The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1894-06-23
Decided by Hoke.


last Tuesday, among the lot two Michi-
gan cases, but the celebrated case of
Amasa Daily against the Michigan Land
Il Iron Co.. which was submitted sevea
months ago. was not among them.
The two Michigan cases were Lorenzo
A. DE Gras. VS.. James Robinson. and
Jas. p. Edwards VS.. Molie 0'Connor and
Jesse Ford. In both these cases the land
involved was restored to the public do
main by the forfeiture act of March 4,
1880.
La the first named. DE Grass, home
steader, wins against Robinsod.. cash
entryman.
The second case presents some peculiar
features. The land involved was part
of the NJ. ii. and .. grant. which was
forfeited March 4. 1889, and undcr in
structions from the department the local
land Office advertised that applications
to enter under the homestead law would
be received on the 1st of May following.
Notwithstanding these instructions Ford
made application March 9th. His appli-
cation was rejected as being to early.
Mollle O'Connor made settlement on the
land March 18th, and applied to enter
May LIST. Edwards also applied to enter
on May lst, claiming priority by virtue
of a settlement made SEINE time prior 70
March 4th.
The local Office ordered a hearing to
determine the priority rights OF these
parties at which the register and receiver
awarded the right of entry to Edwards.
The others appealedand the commission
er reversed the decision by awarding the
land to Miss O'Connor. The defeated
parties appealed again, and this time
Hoke knocks out both the successful
parties and gives the land to Ford.
E. j. Mapes, attorney for Ford, con-
tended that as the land was forfeited
March 4th it Immediately became par
of the public domain without any pre-
llminary acts of the department, and
that the fact that the land Office adver-
tised the opening to entry May 1st did
not preclude his client from entering
March 9th. In other words the depart
ment exceeded its authority in making
such regulation. AS IL had been the
uniform practice Of the department to
advertise restored lands before receiving
applications for entry land attorneys
thought Mr.. Mapes' contention was D. g.,
but in the light Of recent decisions by
the department no claimant should be
discouraged with any kind Of an argu-
ment, or none at all, for he is just as like
ly to win as his adversary with all the
presidents In his favor.
The SENTINEL, with all due Difference
to the land department at Washington,
would suggest that a "wheel OF fortune"
be substituted for the intricate and ex-
pensive machinery Of the land depart
ment, by which contrivauce one man
could turn ont The work Involved in con-
tested land cases now requiring the SER
vices of several hundred law clerks and
heads Of departments with much greater
facility and with perhaps an equal or
greater degree of justice. All the men
tai or physical labor required would be
TO assign number to each claimant aud
give the wheel a turn. The wheel will
do the rest. Notice of the time and
place Of turning the wheel could be is
sned TO claimants so they might be
present in. person or by attorney to see
that the wheel was honestly turned.
This is great age for wheels. anyway,
and there is little doubt that this concet
OF the SENTINEL's would prove eminent
ly successful and satisfactory. For the
benefit of the public in general and land
claimants in particular the SENTINEL
will make no claim for this invention II
this magnanimous offer will induce the
government to adopt it during the bal
ance Of Hon. Hose Smiths administra-
ton.