The Sentinel=record., 1911-07-27
TAFT ALONE
 RESPONSIBLE
IN SPECIAL MESSAGE PRESIDENT ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY IN
 ALASKA LAND CASE.
Denies Famous "Dick to Dick" Post script and Says His Brother Knew Nothing of the Alaska
 land Opening,

Washington, July 26.-President Taft sent a special message to the Senate today shouldering Full re- sponstbility for opening for settle ment and development 12,S00 acres of Chugach National Forest Reserve in 4laska-an incident which has be- come known as the Controller Bay Affair" Tn concluding he brands the DOW famous 'lDick to Dick" post script as wicked fabrication" and says that Charles P. Taft, whose name appeared in the alleged post script, "has no interest in Alaska, never had, and knows nothing of the circumstances connected with this transaction. Moreover, the Presi- dent adds, his brother does not even remember that he ever met Richard s. Ryan. representing the Controller Railway and Navigation Company.
 As for eliminating the land in question from the reserve. the Presi- ont says that there is no danger Of the Controller Railway and Naviga- ton Company or any other interests monopolizing the field, and nothing to show that this company is in any way connected with the Morgan Gug. geuheim interests. Hence, he be- lieves that in eliminating the land he has acted for the best interests of the nation.
 T wish to be as specific as possi- Ole upon this point," says the Presi- dent in ais message, land to say that l alone am responsible for the en- largement of the proposed elimina ton from 320 acres to 12,S00 acres. and that I proposed the change and stated my reasons therefor. The thing which the Territory of Alaska needs is development, and where rights and franchises can be properly granted to encourage investment and 
 construct a railroad without confer ring exclusive privileges, l believe it to be in accordance with good pol icy to grant them"
 Accompanying the Presidents mes- sage are documents, reports and maps bearing on the case, as requested Lx IA. Of June 27th, last. 'I deem it wise" says the message, Ito accompanying ahe submission of these documents with statement in narrative form Of the action of the administration With the reasons therefor. Here follows a description of Controller Bay and enyirons and map showing the effect of withdrawing the much mooted 12,S00 acres from the re" serve. The President then takes ul the thread of his narrative as con- cerns the events that precipttated the controversy.
 He relates how Ryan, representing the Controller Railway and Naviga tion Company, applied in 1909 for the elimination of tract to enable this company to secure railroad terminals etc. The application was referred to the Norestry Bureau and then tc the Navy Department with view that perhaps the Navy desire to use Controller Bay as reservation. The sST7s;tTy interests found no objection to the elimination of the tract indi- cated, "or indeed as the Presiden writes, to the elimination of 1S,00t acres in the northwest shore of Con troller Bay"
 The Navy Departments answer wal negative" says the President, ant after the matter had been considered by the Secretary of Agriculture, bl the Secretary of the Interior, ant the General Land Office. recon mendation was made to him that 32 acres with a frontage of 160 rods ol the northwest shore of Controller Bay be thrown open. A formal or der to this effect was finally sub mitted to him in october, 1910, bu when the matter came before tn Cabinet late in that month he foun objection to it. His reasons 10 taking this stand he explains in hl message in part as follows:
 Y expressed dissatisfaction witl the order because it purported on it lace to make the elimination for tn benefit of a railroad company of
 tract of land which the compan could not by lawful entry secure, fo It was tract of 32O acres in on