Evening star., 1924-02-16
La TOILETTE ASKS
COAL LEASE PROBE
New Measure Prepared After
BaIlaine Alleges New
Denby-FaIl Pact.
BY Tie Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Senator La Toilette. republican
Wisconsin,, who introduced the reso-
luton that started the oil inquiry,
proposed another today also dealing
with the leasing policies of former
Secretary Fall.
Mr.. La Follette's new measure. pre-
pared after John f. Ballaine OF
Seattle, an Alaskan railroad contrac-
tor, had presented allegations to
President Coolidge relating To the
transfer of the Matanuska coal re-
serve from the Navy to the Interior
Department, calls upon the interior
Secretary to submit his departments
records on the matter to the Senate
Asks Copy of Agreement.
A copy of the transfer agreement
between Secretaries Fall and Denby
is asked in the resolution, together
with all executive orders and other
papers, including any lease made, ap-
ence on the subject.
Mr.. BaIlaine, in a letter presented
to the President Yesterday, asserted
jurisdiction was begun by the two
secretaries in July, 1921, and that the
records would show plans to lease it
for fifty years on terms exactly par
alleP' with those of the Teapot Dome
oil reserve transaction. No lease was
made. he said, but the transfer was
followed by suspension of mining in
the Matanuska field and refusal of the
Navy to utilize Alaskan coal.
BaIlaine's Letter Supplemental.
Mr.. Ballaine's letter, as presented
yesterday at the White House. is sup
Elemental to previous communica-
tion alleging attempts by certain in
terests to throttle the Alaskan rail-
road and asking appointment of an
impartial board or commission by the
Executive to inquire into such at
tempts. his communication, relat-
ing to the RAILROAD management. has
been referred by the President to the
Interior Department for investiga-
tion.
Much of the letter sent to the Pres
ident yesterday related to the use OF
Alaskan coal by naval vessels and
establishments in the Pacific. Mr.
Ballaine quoted Rear Admiral J. X
Robson, chief of the Navy bureau
of engineering, as having stated that
tests of Alaskan coal had presented
conclusive evidence of it's, unsui ia bi l.
ity for naval use.
The tests have shown quite the
contrary, according to Mr.. Ballaine
who presented charts of experiments
conducted on the collier Jason in
1922. These showed that Matanuska
coal had a relative efficiency of 100
per cent, as compared with 81 pei
| f@r H..
board of 1922 was quoted by Mr.. Bal
laine as having declared as result
of the tests that "Matanuska coal is
an excellent steaming coal for use
Pin collier type of vessels at their
usual cruising speed and washed
conditions of the test to the Poca-
hontas coal used in this test
Coal Refused by Navy.
Despite these tests and conclusions
the Navy has refused to use
Matanuska coal. Mr.. Ballaine told the
President, adding that Admiral
Robson, when the matter was
brought to his attention, had de-
clared:
1--WE are not interested in Coal
Creek or any other Matanuska GOA
under any circumstances. We have
washed our hands of it,
Admiral Robson could not bt
reached yesterday for comment or
Mr.. Ballaine's assertions, but Rear
Admiral r. S. Griffin, L. S. N, retired
former chief of the naval bureau OF
engineering, declared that tests con.
Quoted at the Annapolis experimental,
plant and aboard the old cruiser
Maryland in 1914 had shown Alaskan
coal to be inferior to PocahontaS Goa
in quality and also more costly de-
livered at Pacific ports. Admira
Griffip also pointed out that most OF
| the American naval vessels now in
the Pacific were oil rather than Goa
burners.