Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-08
INDICATION FOR
SEC'Y BALLINGER
Continued from Page one)

ment administration as IuEnlSlnHB SNluehO9
Of some sinister purpose.
Specific Findings in Report.
The report makes the Following specific
findings:
THAT the charges and fnsinuatons against
Secretary Balinger In regard to the Cum
bingham coal land entries or other coal
land claims in Alaska are not JUSTIFIED and
his conduct in respect thereto rs not justly
T6at he was fully justified in revoking
the Indian cooperative agreement
That the reservations of water power
sites by secretary Ballinger were made in
good faith and not in enmity to the gov
eminent and that no injury appears TO nave
been done to the government and the cause
of conservation by either the restorauons
or Withdraw ais
torney general, he was justified in abandon
Ing the use Of the so-called water users CO.
operative certificates in connection with
the reclamations Of arid lands.
That the administration OF the reclama-
zion law presented features justly subject
TO criticism. No unfair criticism %, or IN
part has been shown nor any action by him
not within the sound discretion OF the head
OF the Interior department In the faithful
p1,bat ne is not an enemy Of. nor hostile
to a reasonable and iudicious policy OF
conservation and that no GROUND Whatevet
baa been shown justifying the opinion that
he IS not a faithful and efficient public
officer.
= Alaska Coal Cases.
! After setting forth the fact that the en-
tire known coat fields OF Alaska lcoyering
| more than 100000 acres, is still in govern
ment ownership. the report takes up the
hearing upon the strife between Secretary
Rallinger and other officials of the govern
r,srt Including several Of his subordinates,
and Mr.. Pinchot, who was deposed as gov
eminent forester The report then says:
,your committee finds that the interests
~ the people as owners of the Alaskan
coal fields are not threatened or endang-
! arcd under existing conditions"
Sneaking of the Cunningham claims the
committee finds that II would be improper
for II to pass upon the merits Of these
claims and thus prejudice them while they
are nending. IF they are regular" the
renort saws. patents should be allowed.
II thew are fraudulent, claims should be
cancelled. The claimants are entitled to all
impartial Judgment upon their rights in the
premises"
II is said the committee found no reason
TO doubt that the commissioner Of the gem
eraI land office, with an appeal to the
secretary OF the interior, would decide the
cases fairly and imparually, but because
of the imputations heaped upon them it is
recommended that a law be enacted for
the transfer Of these and any other cases
involving claims to Alaskan coal lands to
an appropriate court for a hearing and
decision.
LensinE system Advocated.
( Concerning the future OF Alaskan coal
lands the report makes a definite recon-
mendations in favor OF the leasing sys-
TEN, which also was favored by President
Taft I'm his message to congress. The rec
| ommendaton follows:
W, a. l., Al.
height OF unwisdom TO permit these great
coal fields to be monopolized or gathered
into the private ownership OF a few for
| speculative purposes. AS they increase in
value the increment should inure to the
/ benefit OF all the people,
/ TO bring about this result and at the
| same time put an end 10 the unreasonable
! condition now existing your committee
i recommends that the government refuse to
sell the lands, but that retaining their
{ ownership, it shall grant leases at fair
royalties for periods limited, long enough
and covering areas large enough to Justify
/ the necessary investments upon sound
. business principles and thus secure the
opening and operation Of sufficient mines
/ to meet the necessities OF Alaskan consump-
tioni afford relief from the present out
/ rageous prices paid by consumers, and al
/ the same time afford some revenue to the
/ government. We recommend legislation to
/ that end and that pending such legislation
( the existing withdrawal from entry Of the
/ Alaskan coal lands be made.
Censure for CLAWS.
As to the conduct Of Mr.. CLAWS In the
/ long period in which the Alaska coal claim
3 cases were under his contrOl as special
/ agent of the land office, the report de
/ clsres he had sufficient time and abundant
assistance TO make the field examination
which he had demanded.
J In this connection The committee says;
III lis demand was in good faith CLAWS
was grossly remss In his duty u not hav-
ing the examination made then"
Commenting upon the blanket with
drawais of public lands wniCh were made
uy James r. Garfield, when secretary of
The interior, the committee says this action
was ,aken 10y him after he ascertained
President Taft IL Is said these with
drawals we're made Afterwards, from the
mere Inspection of the land office state
maps.
Aang OF these lands we've restored 10
tlr public domain by Secretary EalHnser
ara a portion were again set aside The
tt-ithdTawals. according 10 the commit
zee. we're made by Secretary Balhnger
after a careful examination OF the maps
data and reports in the geological surveys"
ard q Is said that the rewitndrawais em-
braced AN the power sites In the original
blanket Withdrawals made by an. Garfield