The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-28
THE LIEU Lands CASE.
Secretary Smith Will Give 1t
Attention Immediately.
CANDIDATES FOR OFFICES.
Two Seattle Men Are Recommended
for Desirable Positions.
Important Ruling in . Pcnaion Case
That Will Ee the Cause Of . Big Cut
In Pensica List-A Chinese Case De-
cided.

W.sHgssroS CRY, May c7.-tSpecial.l-
James Hamilton Lewis has urges:
Secretary Smith 10 appoint F. A. MeDon-
aid, OF Seattle, to the land Office. II is
understood that Lewis has secured from
Secretary Carlisle . promise to appoint
George Moore as Chinese inspector.
Probably the most important pension
decision sent from the office of the secre-
tary of the interior to the commissioner of
pensions was tilej today Il Is believed
by those high in authority in the pension
bureau that il will reduce the payment OF
pensions under the acs of June. 1880.
between xA5.on,oo and so, ,0u0on. 1t
involves the repeal of the order passed
by Gen. Raum and approved by
Assistant Secretary Bgssey and return
To the language of the statute requiring
disability no: of service origin TO he such
as 10 prevent applicant from earning sup
port by manual labor. The decision was
in the case of one Bennett, who sought a
pension under the old law. alleging that
while in service at Raleigh. y. C., he was
Frustrated by sansiroke, which resulted in
partial deafness in both ears The appii-
cation was denied on the ground that,
while the applicant has slight deafness, it
is not Of sufficient severity TO warrant re-
rating. Bennett subsequently, applied for
and received pension of $l2 per month
under the act OF June n, 1850. The secre-
tary says:
Incapacisy TO perform manual labor. which IL
the foundation to pensions under the act OF
June y. is9o fixes An entirely different stand
ard OF disability from that contained in the
1T
origin. Disabilities incurred while in actual
service. aud ineapacity coming upon the aDpli-
cant long after service ceased, are made by law
to stand upon entirely different footing.
Those incurred during service and in the lsae
OF duty are penstaHaose without regard
to capacity to earn support, aud
graded without any reference TO this
condition. Disabilities resulting from canses
other than service origin are only pcusionable
W hen incapseity to lshor joins with incapacity
to earn support, and the gsade ratings arc de-
pendent upon these two conditions When by
order No. isi. issued by Raum. IL Was declared
that d.sahilite1 under the act oe June -, 1890.
should be rated as II OF service origin. the very
principle which governed the fating under the
act OF June =, lsso, dispiscei the rule applicable
thereto.
The decision was signed by John NJ.
Reynolds. assistant secretary OF the IN
terror. Secretary Smith. in another COM
munication to the com missioner of pen
sions, says it is hardly necessary to
present argument or support by authority
the proposition tnat neither the sec re-
tary nor commissioner can. by order or
practice. superscde an act Of congress,
and he therefore directs hereafter that
the practice Of the Office conform to the
law. 1t is believed that this ruling will
reduce the pension payment by from $l5,-
oDo, ,ooo to SO Uo. .oo5 annually.
Secretary Smith. of the interior depart
ment. devoted an hour of his time today
TO Jamas Hamilton Lewis, Of Seattle.
Senator Daniels accompanied Lewis to the
department Lewis, rs is probably known
in Washington state, is here i'm the inter
est OF settlers in the lieu hand contro.
yersies. and on account of the fact
that Smith and Lewis are both Geor-
gians and members of the same bar. the
Seattle man was given due attention by
the secretary. He told him that he had
PROMISED the settlers that Smith would
personally hear the test case of Cole vs..
the Northern Pacific railroad, involving
this company's claim 10 lieu lands in
Washington state. Lewis explained the
Importance of the question. showing
that upwards Of GU0o,eo acres
were involved. The Northern Pacific seeks
10 have the celebrated Guiiiord Miller case.
which was decided by Secretary Villas, re-
yersed. \ hearing will be had either next
Friday or Saturday. The court will con-
sist of Secretary Smith. Assistant Attor-
ney General Hall aud Judge Best, OF the
land law department. Col McNsoght
will appear for the railroad company,
assisted by ex-Attorney General Garland.
Lewis will be assisted for the settlers by
L. ]. Rankin.
Secretary Herbert has directed til ut two
Of the three /. ..-so-ton gunhoats authorized
by congress he constructed OF the COM
posite type. This means that the frames
Of the vessels ana part of the structure
above water line will be made of steel, but
the hull will be covered with wood plank
ing. This wood plsnking in turn will he
sheathed with copper. anu thus vessels
will be enabled TO make long cruises in
tropical waters without going through the
expensive process OF doc king and scraping.
Attorney General olnev has decided
that Dung Hon. restaurant. keerer. is
not laborer Hon. who is in business in
New York city, went to China on a visit,
and upon his return was refused ad,nls-
sion on TIE ground that he was Iahorer
and not merchant; and the case was ap-
peasd to Attorney General olney.
The computations by the engineers upon
the results attained By the New York unon
the trial trip are completed. This after
noon Secretary Herbert received tele.
gram from Commodore Besknap az fol-
lows: The speed OF the Nes Work, from
close computation and corrected for tidal
currents. was tweaty~one kuo.s.''
Secretary carlisle had AZ extended CON-
ference with nresidcn; Cle.eland ,hi.
evening, and as \ result ten or twelve col
leciors of internal revenue. secona comp
troiser and other appointments in the
treasury service will be announced on
Monday.
President Cleveland has appointed .he
following:
Isaac ]. Gaiisnee-. posira aster at Chener,
WASH. wee Simon {. Cramer. ressgnes:
George q. WatisaelI. .. Arizona. eoTasafs-
s!sner on the Worlds fAgr con4n EMISSION. vice
William X Meade. resigned.
John /. Thomas, .. Missouri. has beea
appointed assistant attorney general for
,Ae pas;ossice department, vice James y.
Tyner. resigned.