New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-14
CUNN|NCHAMS LOSE ALL.
Their 80 Alaska Coal Land En-.
tries Finally Cancelled.
BENNETT DECISION UPHELD
Secretary Fisher Reviews the
Cases q Second Time and
Rules Against Claims.

Washington. Sept. 1S.--AIl Of the thirty
three so-called Cunningham Alaska coal
land claims, involving alleged fraudulent
blanket patents, which contributed to the
BalinSer-Plnchot controversy have been
disposed Of finally by the Interior De-
partment
The appeals have been adversely de-
cided. and Secretary Fisher has directed
the immediate execution OF tho decision
OF Commissioner bennett. Of the General
Land Office. who held the claims were i'm
properly allowed and that the entries
should he cancelled Secretary Fisher took
this final action on his second review of
the cases.
No more Of the real Cunningham claims
are pending. although the Interior De
partment is regularly passing on other
ALASKAN claims somewhat similar TO those
o. the Cunningham group. OF a thousand
or more OF such claims three hundred
already have been disallowed.
In the final decision. which became
public to-day. the name Cunningham Gg-
ures only twice in the list Of the Thirty-
three patentees. !. G. Cunningham and
Clarence Cunningham appear and the
other thirty-one claims are under various
names. Secretary Fishers decision. I'm
part, follows:
have again reviewed the cases. No
new considerations are presented IN the
argument. although IL contains many
statements rejecting upon the animus
and attitude OF the commissioner, which
are, in my opinion. totally unwarrsntcd.
After full consideration. ] am OF the
hoe Ia AvIi - g. - Nd
the conclusions. both OF law and fact, OF
the commissioner as expressed in his
opinion In these cases. ara correct. and
they are hereby adopted as the findings
OF the department The decision Of the
commissioner In each OF said cases IS
affirmed.
The applicants have had full and fair
and myself, and,' indeed. the consdera-
ton by me of this appeal has in all
respects also the effect Of a rehearng
of the case after my own decision The
decision will. therefore. be carried into
immediate effect and the entries can
celled.
The Cunningham claims had an aggrc-
gate area Of $50 acres, and their value
ran high into the millions. It had been
alleged that Morgan-Guggenheim syn
dictate owned the blanket claims Of the
Cunninghams and their associates.
With the controversy over the claims
came the dismissal from public service
OF former Chief Forester Clifford Plnchot,
Louis r. CLAWS, chief Of the field di-
vision OF the Land ONCE, and several
minor officials.
Seattle, Sept. BY order Of the Act
Ing Commissioner OF the General Land
Office. the register and receiver OF the
Juneau alaska Land Office has placed
on record the cancellations for fraud OF
the so-called Cunningham coal claims In
the Bering Sea river country.
The lands now are a part Of the public
domain, and the $3.50 paid into tho
United States Treasury by the claimants
IS forfeited. The claimants may apply for
a writ of mandanus in n District OF Co.
lumbia court, but cannot appeal from the
final decision Of the Secretary OF the In
terror. cancelling the claims.
The money paid by the claimants can
not he refunded to them except by an
act Of Congress.