The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-23
WASHINGTON.
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, July ~, 1879.
THE CASE OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY USHER
HIS REMOVAL DECIDED UPoN-REPoRT OF
TRANSACTIONS TO WHICH THE GOVERNMENT
KxcEPTs.
The removal OF District Attorney Fisher 10
merely matter OF time. IL VIII take place on
the return OF his designated successor, ex.Gov-
ernor Wells. Mr.. Fisher sought an interview
with the President last niEht, out was nnsuccess-
ful IN obtaining H. The EDehfn0 star says
Among the numerous charges again at Attorney
Fisher ID one that he conducted the negotiations
ON behalfof the government In the transfer OF the
property necessary for the extension OF the Capt.
FOL grounds with q looseness almost nexcus bic.
The particulars OF TINS transaction are said TO be
passed an act providing fOr. tine enlargement or
the public grounds around the United States Capt.
ment OF the Interior should purchase
from the owners such property as was needed Tor
the enlargement, at It's actual cash value or at a
sum nos 10 exceed he appraisal made by COM
mission OF nine IN a report made TO Robert Ould.
United STATES District Attorney Tor the District OF
Columbia, on the 2lst oil Janu2ry, 1861. IL furi her
provided that so lar AS payments were concerned
they should be MADE by the Department OF the In
terror bu; 10 also imposed upon the Department
OF Justice "that before such payment shall be
made The owner or owners OF the prop
erty purchased shall by good and sum-
gnd approved by the Attorney General fully re-
lease and convey 10 the United states all their
and each OF their several and respective rights
In said titles to such lands and property so pur-
chased.n TINS act Is merely quoted TO snow the
responsibility which attached TO me Department
or Justice as TO the validity OF the title and the
proper draugnts OF the deeds. Now Tor the
story as IL ~ circulated. TO fablish the
validity OF the title Attorney General Williams,
then occupy ing That position, purchased from
Waiter - cox, OF this'cty, abstracts OF the title
whlcn he had made previous to the passage OF the
net. There is no fault to be found with the con-
clusions given IN Mr. Cox's opinion OF title, and it
Is gooo and clear and absolute in its transfer 10
the United states. Alter having satisfied himself
that tne tlgle was clear Attorney General Williams
dlrecte Judge Fisher as United States Attorney
for the district to prepare the deeds and other ne
csssary conYeyancles. This Judge fisher dld. The
deeds were approved by the Attorney General
and by him sent to the Department or the In
terror, which was made under the law, the
custodian thereof. 1t is charged by the property
holOers that Fisher although a United States
officer and &C ing for the government as pur-
chaser, made them pay hin Tor such service ID
prices ranging from $50 to $500 each. The property
the fact that the government was he purchase r I;
and the rule Is, that purchasers of
conveyancng. They claim, too, that his
charges were exorbitant, because the
only service ne renders was the mere making Of
the deed the title having been established by the
government, and Tor which Walter 5. Cox was
pald round sum. But the strangegt part OF the
transaction ana the portion 10 which the govern
ment most excerpts remains 10 be told. IL would
appear, in the lgnt OF recent developments, that
that the xgaLheTers OF the district have levied
tribute on private Ia diylduals TO pay :he govern
ment ODhgauOns. ~ Is alegeu lnat the publca-
ton Of property TO be sold lor delpquences IN
taxes recently, which filed the columns OF
q morning paper discoses the unpleasant fact
that ali the lots on the enlarged grounds nave been
assessed in the names OF the previous owners and
are charged TO them severally. In other words,
no notice is taken OF the governments occupancy
OF this heretofore private property, but 1t Is now
ana has been since the TRANSFER charged up
heretofore 10 the old owners. This could only
have arisen either from O failure 10 record the
deeds or shows garing defclencles and errors IN
the district plot book. In snort, the government
has Official record OF being the owner OF its own
estate.