The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-07-27
TAFT DEFENDS
ALASKAGRANT
Explains Land Policy in Control
Ter Bay and Explodes
Charges of Fraud.
FULL RESPONSIBILITY
TAKEN BY PRESIDENT
"Dick to Dick" Letter Declared by
President to be Malicious
FalsificatiOn.

.eO eOeoy ohouiuctiuk .uii TcepOu-
sibility for opening for settlement and
development 12.s00 acres OF the
Chugah National Forest Reserve in
Alaska-an incident which has be-
come to be known as the Controller
Bay Affair" In concluding he brands
the now famous Dick to Dick" post
script as a wicked fabrication" and
says that Charles p. Taft. whose name
appeared in the alleged postscript,
has no interest in Alaska. never had
and knows nothing of the circum-
stances connected with this transac-
ton" Moreover the president adds,
his brother does not even remember
that he ever met Richard S. Ryan, rep
resenting the Controller Railway 4
Navigation company.
As for eliminating the land in ques-
tion from the reserve, the president
says that there Is no danger of the
Controller Railway & Navigation com
pany or any other interests monopo-
lizing the field. and nothing to show
that this company is in any way con-
nected with the Morgan-Guggenhei
interests. Hence. he believes that in
eliminating the land he has acted for
Shoulders Responsibility.
Il wish to be as specific as pos
sible upon this point" says the presi
dent in his message, "and to say that
| alone am responsible for the en-
largement OF the proposed elimination
from 800 acres TO 12,S00 acres. and
that proposed the change and
stated my reasons therefor. The
thing which the Territory or Alaska
needs is development, and where
rights and franchise can be properly
granted to encourage investment and
construct a railroad without confer
ring exclusive privileges. believe
IL TO be in accordance with good
policy to grant them"
Accompanying the presidents mes
Sage are documents. reports and maps
bearing on the case. as requested from
him by a Senate resolution of June
9th last Il deem. IL wise" says the
message. ito accomp anying the sub
mission of these documents with a
statement in narrative form of the
action of the administration with the
reasons therefor" Here follows a de
scription of Controller Bay and en-
virons and a map showing the effect
of Withdrawing the much mooted 12.-
500 acres from the reserve. The
president then takes up the thread OF
his narrative as concerns the events
that precipitated the controversy.
Care Exercised.
He relates how Ryan. representing
the Controller Railway and Navigation
company. applied in 1909 for the elm
fpatfop 81 a tract 80 apaIIa tIfo cov,-
pany to secure railroad terminals. etc.
The application was referred TO the
Forestry bureau and then 70 the Navy
department with a view that perhaps
the navy desired TO use Controller
Bay as a reservation. The forestry
interests found no objection 20 the
elimination Of the tract indicated, "or
indeed" as the president writes. ito
the elimination OF $4,000 acres I'm the
northwest shore Of Controller Bay"
The Navy departments answer was
negative says the president. and al.
ter the matter had been considered
by the secretary OF agriculture. by the
secretary OF the interior and the Gen
eral Land Office. recommendation
was made TO him that 320 acres with
n frontage Of 100 rods on the north.
west shore OF Controller Bay. be
thrown open 4 formal order 20 this
effect was finally submitted 10 him
In October. 1910. but when the mat.
ter came before the cabinet later In
that month he found objection 10 II
His reasons for taking this stand he
explains in hts message In part as
follows
Expected TO Make Town.
! expressed dissatisfaction with the
order because u purported on its face
TO make the elimination for the bene.
N OF a railroad company OF a tract
of land which the company could not
BY lawful entry secure. for it was n
tract 800 acres IN one body when ON.
ly i60 acres could thus hc acquired
IN the second place. preferred 10
make much larger elimination Of a
tract facing the entire channel. and
with sufficient room for terminal
railway town was willing to do
this because 7 found the reetrictions
in the law sufficient 10 prevent the
possibility of any monopoly Of oitber
the upland or the harbor or channel
BY tho Controller Railway and Navt.
gallon company or any other peraons
or company Because OF a lark of
time sufficient to draft n memorandum
myself. ! requested the secretary OF
the interior. Who. With the secretar,
of agriculture after full discussion
had agreed in my conclusion. 10 pro.
pare letter setting forth the reasons
for making the large elimination. -
that u might become part Of the
record
u wish 10 be- as specific az possible
upon this point. and TO say that !
alone am responsible for the en1hree.
mont of the proposed elimination from
32O acres 10 t2S0o acres. and that
proposed tho change and stated my
reasons therefor and while both soc.
retaries cordially concurrcd In u the
suggestion was mine
independent Concern.
The President says he had every
assurance a. tho time that the Con.
troller Railway and Navigation Com
pany was an independent enterprise
fooatinusd on second Pag.l