Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-07-04


Secretary Teller Iansees . 1eauess Of
the llsuse. and Issues Q H,aaens ter
lAnAa while Fhear rHsle h Undes In.
yrssiGasisn.
WAsumoroz, June 26.-Ths Judiciary
Committee of the House, acting en- Q re-
solution offered by Gen. Rosseeans, sum-
moued g. retary Teller before them
yesterday, for the purpose Of getting In
formation respecting the survey And
proposed patent Of she very valuable
Pueblo lands Of San Francisco. The
COMMITTEES met, bat instead Of being
present himssif, Secretary Teller sent q
note, saying that he had three days be-
fofe ordered patent for these lands TO
be issued. This Was % very sudden
strange and remarkable . proosedina
thai il is net unlikely that committee
of investigation may be appointed 20 90
to the bottom Of the business. These
Pueblo lands. consisting Of 500 acres.
are worth millions Of dollars. They are
In the main reclaimed lands that have
been filled in between the high and low
water marks. Though not in the cor-
porate limits of San Francisco. they ad-
Join the city. The title TO them was
years ago regarded as vested In the
State. The State has sold them to near
ly 700 different persons. and applied the
money to the school fund. Title from
the State has vested in many of the pur-
chases for sixteen years. Very strong
Influences have been brought to bear on
the Secretary to reverse the policy and
decisions of his predecessors. Rion men
have had their eye ON this valuable
property. Knowing that such Influences
were being used, application, was made
recently to the Equity Court in WASH
ingtun for an injunction 10 prevent ac-
ton on the part of the Secretary. Judge
Cox refused the applioa.ion ON the
ground that the court could not inter-
fere so long as the court had any dis
cretion. an appe. was at once taken
to tie Supreme Court of the District,
aud Is there psndins. Application was
also made for a elaudsmus to compel
the Commissioner OF the Laud Office to
issue Il patent in accordance witn the
81 vsy aud decision of former Com-
missioner of the l.. .ud Oitioa. under
which the t.1le of the State to these
lands Was allirned. ihe hearing on
tais va set Gown toI the next Oetdaer
teGin.
Pending these legal questions, Gee.
RoSecrens, Mty 20th last, introduced u
resolution ins,nolIag the JadIsiary
C1nlmiitee Ot tGs HOUSE to Inquire ilito
aud rspoet apon tia ia tteT. Secretary
Heiler aas sery "a With "a copy of this re-
saluIiu3l. ana asked 10 appear before
IL p coHlnlt ttee as one of tbe witnesses.
tGe betrIag was set down ter yester-
iaY. It HOW appears that three days
.b,fore tais hearing, 3scrstsry leiief
ordered a p4teat 70 DO prepared. and
took It In prs III 10 the President, pro
cured his slgnaLafe, had 1t recorded. snc
Cellvcrea 1t to certain attorneys IL this
city. Ihis is probsdly tbs arst time IL
tho history OF the Cove fnment when an
officer Of the Executive Department has
been asked by either House to withhold
she issuing Of pateuf while questions
were being Investigated bs Congress in
relation 80 it, and the request has been
ignored. Tue resolution iatrodno ID by
Gen. Rssecrans was endorsed by the
offlosrs of three State administration
of California. The action of Secretary
Teller brings into the pateat that hs
causes 10 be issued the $40 acres ol
land. Toe land will be sabiect 70 loca
ton under tho law by the holders Of ths
notorious Valentine scrip, while persons
vho have bought the land from the
State ara liable to be arrested or driver
TO ths expense Of = prolonged litigation
The land 10 worth seven million dollars
Of itself good reason Why those whs
have been urging Secretary Teller y
take this step have been perastsns. and
have urged haste. General. Roscerani
thinks thai il attempts are made nnds'
the patent 70 taxa the lands fron
those Who bold title now from tha State
bioodshsd and riet are almost certain u
fslisv.