Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1911-07-10
PRESIDENT DOES
NOT REMEMBER
His Files Show No Letters
on Controller Bay From
His Brother
.DENNETT ON THE STAND
Yellow Journal Story Cannot Be
Verified by the Re.
cords.


(By Special Leased Wire to New Mexican)
Washington, July 10.-Commission-
er Fred s. Dennet, of the General
Land Office and Miss NJ. A. Abbott, a
writer, both subpoenaed as witnesses
were present today when the House
committee on expenditures in the In
terror Deartment began an inquiry in
to charges of an alleged grab" of val
liable waterfront lands on Controller
Bay, Alaska by the Guggenheim in
terests. 4.
Published charges have been made
that Richard S. Ryan, of New York,
claimed to be secret agent OF the
Guggenheim syndicate, wrote letter
to former Secretary of the Interior
Ballinger, declaring that he (Ryan)
had asked Charles I. Taft to speak
to his brother. President Taft, about
the Controller Bay claim and that
following this the president made no
further objection to my claim" The
land is said to have been wanted as a
terminus for railroads for the Guggen-
helm mine property.
Commissioner Dennet was sum-
moned to tell what he knew of an. or
der by the president throwing the land
open to entry. Miss Abbott claimed
to have made a copy of the alleged
letter from Ryan to Ballinger.
Letter Was a Fakir.
Washington, D. c., July 10.-Secre-
tary Fisher today told President Taft
that a careful search of the Interior
Department records failed to show the
"Dick to Dick letter" in which 1t was
alleged that Charles P. Taft used his
influence in behalf of navigation in
terests in Alaska to secure control Of
Controller Bay.
| Secretary Fisher also told the presi-
! dent that he saw the article written
by Miss Abbott before it was printed
and remembered no such letter in the
article.
President Has No Letter.
| Immediately following his return to
Washington today, President Taft set
his office force to work to investigate
the Controller Bay affair.
| All four of the departments inter
ested were requested to make investi
cations and report any information
that might be found. The Controller
Bay and Charles P. Taft letter files
were searched for letter to the pres
iident from his brother in regard tt
this matter, the report that such let
ter had been written having been
brought to the presidents attention
for the first time this morning.
Didn't Know Ryan.
| Cincinnati, Ohio, July 10.-At the
request of President Taft the letter
files of his brother Charles P. Taf
were searched here today for trace Of
possible correspondence with the pres
ident, Richard S. Ryan or other per
sons regarding Controller Bay aAiairs
or Alaskan lands. No letter bearing
on the subject was Aound and SO fal
as the files in Mr.. Taft's office show
he has no acquaintance with Mr.. Ry
an or any interest in Alaskan invest
Iments. Charles P. Taft is now il
Europe.
| Where Guggenheim Benefited.
| Washington, D. G., July lot wal
STATED at the White House that care
full search of the files in the executive
office failed to reveal any record 0
la letter to the president from Charles
P. Taft concerning Ryan or bearing
in any way upon the Controller at
fair. M
The most important development o
1.-THE Investigation Of the case by tn
House committee Of the Interior De
partment today was the testimony o
Commissioner Dennet. of the Genera
Land Office, that the claimants reprs
sented by Richard s. Ryan Of Ne,
York. said to represent the Gugge.
helm interests, had benefited by tn
omission Of the one provision In tn
final official papers.
:. Mr.. Dennet said that when the exc,
Iutive order opening the Controller Ba
Ito entry reached his office 1t contain
led provision under which entryme
could not file on the land for go day
latter the order was issued. In som
way or other, he did not know how, b
said, this provision was lost or elimii
ated, before the final promulgation /
the order. t.gs b
This omission, he admitted, CAV
! great advantage to the Ryan CLAIM
! ants who were on the ground whe
the order reached juneau. "
II Mr.. Dennet said that the first draf
!. which, in accordance with, the usu'
: custom, was prepared at the Depar
ment Of Agriculture, contained the
days provision but that 1t was not
the order finally signed by the pref
Z dent.
! Who struck it, out?" Il do n,
: know"
No Monopoly.
washington, D. c., July 10.-A col
: munication has been sent to ChArl'
P. Taft's secretary at Cincinnati a.
i, ing that an inquiry for such letter /
il. instituted there. Mr.. Taft said th
tel he had never discussed r. 8. Ryan
is Controller Bay with his brother al