The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-18
THE MINERAL LAND CASE.
1t Has Not Iesn Neglected and Montana
Will Bo Well Represented.

1t Has Not Been Neglected and MOntena
Will Bo Well Represented.
The Washington dispatch to the 81. Pau
Pioneer Press. sent out from the office oi
thas papor Monday night and printed In
Helena yesterday morning, to tho effect
that tho case Of the stats in the Montans
'ninera! land case had been practically
abandoned. caused considerable commsn,
in Helena Yesterday. Congressman Dixon
and Hon. Martin MaRinnis were very in
dignant ut tbs misleading character of the
dispatch. The people OF Montana ars
| thoroughly familiar with tho amount oi
hard and persistent work each of these
gentlemen have devoted TO the interests OF
the case now before the supreme court
Maj. Maginnis. talking of the dispatch yes
terdny, said:
There IL nothing In II. II bears all this
ear-marks Of being inspired for political
mosives by certain person who has Just
reached Washington and who, all through
this case. has been the confdante. gossip
and go-between of the rail- toad attofneys.
the matter. Tho attorneys for the state
are Mr.. u. W. Toole, who has filed most
exhaustive brief and argument, Mr.. w. y.
Morris. OF the celebrated law firm Of Msr-
rick d. Morris, the attorney general of the
United States. Mr.. Miller, and the attorney
general for the interior department.. Mr..
George II. Shields, all of whom are ready
TO argue the case when il is reached. Mr..
Dixon volunteered in the case without
rsoompsnss and has Joined Mr.. Morris In
his brief and argument. On the 10th dav
OF January Mr.. Morris tsIeRraphed tEat
the case had been postponed on account of
the absence of Justice Brewer, and have
no idea that it will be reached this term;
but If 1t is the court will not listen TO more
than two extended oral arguments on each
side. 1t ia arranged that these shall be
made on our side BY M. Morris and by At
torney General Shields"
What about the difference in the
briefsY' was asked.
There is only one brief filed by tho rail-
road people. On our side there are four
The argument and brief of Z. w. Toule.
that OF Attorney General Miller. the ex-
haustive brief of Attorney General Shields
and the joint brief of Messrs. M. f. Morris
and Hon. W. w. Dixon. There never has
been a case before ths court which has been
more exhaustively. carefully and thoroughly
prepared, or that will be better presented.
OF course. the case on our side is pr esented
from evety point. AZ is desirable. Every
theory of the law will go before the court.
The fact is, we are ready in every respect
to try the case, but we are in no hurry
pushing from the first. while our policy has
been delay. just now. three OF the JUS
tices who, from their opinions in other
cases. we think might incline
to our view of the case. arc absent, Justice
Brewer temporarily. Justice Lamar who is
i'll. and Justice Harlan who has gone to lep-
resent the Uuited States in the BeriuR sea
arbitration. We are not afraid OF the other
judges, but We would like to have all sit in
the case. Consequently we are not averse
to having it 90 over the term. Anyhow we
are ready. As to the legislative side of the
question. the committee on public lands
will not be reached until about the 14th OF
February, when Mr.. Dixon's bill will be un-
Is in charge of committee consisting of
Messrs. Dolph. Walthal and Sanders. Dur
ing the attendance Of Col. Sanders on this
legislature the presumption is that nothing
will be done in the senate.''
Major MaRinnis will start for Washington
in day or two to be in attendance both on
congress and tho court in case anything
docs come up.