New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-11

case Of the Controller Bay land, he said,
an executive order was employed. This
was signed October 20, 1910. and few
davs later copies of it were mailed TO the
Land Office at Juneau. Alaska. "The or
der was not held up" said Commissioner
bennett. in answer TO q question by Chair
man Graham Copies of this order were
Immediately furnished to the press.
Mr.. bennett said claim had been hIeu
for an SO-rod terminal by a railroad repre-
scented by Richard s. Ryan. Two claims Oh
100 acres each, he said. had been filed on
each side. Il don't believe these locations
are valid" said Mr.. bennett Under the
law locations on public lands must De
separated by at least 81 rods. Ims re-
ouirement Will prevent the monopoly "hich
II is charged is intended l believe these
two latter claims are within ~ rods OF 'he
terminal location, and this would inVan-
date them. If the first application is Vahu'
then | do not think that the latter TWO
can be, because they are within the S-rod
limit The fact that the government re-
serves these alternate locations on the
water frontage demonstrates that. there
can be no monopoly at Controller Bay
Testimony Largely iechn'oai'
Although Mr. Dennetts testimony was
largely technical, he did his best to demon
strate TO some Of the suspicious Democratic
members Of the committee that no stupen-
dous grab" in the interest OF the Guggeh-
helm syndicate is possible at Controller
Bay.
Chairman Graham wanted to know II
surveyors could legally enter on land and
begin surveys before the entry proclama-
ton might be issued. This. explained Mr.
bennett. was a new legal question on which
he was not prepared TO answer ohhand.
The Commissioner left with the COM
mlttee maps and plots of the Controller
Bay region and suggested that the com
mittee might learn all about this section
by reference to the records Of the Geodeuc
Survey.
Miss Abbott will take the stand on
Wednesday to testify TO her contention
tnat that she saw the letter In the files or
the Interior Department which subse-
oucnt search has failed to reveal. MISS
Abbott came to the committee room today,
holding tight TO a portmanteau SAID 10
contain the discriminating papers giving
the hearing the proper melodramauc effect
and before the end of the day she attended
q confidential session" with Chairman
Graham and other Democratic members
who were, presumably. coaching her for
the public hearing on Wednesday.
Cincinnati. July 1o-At the request Of
President Taft the letter files OF his
brother. Charles =. Taft. were searched
hero to-day for trace Of possible CORE
spondence with the President, Richard 8.
RYAN or other persons regarding Con-
trollor Bay affairs or Alaskan lands.
No letter bearing on the subject was
found, and so far as the files in Mr.. Tafts
office show he had no acquaintance with
Mr. Ryan or any interest in any Alaskan
investment Mr. Taft is IN Europe.
Seattle, July 10-Richard S. Ryan filed
soldiers scrip on 100 rods Of Controller
BAY waterfront under date OF October ..
1910, the day after President Taft signed
the order eliminating the land from the
national forest. The filings are on two
blocks Of 100 acres each, separated by
quarter section as required by law.
Alaskans and others well Informed on
the coal situation In the north say that
Ryan's filings can be OF no service 10 him
except in the case Of railroad bonds.
Several railroads have been surveying
from Controller Bay to the great coal
fields. and efforts are making to sell bonds
of these roads In Europe.
Henry w Taft brother Of President
Taft. said yesterday that the story ema-
mating from Washington, in which it was
alleged that his brother. Charles j. Taft,
had written a letter 10 the President seek
Ing to influence him in connection with the
land grants on Controller Bay to the CON
troller Bay Navigation Company. was IN
his opinion, pure fabrication.
while / know nothing about the in
stance alluded 60 in the Washington re-
port" said Mr.. Taft, II don't believe there
ever was such a letter ! know that my
brother Charles has no interests In the
Controller Bay region or in any govern
ment grants that might have been made
up there"