Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-03
BIG FEES AND BIG STEALS.
HOW THE PUBLIC is ROBBED
BY SECRETARY TELLER.

Countless Acres of the Public Domain
Signed Away just to Curry Favor with
Lord ROscOe-Pleasants' New Bond
|. Not FOrthcOming-A Crank on His
Travels.
WASHINGTON, April 2.-One of the
best paying branches of the practice of
law in Washington is that which pertains
TO government departments. There are
some large fees paid for the successful
management of eases before the depart
ments. 1t is said that Senator Conkling
recently made $4,000 by very little work.
The story goes that a certain land
lawyer mere was gwen case
involving very large amount of land.
If he succeeded in convincing the
Secretary Of the Interior that his clients
owned the land, and that patent should
be issued to them, he was to get SIS, 600.
lie tackled the case. He argued it before
the Land Office, before the Assistant Sec
retary, and finally took it to Secretary
Teller himself. At every turn he was de-
feated. lie could not get the land for his
clients. lie saw but little hope of ever
getting that $4,000. He wanted that
money-he needed it in his business, as it
were. He finally thought of Conkling.
lie wrote to the ex-senator, giving all the
details of the case, and offering him $5, 900
II he would get favorable action from
the Secretary of the Interior. In two
days Conkling came to Washington. He
went to see Teller. Teller was pleased to
see him. He expressed great qualification
that the ex-senator should call on him,
Conkllng was also pleased. He was the
gladdest kind to meet Teller. They talked
pleasantly for about fifteen minutes on
various topics. Then COnkling broached
the real object of his visit. In short
time Teller had signed the papers giving
decision as COnkling wanted it. Teller
doubtless thinks he has Conkling under
obligations to him now. COnkling walked
up to his hotel, stopping on the way at
the lawyers office, and getting check
tor $4,000. He went back to New York
that evening. He took the check with
him.
Mr.. Kimball, Superintendent of the Life
Saving Service said to-day that he
would send a man to Florida in a short
time on business connected with the es-
tabllshment Of the six new life saving
stations and houses of refuge on the
coasts of that State. The man will be en-
powered to acquire title to the land
which he may select as sites for the new
stations. Mr.. Kimball does not appear to
be in any great hurry about the work,
though.
bond which Commissioner Raum directed
that he should make. AS Peasants is al
lowed to retain his office, Raum wanted
new bond, as. the old one was found not
to be worth much. Some Georgia people
here say that Peasants will be unable to
give satisfactory bond. Raum expects
to hear from Peasants every day on the
subject. But he has not yet heard any
thing.
Rv tho ti,Oo fh;s ,oooLoc 49,, a.. n.
dent will very likely be near Savannah,
although he may not leave until Tuesday.
He has changed his mind about stopping
at savannah, so Mr.. Phillips, his private
secretary, informs me. He will not get
out of the special ear in which he will
travel until he reaches Jacksonville. He
goes to recuperate and to eniOv his
favorite sport, that OF fishing. He will
spend ten days or two weeks in Florida.
His stamping ground will be Indian river.
where he will fish and probably camp
out. lie Will be accompanied by his pri-
vate secretary and Mr.. Miller, of New
l ork, who is personal friend of his. He
wants to avoid publicity as much as DOS
sible. This is an outline of his plans.
They may be changed. In matters of
where he will go, when he will 90, and
how long he will stay, the President is as
uncertain as maiden's fancies.
There came a crank, seedy ana of red
beard, to the White House to-day. He
had evidently been for years a football for
fortune. His clothes had enough holes in
them to warrant their being used as sieve
for gravel. But he was proud, and he
walked as if he owned four lots on every
corner in the town. He was gentleman,
too. At least he said he was. He had
just been told by the manager of one of the
charitable associations that he looked like
a thief, smelt like mOOnshine distillerv,
and could not get anything there. He was
mad about this. 1t was slur upon his
character. He could not stand it. He
was at the White House to be righted.
just as soon as he got through telling his
story they quietly fired him out. II al
ways have my Bible with me-" he said.
To-day dropped into saloon to get a
drink. L had my Bible with me and left
1t on the bar. The President knows that
L always carry my Bible with me and am
a constant reader of it. 1 will Just see
him minute and get certificate of that
fact from him." PoTOMAC.