New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-28
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

IRE tLOI lfllkENS.- -fI"NlhtH' h"+N
in his special message points ont that IN
view Of the fact that the Morgan-Gnggen-
helm railway can easily construct branch
line with which n tap the coal fields IN
the Chugach reservation. the only erect
Of preventing railroad construction at Con-
troller Bav would be 10 leave tho field en-
tirolv n the Copper River Railroad How
easily. then. can the ingenious muckraker
furnish n perfectly logical line Of deduc-
tons from these premises. Mr.. Pinchot
shows extreme consideration for tho Nor
gan-Gugzenheim syndicate. recommending
tho elimination from the Chugach forest
reserve ~ that land al Evak on which m"
syndicate has since established its terminal
and it's town ~ Cordova OF like section
Of land ar Valdez. where, according tn the
testimony of Stephen Rurch, managing d.
rector 81 that syndicate. in the Ballinger-
Pinch0t investigation. the syndicate then
contemplated establishing = terminal. and
believing that Richard s Ryan was the
agent of the Morgsn-GuEgenheim syndi-
cate. Mr. Pinchot did secretly" refer his
application for a terminal AZ Cordova 10
remote subordinate in Alaska. instead ~
WdIUluE q tHIPTNPl'NN NbfiAN VI 'iA''
templated footing Of Alaska" Is II dim
cult To deduco from these facts the conciu-
sion that only when he became convinced
that Mr. Ryan did not represent the Nor
Ean-Guggenheim syndicate. and that the
construction OF his railroad, with termi-
nal on Controller Bay, would destroy the
monopoly enjoyed by the MorGan-Guggen-
helm road. did Mr. Pinchot become aroused
70 unreasoning Indignation at the course
Of this administration And difficult as II
NAV 10 to credit other than strictly proper
motives TO ex-Secretary Garfield. how is II
possible. I'm view OF tie fair warning OF
Commissioner BaTlinger Of the plots and
purposes of the -Guggenheim syndi-
cate and other railroads. 70 escape the con-
clusion that then the Interior Department.
IN effect. sided with those great capitalists
who wished 10 develop" Alaska by max
ing enormous fortunes for themselves out
side Of and In defiance Of the law?
Az IMPERATIVE DUTY. "-Probably
not even a temerarIous muckraker viii caro-
10 attribute n ex-President Roosevelt any
improper motive. but the escape from TINS
is easy. for. can It not be pointed out tha'
the President was unGuestionaoly deceived
nv his subordinates. Clifford Pinchot and.
possihlv. even M. Garfield? There IS. or
course. some slight difficulty In explaining
how fl was possible. in view Of Colonel
Roosovelts conviction that 1T was the i'm
lucrative duty OF the government service 70
keen this outlet meaning the shore line or
Controller Bayb free, and not 10 dispose OF
e., m any individual or Individuals and 10
have held this land in perpetuity.' so 70
daceive tho former President as 10 induce
hin, actually so 10 alter meritor'ous proc
Iamatlon. including in the Chugach reserve
all the shore line o. Valdez arm, Orca Bay,
atc.. as 10 throw open. 20 become the prey
OF anv and every individual. "A tract OF
land extending one mile back from the
tide line. on both sides Of the bav known
as Valdez arm, following the tide line or
ias- 70, west from Greenwich. easterly
around the head Of Valdez arm, etc THIS
language Is taken from President Roose-
,-alt's second proclamation dated sep
TENDER IS 1907. and the length Of this mile
wide strin along the shore is about thirty
-,iIae Moreover. Mr.. Roosevelfs aVowed
.o,,irrior that II Is absolutely essential
that all terminal facilities shall be on free
land" NAV also present some difficulties.
Put then. no professional muckraker need
No discouraged. because the readers to
whom, the n1uckraker appeals have not suf-
ecient Intelligence 70 perceive these slight
discrepancies Or course, too. no reputable
re,vapaper ~ magazine would accept such
a undertaking dispatch or article. reflect
ing az II would on the integrity OF men
high In the former administration. But
neither need that discourage the energetic
and enterprising muckraker. for no repu-
table newspaper or magazine accepts that
sort OF stun now.
TIVE SANE VIEW.-Of course the sane
view of all these facts is that set forth IN
President Taft's special message where he
.,nIeins them by saying Doubtless the
rights Of the public were thought 10 De SUI
rciertlv safegrarded against monopoly OF
berbor facilities under the limitations OF
rho statute hereinafter mentioned. when
were the same then and now and which
tho President sets forth at great length
Tbero was obviously no thought az that
,i,,e that II was the Imperative duty OF
Tho government 70 retain in perpetuity
title 10 all the land fronting on BAY or
tarbor. or that in view Of the statutory
limitations. anv individual or individuals
could secure terminals even on land elml-
rsted from the Chugach forest reserve
under any conditions which would not b"
~ conserve the public interests. And it IS
fs mill hF