The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-27
CUNNINGHAM COAL
LAND CLAIMS
DISALLOWEO
Famous Case Apparently Ended
by Secretary Fisher
PRESENT LAWS CONDEMNED
New Head Of Interior Department
Says That Radical Changes Should
BE Made by Congress.
PRESENT LAWS CONDEMNED

Washington, June 27.-The famous
Cunningham Alaskan coal land claims
through which it has been alleged
that the Morgan-Guggenheim syn
dcate had planned to extend their
vast interests in Alaska and to con
troll one of the most valuable coal
fields in the world, were yesterday
entirely disallowed by the department
OF the interior at Washington. Secre-
tary of the Interior Walter l., Fish
er, having approved the departments
decision, as handed down by Fred
bennett. commissioner of the land
office, the last door is believed to
have been closed to the Cunningham
claimants. Their attorneys have
threatened an appeal to the United
States supreme court, but such an ap
peal can be based only on some point
OF law involved, and not on the find
ings of fact as announced by the de-
partment
The Cunningham claims have been
in the public eye constantly for more
than two years past. They brought
about the Ballinger-Pincho inyesti-
cation by Congress and the dismissal
from the public service of Chief For
ester Clifford Pinchot, Louis X. CLAWS
a chief OF field division in the land Of
fee and several minor officers. Both
Pinchot and CLAWS were dismissed
for characterization incident to their
attacks on former Secretary Balling-
er, whom they claimed was fayorably
disposed toward the claims.
In announcing the decision of the
department yesterday, Secretary Fis-
her, who succeeded Mr. Ballinger in
March last, declared that new coal
land laws are needed in Alaska if
that territory is to be developed
properly In a statement the secre
tary said
This is the final decision of the
Cunningham claims so far as the de-
partment of the interior is concern
ed. Any further proceedings will be
merely formal for the purpose of per
fecting the record in case the claim
ants 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 con-
elusive.
1T Is the intention of the depart
ment to proceed at once to final de
termination of all the remaining
Alaskan coal claims, so far as, this
can properly be done, denying those
that should be denied, and granting
those that should be granted as rapid
ly as possible | do not believe the
present laws applicable to coal lands
in Alaska are wise or practicable
laws. Nevertheless, their provisions
must be enforced, first, 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 ex
ploitation. | sincerely trust that
these laws will be modified at the
next session of Congress so as tc
permit the development of the Alas
kan coal fields under provisions that
will more adequately protect and
promote the public interests. If, how
ever, there are claims now pending
which, under the existing law are en-
titled to patent, | see no justification
for not taking action upon them as
promptly as the department can be
assured that it is in possession of the
facts upon which such action mus
ultimately be taken"