New-York tribune., 1911-11-30
CONTROLLER BAY FAKE
DIES NATURAL DEATH
Brandeis and Graham Admit
That There Is Nothing TO
investigate.
ABANDON THE INQUIRY
They Say, However, That the
Committees Action Brought
About Change in Admins
tion's Alaskan Policy.

From the Tribune burcaul
Washington. NOV. 29.-The investigation
Of the fake Controller Bay charges when
was begun with enthusiasm by the Demo-
cratic House died natural death To-Day
when Chairman Graham Of the special N
vestigating committee. and Louis Il. Bran
acis. its volunteer counsel admitted that
there was nothing 10 investigate
Bv this announcement the Democratic
chairman hopes 10 dispose Of and have the
public forget the mythical "Dlck-to-Dlck
letter and the absurd charges OF MISS NJ
I Abbott involving the honesty OF the
President. Secretary Ballinger, Charles =.
TAFT and others. all of whom were Nlliheo
by the undertaking press when the com
mlttee began q sweeping investigation
last spring The inquiry was suddenly
halted. against the protests of Republican
members OF the committee, and the predic-
ton was then made in these columns lhd'
Il would never be resumed.
Chairman Graham made public to-day
letter sent 10 hrm by Mr. Brandeis. Inc
chairman also made a few comments or MS
own Both documents are ingenious III
nature. and neither contains the apology
on behalf Of the investigators when
minority members Of the House VIII IN
sist should be forthcoming.
In his capacity Of counsel, Mr.. Brandeis'
hsralded a few months ago as one VINO
would lay ell Alaskan scandals bare ad-
yises Chairman Graham as follows:
Your committee has requested me as its
counsel to examine the papers Supmltleu
Ly the President and other aNallapls ,evl- vi
6enee bearing upon the subject, ahu "a
advise what further action, II any shouIu
lie taken by your committee. l have inade
such an examination. and respectfully re- re,
port that in my opinion no luftheT dSuO"
lv YOUR committee Is required
The elimination from the Chugach Ma
tiOnal Forest Of a large tract OF Iahd on
Controller Bay IN ala OF the NontroiISi
Navigation and Railroad company was, ~ ~,
my opinion opposed TO the best interests
OF the people but I hnd no evidence OF
Nlegalty or bad faith on the part OF any
government Official
Mr.. Brandeis reviews the sporadic hear
irgs of the investigating committee, the
history of the Richard p. Ryan claims. the
Presidents reply 10 the Senate resolution
Of inquiry aud Secretary Fishers Chicago
speech made after his recent return from
Alaska Both the attorney and the chair
man Of the committee seek self-justlf1ca-
,ion for their former activities through
the assertion that since then the admin
istration has changed its Alaskan policy
end that this change was brought about
hv the preliminary work Of the House COM
n,lttee (which riveted attention on Alaskan
sfairs."
Eniarging the loophole through which
he seeks escape from his embarrassing
position. Chairman Graham says;
On Secretary Fishers return. in an ad-
dress eutborized bv the President, he an
nounced views about Alaskan matters
which constitute clear departure rom me ne.
administrations former policy, and when
are in substantial conformity with the
views on the subject entertained bS Inc
ccmmittse We feel that IN calhne az
,artiou 90 this matter We have aided IN
bringing about this change OF poHcN Inc
committee may go further and recornineId
retaining in the government the me 10
an the mineral, gas and oil land IN Alaska
Mr. Rrandets seeks credit for the COM
rpittee by stating that Richard p. Ryan
las withdrawn claim to the Terminal
Tract" on Controller Bay which was an
illegal entry" 10 mention IS made, how
ever. OF the fact that this claim was never
patented by the Department OF the In
terror. and that Ryan was given 10 under
stand that the department would never ap-
prove e.
Nowhere in Mr. Braudeis's letter or the
ehairman's statement IS there mention OF
Miss Abbott who caused the now aban-
doned investigation by alleging that she
faw in the files Of the Interior Department
. note written 10 Secretary Baliinger by
Mr.. Ryan. and which became known as the
''pick-to- Dick letter. No one seems 10
know where Miss Abbott is at present.
The committee took pains not to put her
on the witness stand at the few hearings
held. just as il declined TO allow other ma
torial evidence that might have disproved
the Controller Bay charges months ago.
II is probable that when the minority
members of the committee reach Washing
ron they will demand a more explicit ex-
PLANTATION OF the abandonment OF the IN
,estigation than that furnished by Chair
man Graham to-day Mr.. Graham ex-
plains thai the Brandeis letter. advising
n diFeontinusnce Of the investigation, has
not Vet been submitted 10 the committee.
but feel that under the circumstances
they will not object TO my giving It 90 the
press. The committee has accomplished It's
principal object"