Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-09
BENNETT IS SUMMONED
Commissioner Will Be Asked to Tell
What He Knows.
COX WILL PRESS INQUIRY
Decia1es There Il Something Radi.
cally Wrong About the Whole
Transaction.

had been induced by three people-his
brother. the then Secretary OF the In
tsrior Ballinger and Richard 8. Ryan OF
New York. a representative Of the Gug-
genheim interests-to restore to the pub
lie domain lands surrounding Controller
bay. in Southern Alaska, met with quick
action In Congress yesterday.
The House committee on expenditures.
headed by Representative Graham OF I'LL
nois. Immediately summoned Commits
sioner Fred bennett Of the general land
Office to appear before the committee
Monday to explain what he knows about
the matter and Representative Cox of In
diana one OF the democratic leaders OF
the House. introduced a resolution call
ing on President Taft for all the informa-
tion he can furnish the House on the
subject
This information is to include the rea-
son why he signed the order of reStora-
ton after the land had been set aside
as a reserve and whether he knew Ryan
was working in the interest of the Gug-
genheims. Mr.. Cox announced his pur-
posed to press his resolution vigorously
Asks All Information.
The Cox resolution requests President
Taft to submit all papers and informa-
ton in his possession relating to his ex-
ecutive order OF July %. 1910, restoring
to public domain the lands surrounding
Controller bay. 1t sets forth published
charges intimating that. Richard +. Ryan
through Secretary Ballinger and Charles
p Taft induced the President of the
United States to sign the release order.
1t points out that through this order
the Guggenheim syndicate mas now OF
will get control of Controller bay har-
nd President TO A0-
charges intimating that Richard F Ryan.
Ballinger and C. p Taft induced him TO
sign the order restoring Controller Day
land to pubic domain which previous'. !.
Rad been set aside as a national forest
reserve and whether the President had
information that Ryan was working In
the interest Of the Guggenheim syndicate.
Something Wrong, Says Cox.
lam going to push this resolution.
said Representative Cox last evening. II
the committee fails to act / will bring
Il up OH the floor of the House. There
Is something radically wrong about this
who,e transaction. Baked by the refusal
of the government to allow the Cunning
ham coal land claims. this gang in Wall
street is evidently determined to secure
control of this coal land. They filed on
the Controller bay land, the only avail
able harbor through which the Alaskan
coal can be shipped. before the govern
ment could even have 1t surveyed after
the Presidents order withdrawing 1t from
the Chugach reserve. Failing to secure
the land they have now gone after the
only means OF transporting the coal, and
with a railroad from the coal lands to
Controller bay they could absolutely die
tate to the owners Of the coal land"
What Ballinger Advised.
cr 1v~y z u-o,b I'll, O USo~~,.r Ca
retary of the Interior Richard A. Bal
lingcr today received the Washington
dispatch concerning Representative Cox S
resolution and said:
'"No representation was ever made to
the President by me in the interest of
Richard s. Ryan. or any syndicate in
connection with land at Controller bay.
but / did advise President Taft not to
release the lands sought for terminal
facilities. / recommended that, If any
lands were eliminated from the national
forest. they should be eliminated. as far
as the entire frontage of Controller
bay was concerned, in a body, leaving
TO operate the law which reserves every
alternate eighty rods OF waterfront to
the government.
so far as Mr.. Ryan is concerned, I
never had any business dealings with
him"
May Be London Syndicate.
According to the belief that obtains
here and in Alaska Ryan in his ef-
forts to obtain railroad terminals at
Controller bay, has been working in the
interest of an English syndicate. Ryan
makes frequent trips to England, and
Is said to be there now. The Morgan
and Guggenheim syndicate INSISTS that
Ryan Is not in it's employment His
operation are financed by Probst,
WetEler & Co. Lords Court building.
New York. No land has been patented
TO Ryan.