Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-09
DROPS THE INQUIRY
Committees Majority Report
on Controller Bay Issue.
MINORITY VIEW PROMISED
Democratic Members Say Administra-
ton Policy Has Changed.
CHARGED TO DISCLOSURES
MINORITY VIEW PROMISED
CHARGED TO DISCLOSURES
Committees Action Based on Rec
Speech by Secretary Fisher.

Speech by Secretary Fisher.
The long waited report on the Con-
troller bay land controversy, which at
tracted so much attention during the
special session of Congress last sum-
mer, has been agreed upon by the four
democratic members of the House
committee on expenditures in the In
terror Department, of which Represent
ative Graham of Illinois is chairman.
1t Is confidently expected that the three
republican members of the committee
will submit a minority report on some
phases of the matter, at least.
The report insists that the administra-
tion's policy has undergone complete
change since the committee began it's
inquiry, and says it is fair to assume
that the visit of Secretary of Interior
Fisher to Alaska last summer, which
preceded President Taft's alleged change
Of 'front.' was a direct result of dis
closures before the committee.
No reference whatever is made to the
mysterious Dick to Dick letter. which
purported to be from Richard S. Ryan,
who holds two-thrds of the lands on the
N~-N~
to Secretary of the Interior Richard Bal
linger, which, by inference, accused
President Taft of betrayal of the public
trust. The very existence of this letter
is now admitted to be doubtful. although
Miss Abbott, a newspaper woman, claims
to have seen the letter in the files of the
Interior Department After the accusa-
tions and insinuations against President
'raff in yxrit
thoroughly circulated, Chairman Graham
and his democratic colleagues abandoned
| all effort to learn anything further about
it, and the efforts of the republican men,
vestigation of the mysterious missive
were fruitless. Chairman Graham now
says he Is not interested in the letter.
Brandeis' Letter Quoted.
After stating that the purpose Of the
inquiry by the committee was in connec-
tion with the elimination from the Chu-
each national forest reserve Of lands on the
shore of Controller bay. which were soon
thereafter acquired by Richard s. Ryan,
a reputed agent of the Gusgenheim
syndicate, the report quotes the recently
published letter Of Louis d. Brandeis.
counsel for the committee, urging aban-
donment of the inquiry. The committees s
action, 1t is understood. was based on
the recommendation of Brandeis and
Amos Pinchot. counsel for the committee,
and speech of Secretary of the In
terror Fisher. which the committee re-
garded as voicing a change in the ad-
mintstration's attitude toward Alaska.
The committee states:
Secretary Fishers recent address be-
fore the American Mining Congress at
Chicago. made with the authority of the
President, marks a change-we think a
complete change-in the administration S
Alaskan policy.
1T points to an abandonment of the
policy of allowing private individuals or
syndicates to get possession in perpetuity
| of mineral wealth of enormous value un-
der the specious plea of developing Alas
| ka. and to the adoption of a and
different policy which will forever keep
title to these mineral lands in the public
and permit leasing OF them to proper par
ties on wise terms. 1t also points to the
building of one or a few government
| owned railroads in the most strategic and
most necessary locations.
No ed of Continuing Inquiry.
'The change in policy is so much in
harmony with the views of the committee
that we see no necessity for pursuing
| the investigation further at this time and
our conclusion is emphasized by the
proba bility of congressional action, which
We hope will result in giving the people
| of Alaska and to others who may aid
| in the legitimate development OF that ter
ritory the opportunity 10 utilize its great
possibilities and to reap for themselves a
reward commensurate with their courage
and their industry.
| Your committee feels justified under
| these circumstances in assuming that
Secretary Fishers visit to Alaska at that
particular time and the change or policy
announced on his return are largely. il
not wholly, attributable TO the acton o!
this committee in the Controller bay mat
| ter and we are well satisfied with the
outcome even though the Secretary aas
| in large measure anticipated the com
mittees intention to suggest TO the HOUSE
| a program Of constructive legislation foi
| the beneti; of the people OF Alaska
After reviewing the history OF Con
trolIer bay and the requirement py Ry ar
| of two-thrds Of the water front-to which
| the committee admits his title is good
| the report continues:
I'VE realize that 1t is not function
of this committee to make recommends,
tions concerning legislation and we fee
diffident about touching on such matters
Nevertheless, having gone over the
ground, we trust it may not be amiss tC
| give expressions to some OF the con
clusions we have reached.
Suggested Legislation.
| Hence we venture respectfully to sug
gest:
! First, that the government should moi
part with title to any COAL petroleum
natural gas or mineral land which 1t now
owns in Alaska and that the government
construct. acquire, own and. IL neces airy
! operate at least one railroad there. II /:
| suggested by the committee that even tn'
! Panama canal is scarcely more nec1ssarS )
/ for the common defense and the genera
! welfare than is an arrangement for coal
! ing the ships of our navy in the Pacific
| ocean at any and all seasons of tie year
"A government harbor and dock il
! Controller bay and government-ownet
railroad from Controller bay to Berins
I coal field" the report says. would en-
tirely meet these requirements. and woult
| round out and supplement the Panama
canal by making wise and necessary pro
vision for the common defense"
The report of the committee conclude
as follows:
| Your committee would respectful!
suggest that for the better development
of Alaska as well as for the genera
good, Congress should at an early dat
take action along the following lines:
That will reserve to the government
in perpetuity, the title to all coal lant
and mineral land in Alaska, the title T.
which has not already passed to others
or in which no vested rights obtain.
THAT a similar course be followed a.
to all land containing petroleum or nat
ural gas.