Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-01-14

Clifford Pinchot, the deposed forester
is a years old, native OF SlmsourN,
Conn. a graduate of Yale in 1889, and
although he is a man of fortune he has
labored at the head Of the forestry de-
partment like a pure minded patriot
being anxious to advance cause in
which he implicitly believed. He studied
forestry methods extensively abroad be-
fore entering upon his work, and In the
Roosevelt administration he became very
prominent in shaping the policy Of the
conservation of the country's resources
and June s. 1908, was appointed chair
man Of the national conservation COM
mission He and President Taft are
members of the same senior society at
Yale.
Richard A. Ballinger secretary Of the
interior department, is 81 years old a
native Of Boonesboro. Ia. He was a
cowboy three years before he devoted
his time seriously to study. He gradu-
ated from williams college in 1884 and
practiced law in Illinois before SettIIh6
in Seattle, Wash
In 1902 one Clarence Cunningham dis
covered large coal deposits in the south
east part of Alaska. He formed a
syndicate, divided into 80 groups, which
filed claims TO the land, covering about
35, 900 acres. 1t was charged that many
of the claimants were dummies and that
the law was being evaded to secure the
great tracts of coal lands for the Cum
ningham syndicate. Ballinger, who mad
been commissioner of the general land
office in Washington, was practcing law
in Seattle. For short time he acted
as counsel for the Cunningham syndicate.
Part Of the coal lands lie in national
forest reserve and il was but natural
that Mr. Pinchot should come into IN
innate relations with Louis c. CLAWS
chief of the field division, in the general
land office at Seattle. This office is
under the direction of the interior
department. In 1908 Mr.. CLAWS was de-
tailed to investigate the alleged frauds
in the Alaska coal lands.
Mr. CLAWS sent to President Taft at
Beverly, Ma IS, on August 10 last
statement containing charges against
high officials Of the interior department,
in regard to the Cunningham claims.
Mr. CLAWS stated in substance in his
report and in others made later for pub
LEGATION, that he was satisfied the claims
were fraudulent; that he had been re-
tarded in his investigation of them by
the interior department, that he had
finally been taken off the investigation
altogether, and a less experienced man
put in his place; that he believed SeCre-
tary Ballinger had used his knowledge
of the land Office affairs, obtained when
he was land commissioner, for the bene-
fit of his clients, the Cunningham claim
ants; that since becoming secretary he
had unnecessarily interested himself in
expedfting the business of the claimants
Fearing the claims would be patented
in spite of his protests, Mr. CLAWS de-
clared he believed it his duty to appeal
to the President.
The truth of his assertions was indig
nantly denied by the officials of the
interior department. Secretary Ballinger
requested the authority Of the President
to dismiss Mr. CLAWS from the public
service. and on Sept. Is, the President
sent a long letter to Mr.. Ballnger author
izing Glavis's dismissal, for filing a
disingenuous statement, unjustly i'm
peaching the official integrity OF ms SUI
perior officers,
The Presidents letter stated that he
had made a careful investigation of the
records bearing on the charges and Mr..
Ballinger's connection with the Cunning
ham claims, and was satisfied Mr..
Glavss case embraced only "shreds of
suspicion without substantial evidence
Mr. CLAWS was dismissed on Sept. l6.
The public domain is under the control
of the interior department Much of II
is covered with forests the forestry ser
vice being under the department OF
agriculture.
Under the Roosevelt administration Mr.
Pinchot's forestry program received the
warm approval of both the President
and of the secretary of the interior.
on the eve of retiring from Office
President Roosevelt put into force a
project fostered by himself and Mr. PIN
chot to conserve the cOuntry's water
powers, by Withdrawing from the public
domain water power sites in the west
capable of developing 100000 horse
power. His purpose in doing this was
to prevent these water powers from be-
ing obtained by private interests through
the taking up at nominal prices of the
lands around them.
on Mr. Balinger's taking office as
secretary Of the interior one of his first
official acts was to issue an order re-
storing the water powers to the public
domain.
The so-called Pinchot- Ballinger con-
troversy began right there. It has
passed through many scenes. Mr.. PIN
chot's friends have claimed that Mr..
BalIinger acted in the interest of a po-