Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-11-14
Former Chief Forester Fears
BaIIingers Subordinates VIII
Recommend That Cunning
ham Claims be Patented,
CANNOT PUT CONFIDENCE
IN INTERIOR DEPARTMENT
Attitude of Secretary in Coal
Land Cases Indicates PreSi-
dent Must Look After Inter
eStS of American People.
ny Morning Journal special Leased wirei


Washington Noy h. EXPRESSING
the fear that the interior department
viii recommend tnc patenting OF tn
Cunningham Alaskan coal land claims
which he believes TO be fraudulent
Clifford Pinchot former forester OF
the United States, has appealed to the
president to allow him 10 submit e
brief before any such acuOn = given
executive approval
Mr. Pinchot has written 20 the
president under date OF November z.
He says in part:
1T Is unfortunately Impossible 10
look with confidence to 'lc officials
of the interior department for an un-
biased Judgment in this matter and it.
is clear The protection of the public
interest IN these Alaskan coal lands
must depend directly upon the pres
ident himself.
Secretary Ballmgers connection
with these claims, which have been
before the interior department since
he was commissioner OF the land Of
flee. precipitated the so-callcd Bail
niger Pinonot controversy and the
congressional inquiry of the interior
department and the forest service
which resulted theretrOm.
The letter also bears the signature
of the former foresters brother,
Amoa Pinchot
Following is the text of tho lettcr.
"NeW iurN. NOV. l. 1910.
The President Washington, y. G.
sir The taking of testimony TO
determine the validity Of the cum
tigham claims has long since come
to an end and with the recommenda-
tion al the interior department to
patent or not to patent the claims
doubtless will be made before long,
There is reason To apDrehend This
viii be favorable 10
tho Cunningham claimants and ad
verse to the interests OF the people Of
the United States
"The attorney FOR Mr. Ballneer IN
the printed brief submitted in behalf
OF the secretary OF ;he interior. said.
Moreover. an examination OF The
record Of the Cunningham hearings,
ana which is "a part OF the REGARD in
this case reveals not only thar the
statements OF Cunningham are true.
bnt that the Cunningham claims arc
not fraudulent. but honest
..This is not stated for the purpose
If having this committee consider tho
OF honesty or good faith at
hesc claims for the purpose of decis-
on or determination. 1t Is stated
.olclv that the committee can see
hat no perjury could be committed
,v cunningham and that Ballinger by
no possibility could have understood |
hose claims to be fraudulent, for the |
.eason that as a matter OF fact, they !
we're not fraudulent. but good and
aid claims.
The evidence of all the claimants |
,xcent one who is dead. has beon |
aiken in the cunningham hearing, |
ma is now an file. 1; shows concms- |
veiy that none of the claimants en-
cred into an agreement prior 60 lo- |
alton or prior 10 the initiation of tho !
,ntry for consolidation of their
.laims
~ is difflcnlf ia avoid the con
fusion TINT these deliberate asser-
ions made bv the attorney for Mr.
sallinger represent the opinion of the
otfer reached after the evidence. was
m In. that the claims are valid and
honld be paicuted.
"t is true that Mr. Ballineer has
efused to act himself in behalf OF
he government and accordingly has |
rrned over All responsibility 10 his |
ssistants Nevertheless. this unqual-
fled endorsement of the validity OF
he claims through his attorney can
carcelv fail to have great moral
Weight with his subordinates.
.Ifor Them to render "A decision ad.
erse IN tho claims would not only
and sunnort 10 criticisms heretofore
,ade agai,et tho deDartmetn hut
,ould amount 10 taking direct issue
-fth their chief on the argument
,ado ror him IT, his nersonai conn