New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-13
MISS ABBOTT NOT CALLED
Controller Bay Committee De-
CIineS to Put Her on Stand.
SECRETARY FISHER HEARD
He Wants All the Facts Made
Known-Says No Public Inter
est Has Been Jeopardized.
from The Tribune Pureau.I

from The Tribune Bureau
Washingt IN. July 1.-THE political chit
canery behind the House committees IN
vegtiCaton" Of the Controller Bay contto-
yersy was brought into the open to-day
when the committee declined To put on the
witness stand Miss NJ r. Abbott. the
young newspaper woman, who claims I"
have seen the nov famous "Dick-to-Dick
postscript I'm the files q; the Interior Ie
partment. although no such. postscript mas
been found at the department
Secretary Fisher voluntarily appeared
he fore the committee to-day and demanded
that 1t hasten its inquiry in order that the
facts might-be made public. The Secretary
said that both the department and the
public are entitled to know the nature o'
Miss Abbott's charges. but Chairman era
ham declined 10 permit Miss Abbott 10 tes-
tify al this juncture.
At tho hearing both Chairman Graham
who Is presumed TO 20 into the investiga-
ton with an "open and unpreJudlceo
mind" and W =. Fenrell, counsel for the
committee. delivered stump speeches out
lining their viows of the alleged gran oil
Controller Bay by the Guggenheim inter
ests"
The developments TO-DAY show con
cIusiveIy that the entire Investigation is 10
he political IN nature. and that the Demo
cratic, committee. seeking to MAINTAIN pun
tic interest in the investigation, VIII nor
play It's trump card testimony Of
Miss Abbott-until those members OF the
administration conversant with Controicr
Rav affairs have been before the commit
tee IN answer hidden charges, with inc
nature OF which they have never been &C
quainted
As a LAWYER have tried good many
cases in my time" said Chairman Graham
after 'he hearing to-day 81 find that II Is
best not to give away ones case
This recent decision is somewhat ne
cuIiar. because the committee announced
with a fanfare Of investigation trumpets
ar the beginning Of the week that Miss
Abbott would he the first or second Wit
ness examined and in view Of the TACT
that she appeared expecting 10 testify last
| Monday. Since then. however, Miss Alb
hott has had several conferences with
the Democratic members Of the unit
| tee. and Mr. Graham said to-day I ne
nosltiveIv would give no assurance Of the
date when his star witness viii take the
stand Miss Abbott is quoted as saying
she saw IN the files Of the department a
| postscript to a letter from Richard :
RYAN, of New York, 10 Secretary Bal
Iinger. in which Ryan said he had secured
Charles ?. Tafts aid in persuading the
President 10 restore the lands adjacent
| 10 Controller Bay to entry.
uraes Hearing Miss Abbott.
Secretary Fisher assured the committee
70 day that the public interest had been
IN no way ieopardized by anything that
had happened relative 70 Controller Bay.
Urging the committee 10 let Miss Ao''tt
tell her story the Secretary said:
n there IS any one connected with the
service who would be party % the 40
| etraction or destruction of public docu
| nnents we ought 10 know II immediately.
| I urge immediate action IN order mar We
may take steps 10 place responsloi!lE l'i
! the lstter. IL such a letter ever existed. |
/ never saw such document as mas peen
/ described. and had never heard or II IN
| Ri 7 saw something about II IN the news
papers.
Mr. Fisher told the committee that ms
department Is now collecting information
relative to Controller Bay which Is to pc
| transmitted 10 the Senate IN answer 70
the Po,ndexter resolution. This data ne
said. would also he available Tor the
House committee.
SECRETARY Fisher seid his attention was
ers, called 70 the Controller Say matter
nv Senator la Toilette. who sought sps-
c.6o inflammation as 10 the claims, the .laeh-
titv Of claimants, etc
Il made ND my mind, he added, that
II ANYTHING WAS wrong We wanted Z"
knov, H. 7 checked the case NJ parttcu-
ra,Iv 70 see If could find anything ir-
,aquIar I confess that | was not SO mucn
concerned whether the method II opening
the lands was one way or another The
real thing 7 am looking for IS TO get con-
structive results
Il found IN my investigation mat Rlch-
ard s RYAN. after the release Of the shoie
| line lands. had made three entries, none
Of which had been completed. He had
made an entry as a terminal for q ran
road That has not been determined, and
his rights will he decided according 70
iaw and subject 70 my review I found
considerable other frontage available for
railroad entry The important thing 10
ascertain is what shore line rights lead
70 deep water n there Is only room for
one railroad the question TO be determined
IS whether it shall be Ryans or some other
railroad"
| REPRESENTATIVE Graham announced that
the committee regarded the letter Dick 10
| Dick" as OF secondary importance. but
would thoroughly investigate that matter
| lin due time
! Mr.. Fennell said the letter was not ot So
much interest as the facts; u was within
the power OF the President be added,
| 80 throw these lands open n all. so that
the race would be 10 the swift. out II was
not done that wsv. II was known only
! IN few, and those few already have oh
| tsined monopoly of the mineral rights
| in that territory. That IS what we want
The committee adjourned until Friday.
Seattle. Wash. July l2-Riohard
Rvan's third entry on Controller Bay
shore lands mentioned by Secretary
/ Iisber today. covers the quarter section
! betveAn his two former entries. The en-
trv is made for q railroad termlnal, &C
| cordinc 20 the location notice.
! u Z