Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-01-26
ATTEMPTED Coal Grab.

Washington, Jac. ga close scru
Tiny OF the otar of John E.Ballaine, Of
Seattle, 10 mine Alaskan coal, aud pay
the government royalty OF 30 cents
ton, was begun today by the Seuste
committee on territories, OF which Seps.
tor Bayeridgs is chairman.
The cffar has bfcugh! new factor
iu!o the Ballipgor-pincho. controversy,
aud has been made the background for
charges tina. threaten to opan mp vast
Alaskan scandal, Bsllaine bias made
The charge that "o!her interests" nov
| maintain lobby "led by former Uolted
States Senator" In support OF another
bill for disposIng of coal lands, under
which, he says, the government would
az end an unconditional guarantee to
railroads these interests propose to
build ia Alaska, and would virtually
donate to them at $40 GIL sore one OF
| more coal tracts OF 8, 600 acres.
This bill, according to Bsl!s!pe, Ia
| heing urged for the purposes OF q Cana
| dian syndicate noE controlling pstt!.
| ally completed railroad from Seward to
The ccal claims. The lobby is alsc
| working, be says, In favor Of a group
of American capitalists who ara tryiaG
| to grab lands 10 The Katalla coal field.
Tho disputed Cunningham c!,in, about
which The G'avis charged against Sscre.
tsry of tbe Interior B,linger center, are
| In the Ka!alls fad.
Ballaine says his proposition would
| mel the government sbtu $40, 100000
on a 5. 900 acre tract OF coal land
Alaskan sfairs are brewing at the
Capitol, and it hss become known thai
! Delegate Wickersham, of the territory,
has, 10 an official lstter, requested S5cre'
tary of War Dickinson to order ont OIL
Washington Maj,r W. P Richardson,
chairman of the A;sskan E2sd Oommis.
siop. Wickersham ss5s Dickinson Ia
( exertug altogether too much iGfu ,nce
With congressional committees.
Wickersbam appeared before the San
ate committee On territories when the
Alaskan council bill was under disou''
sion, and charged that while Richardson
claimed to be the adviser OF the ad
m!nls!rstlon on Alaskan matters he ~ss
in fact lobbying In behalf of Fpscisl in
terss.s, smong them the Guygen.
helm interests.
| Asa result Wickershsm and Rlch'
ardson had an encounter In the corridor
OF the Capitol which alnos! calmiussed
/ 10 fis.icuffs. Now the Alaskan situation
assumes the appearance OF al armed
truce.
| Washington, Jan. 26.-Dsclsrlne
that he will probe into the part that ths
srmY Is ssid to have taken in the st
temp pied grab of Alaskan coal lsnds, ard
promising sensational teslinooy which.
he says will sho~ thst G1sgeDheim in
tsres.s are In control of every branch Of
the government of Alssks, Delegate
Wicke rsban, from betsrrtory cfAlasks
today made formal written request o.
the B,llipger.Pinchot investigating com
mites, to be allowed to appear before
the committee produce witnesses aoe
ee1duc. cross.exsminstlous.
| The letter makes nc mention ct The
things Delegate Wickershsm Gays he car
prove. he simply req 7as's that he may
represent his territory before the com
mi,tee. The sensational story of Msj1s
BsIaiue has set the entire Capitol sgog
! today. l; is stated By administration
leaders that nothing can prevent the Bal
linger investigation from dsEelopiDg in
to the most stupendols scaadal In tbs
government for years.
I nhnk