The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-07-14
ALASKAN MIXUP
RESOLUTION INTRODUCED CALLS
FOR INFORMATION ON CON-
TRoLLER BAY MATTER.
Did C. P. influence him
Charles p. Taft, Richard A. BalIinger,
and r. S. Ryan Are Named
Guggenheim Interests
Profited.

Washington. July IL. - Published
charges that the president had been
induced by three people-his brother,
Charles p. Taft, Richard A. Ballinger,
secretary of the interior at the time,
and Richard S. Ryan of New York, a
representative of the Guggenheim in
terests-to restore to the public do
main lands surrounding Controller
bav. in southern Alaska, met with
quick action in congress.
The house committee on expendi-
lures. headed by Representative Ora |
ham of Illinois. summoned Commits !
sioner bennett Of the general land !
Office TO appear before the committee |
TO explain what he knew about the |
Controller bay land matter, and Rep |
resentatiye Cox of Indiana, one OF the
Democratic leaders OF the house, intro |
duced a resolution calling on Presi-
dent Taft for all the information he
could furnish the house on the sub
ject.
Coincident with the Introduction Of
this resolution, announcement was
made that at its meeting the house
committee on expenditures In the in
terror department would take up the
investigation of tho story of Mrs. NJ.
T.. Abbott, the newspaper woman who
processes TO have discovered the let
ter In the files of the interior depart
ment.
In reply to the allegation that by
ordering the reopening of the Control
Ter bay land the president has made II
possible for the Guggenheim syndicate
to secure control OF the land, depart
ment officials assert that this would be
impossible, inasmuCh as the law re-
uuires the government 10 reserve for
its own purposes, that is, the proven
tion OF monopoly, alternate sections
thus thrown open.
President Taft was out of the city
and the only information obtainable
/ from administration sources was that
the order opening the Controller bay
/ lands issued last October, three
months subsequent to the writing of
/ the alleged Dick TO Dick" letter. was
I promulgated on The recommendation
. OF the forestry service through the
| department of agriculture. Mrs. Alb
bolt, who in any investigation that is
begun will be ono OF the star wit
nesses. adheres to her original story.
She made this public statement:
Il have in my possession the paper
on which | copied the postscript. Sec
rotary Fisher had instructed MIR.
Brown. his secretary. to show me the
whole record IN the Controller bay
matter. found a letter from X. $.
Ryan TO X. A. Ballinger. dated July
10, 1910. typewriter on printed sta
tionery, at the head of which was 20
William street. New York 1t was
signed n. s. Ryan.
Attached to this letter was another
sheet of paper which began: Dear
Dick and which said:
~ went to see the president the
other day about this Controller bay
affair. The president asked whom
represented. told him, according TO
our agreement, represented myself.
But that did not seem to satisfy him,
for I sent Charles Taft and asked him
to tell his brother who ! really repre-
scented. The president made no fur
ther objection to my claim.
Yours. Dick
81 am ready to go under oath and
reiterate these statements and TO pro
duce anywhere before an authorized
tribunal my paper containing my copy
Of that postscript"
The resolution introduced by Repre-
sentative Cox reviews the published
charges that Richard s. Ryan, a Sc
cret agent OF the Guggenheim syndi
cate, through the secretary OF the in
terror, Mr.. Bailinyer, and Charles p
Taft, the presidents brother. induced
the president to sign the executive or
der of Oct. rs, 1910, which released
the Controller bay territory from the
reserve and placed II in the public do
main. open to entry.
The president is requested to fur
nish all information regarding any at
tempt to exert influence upon him by
any of the persons mentioned to in
duce him TO open the land to entry.
The resolution has been referred tC
the committee on rules. which viii
give IL immediate attention. II re
ouires the production by the president
Of all letters. kilograms and other pa
pers that may serve to throw any light
upon the reason for issuing the execu
tive order.
Import More Strikebrsakers-