Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-06-30
ALASKA CLAIMS
FINALLY REJECTED
COMMISSIONER BENNETT AND
SECRETARY FISHER DECIDE
FAMOUS CASES.
WILL APPEAL ToSUPREME COURT

Attempt by Morsan-o ussenheim Int
ests to Grab Alaska Coal Fields
Caused Long Controversy, Dis
charge Of PInchot and Down.
fall Of BaIiinser.
Washington, June 27.-The fanou
Cunningham Alaskan coal land claims
thpovgh whioh 1t has been alleged tina
~ Morgan-Guggenheim syndicate ha
planned to extend their vast interest
in Alaska and to control one Of tn
most valuable coal fields in the world
were today finally disallowed by th
department of the interior.
Secretary Of Interior Walter Fisher
having approved the departments de
ctsiOnG, as handed down by Fred Den
nett. commissioner Of the land Office
the last door is believed to have beef
closed to the Cunningham claimants
The attorneys have threatened an ap
peal to the United States suprem,
court. but such an appeal can be baset
Only on some point of law involved
and not on THO findings Of fact a. an
nounosd By the department.
The Cunningham claims have beer
IN the public eye constantly for more
than two years past. They brought
about tho Dalliager-Pinchot investiga
tioa by congress and the dismissal
fzQp tho public service of Chief For.
ester GifDord Pinchot, Louis r. Claws
q chief Of field division in the land
Office. and several minor officials.
Both Maesrs. Pinchot and CLAWS were
dismissed for insubordination incident
- theiy attacks on former Secretary
Balljnger, who they claimed was fav.
o1a6ly disposed toward the claims.
IN announcing the decision today,
Secretary Fisher. who succeeded Mr..
Ballinger In March last, declared that
new coal land laws are needed in Alas.
ka II that territory is to be developed
properly. In a statement the secre.
tary said!
Decision 10 Final.
"This 70 final decision Of the Gun.
bingham claims 80 far as the depart
ment Of the interior is concerned. Any
further proceedings will be merely
formal for the purpose of perfecting
the record in case the claimants think
there are questions of law which they
desire to present to the courts. 1t is
my understanding that it is conceded
that the findings upon the facts by
the department are conclusive.
1T ia the intention Of the depart.
ment to proceed at once to final de-
of all the remaining Alas
kan coal claims 90 far as this can pro-
perly be done, denying those tlst
should be denied and granting those
that should be granted 40 rapidly as
possible.
II do not believe the present laws
applicable to coal lands in Alaska are
wise or practicable laws. Nevertho.
less, their provisions must be enforced,
liyst, because they are the law and,
second, because they afford the only
protection to the public welfare
against the abuses Of monopoly and
unrestricted private exploitation. l
sincerely trust that these laws will
be modified at the next session of
20 as to permit the develop.
mont Of the Alaskan coal fields under
provisions that will more adequately
protect and promote the public inter.
sst. II. however, there are claims now
which, under the existing law
ire entitled to patent, see no justifi.
cation for not taking action upon them
70 promptly - the department can
% assured that 1t Is In possession of
he facts upon which such action ulti.
nately can be taken"
Entries Improperly Allowed.
Commissioner bennett in his dect
lion holding the claims for cancellation
IN the ground Of fraud, declares that
Dach Of the thirty-three entries wa
improperly allowed because Of fatal
1efects apparent on their face. He
asserts that the government conclus.
vely established the charges brought
against the claimants and that there
Is no doubt but that an agreement ex.
sted among them In violation Of law.
Entries for Unlawful Purpose.
The government charged against
and his associates that
heir entries of the coal land were
made in pursuance Of an understand.
ng and agreement, entered into by
Ill the claimants prior to location, to
combine the several claims for the
oint use and benefit of all. 1t was
urther claimed that the entries were
made with the unlawful purpose that
hey should inure to the use and ben.
fit Of an association or corporation.
Among the Cunningham claimants
re a number of the prominent men
4 the Northwest
Ex-Pr'zefshter 10 Accused.
Calumet, Mich, June %. - George
campbell of Calumet, former prize
ghter, is being held at Pontiac, Mich,
n a charge Of manslaughter. Camp
ell, it is claimed, caused the death
+ Benjamin Day, who died at Pontiac
Jay and Campbell engaged in an al
recently, when Campbell was
ttacked by Day. Companions OF
campbell knocked Day down, Days
cad striking the pavement, causing
fracture of his skull Campbell is
cid in $4,000 bail.