
10 run the Interior Department vas
made. The Forest Service officers were
finally allowed TO see the recOrd-after
certain papers were taken out
Favored Delay.
Special Agent sheridan, after looking
over Claws record OF the cases at Sc
attic. iudorsed the recommendation for
delay. and later Acting Secretary II the
Interior Pierce granted the request OF
the Secretary Of Agriculture for sus.
pension Of the hearing; but urged mat !l5
the Forestry investigation or the claims
/ be FASTENED as much as possible
Il was with the Cunningham claims
I in this situation that CLAWS Iourneyed
from Seattle TO Beverly. Mass last
summer and Laid the case before Presi-
dent Taft The whole West b. this time
I was au5EZe with the discussion % the
/ BaliiuEeT-PlnChUJ controversy. Both Of
| the principals were attending rival
/ conservation congressez- IN the " est.
! PinC10r making speechcs demaudiny the
/ '-preserys Jiou Of the land for the peo-
Z Pile and BaIinger declaring that Pin
Chot IS trying 10 run the Interior De
/ UartmCut"
Then came the open letter from the
+ President 20 Secretary EalluEer com
plCtely generating him. and C1sra rtcr-
ling the CLAWS charges as mere
E 'shreds OF suspicion Claws was dis
charged and the Administration waited
for The unpleasant incident 70 be for
But this is :.4st what did not happen
CLAWS carried his charges into the pub
( lie prints and the battle was renewed
with viEor Finally the situation be
came so acute that Balliuger just be
{ fore the Christmas holidays wrote A
/ letter TO Senator Jones Of washington
demanding a Congressional tuvestlEa-
tion. not only OF his Own conduct hui
! OF that OF the officials Of the Forest
Service whom ne charged with inspiring
the attacks uuou his administratl ton.
This letter was read 20 the Senate and
arrangements were made for the intro
ductiou Immediately afLeT the recon
veninE OF Congress Of q resolution pro-
| vidinE for an investigation