New-York tribune., 1910-11-13
BALL|NGER SEEKS
REVIEW IN COURT
slyouests Cunningham Claims Be
Submitted to Circuit Judges
in District of Columbia.
CAUSE OF FAMOUS INQUIRY
Secretary Will Advise Congress
to Relieve His Department OF
Responsibility in View OF
Many Rumors.
From III. Tribune Bureau J

zz-aehtne+oT1. Nov. l2-E Congress ap-
uroves q recommendation which is to be
made by Secretary Ballinger in his an
nDsI -eDo-t. the most important Ques-
ton raised n the celebrated Ballinser-
Ptnchot controversy will be settled IN a
court Of justice.
Ny. Bauiuger Will advise that the
Court Of Appeals OF the District OF Co
l71u1bia pass on the question OF the va
lidity of the Cunningham coal entries
thus relieving the Department OF the IN
terror from responsibility
This new and entirely unexpected move
On the part Of the Secretary OF the Inte-
-5o- will revive interest II the conserva-
ton fEht, which was & feature Of the
LAST session OF Congress. The fight
AGAINST Secretary BaIIinger was predi-
Gated largely on his alleged attitude
toward the Cunningham claims
N this group are thirty-three coal
claims IN Alaska, which were located by
Clarence Cunningham These claims
were clear-listed when Mr.. BalInger was
Commissioner Of the General Land Office
e,7begueutIv Nj Bauinger revoked the
-Jea--Iisti1s crder and directed Louis F.
Claws 70 make q further inquiry into
the validity Of the claims The status o.
the claims remains the same as It was
when the clear listing order vas revoked
They are awaiting action by the Com
missioner Of the General Land Office.
The Fight on BaIinser.
The first open move in the fight on
Secretary BaIIinger was the fling with
President Taft Of the CLAWS charges, in
which the Secretary OF the Interior was
attacked for his alleged desire to hasten
4he Cunningham claims TO patent
These charges led TO the dismissal Of
NJ. Claws from the government service, /
President Taft and Attorney General
wickershan finding them wholly IN
sustained
As an outgrowth Of these charges an |
Investigation Of the whole controversy
was ordered by Congress, and in the long
inquiry made last spring and GUNNER
The Cunningham cases had the place OF
distinction. According to the testimony
Mr. BalIinger. when he became Secretary
OF the Interior, directed Assistant Sec
reta-y Pierce 70 take full charge OF the
Cunningham cases.
n the natural course Of the business
Of the General Land Office the tine IS
near at hand when these cases viii be
reached for consideration For several
months 81 the instance Of the Secretary
y the Interior, these cases have been
placed under the special direction OF the
President with the view that no action |
should be taken without his personal |
sanction
Mr.. BaIlinger's Statement.
NJ. Bauilger announced to-day that 4
his annual report viii contain the fol- |
lowing recommendation regarding these /
cases
4 class Of entries known as the Gun
rlngham entries, made II 1907, have
provoked wide discussion and popular
interest largely because Of their alleged
value and method Of attempted acquisi-
ION Wholly Unfouuded charges have
been spread broadcast involving the at
tT-uGe Of departmental officers toward
these cases.
n view Of these conditions I deem Il
0f the highest importance that all these