New-York tribune., 1896-11-24
WASHINGTON NEWS NOTES.
A HEARING IN THE CHICAGO LAKE
FRONT CASE.
PROPERTY WORTH MILLIONS IN JEOPARDY
MARCUS A. SMITH RESIGNS AT LAsT-CoNDI-
TON OF THE ARMY-GRNERAL LEE AT

MARCUS A. SMITH REsIGNS Al isASt-''NDi-
TON OF THE ARMY-GRNERAL LEE AT
THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
Washington. Nov. 23.-Before Commissioner La
moresux OF the General Land Offce. to-day began a
which will be argued this week. aferward gong
before the Secretary OF the Interior and VIII u't-
mate,y find its way TO the United States Supreme
Court. 1t Is the claim. one SIDE OF William H.
Cox TO property in Chicago. north OF the Ch;cago
River North-ave. and east Of the Hall survey 10
the laRe. embra cling about 1853 acres OF land Wort"
$40 100000 to NJ.ON(O0 Another set Of claimants are
II. NJ La Toilette and Matthias Bonner wno claim
be purchasers of scrip issued 10 the heirs OF Cap
tain W. II. Mckee. veteran OF the Mexican war; ny
of Congress. The land is now occupied ny ra'-
roads. business houses. canal and ABOUT ten sree's
and among those owning Improvements there are
Potter Palmer. y. X. Fairbank. c. b. FarwelI ana
others
C. W. Needham Of Washington. addressed the
Commissioner for the present shore owners, OF
the property. He said the plaintns claimed thc
lands as vacant Government lands pnt thes
should not he called such as they were occupied py
various business enterprises involving millions OF
dollars Mr. Needham's main point was an ATTACK
upon the Government survey of the track s'aunG
that did comply with the law as subscribed IN
the surveyors manual. The plat did not indicate
IN snge instance ina. 'hers %sre oSnses am
factories. residences and streets He claimed tna'
should have had the exact facts. and should have
that the specific instructions given the survey
Judge Best, Assistant Commissioner Of the Land
ONCE sitting with Judge Lamoreaux said nat M ms
Needham replied that they should have been carried
out to the full intent Of the law It was not the duty
OF a Government official practically TO perform ms
duties but to do them In accordance with the spiIit
of the law He also said that the Governmen, nsm,, o,
house was on the land In question. but was not
shown in the survey and added that the plat should
not remain for a moment on the Government recorus'
as 1t false and misleading
MIR. Needham continued his argument until late
in the afternoon and brought out the point mat the
lands claimed were not made by accretions. nut
were the result OF contracts made win parUes pS
the State Of Illinois.
Mr. Brown counsel for the Newberry Library.
which is the tract In controversy: said that the
lands did not belong to the United States. because
lands under all navgable waters belonged TO the
States which front upon them. The hearings Will
continue until Wednesday,
Marcus A. Smith has resigned as United States
Disrlct-Attorney for the District Of Arizona. Mar
Gus A. Smith il the delegate-elect In the LVth
Congress froIn Arizona In the recent campaign
the Department Of Justice took the position that
officials under that Department who were active
In the campaign candidates for Office should
their connection with the judicial branch and
In carrying this policy several disrictatcrneys
summarily removed. after having failed 10
respond to the invitation to resign the CANDIDACY S
Department. and an effort was made TO reach him:
Mr.. Smith was then In some inaccessible part OF
the Territory The Attorney General. not desiring
to deal hastily harshly with Mr.. Smith. held the
matter In allegiance. The election rolled around
with him still on the rolls United States District
Attorney He successful In the fight for Con-
gress the Department has his resignation
and peace prevails again.
The Lighthouse Board gives notice that
about December 4.Ooo-pound bell, operated by
small engire will be established In the bell tower
at Eastern Point Light Station. on the east side Of
10 Iarh n
the present fog signal. During thick foggy
weat her this bell will be struck a double blow every
twenty seconds, that there will be no change
I'm the character of the signal The sound OF the
bell is much louder and deeper thar that OF the
present bell The old bell will be retained in posi-
ton for the present. to be used In case Of accident
to the new apparatus.
General Fitzhugh Lee conducted his wife and
ternoon making brief calls the various officials.
General Lee says he has no idea when ne Will re-
turn to Havana He Is ready 10 go at any time.
The report Of General J. G. Breckinrdge In
spector-General Of the Army of the United States.
made public to-day speaks highly of the Army.
being ir as good condition In respect TO instruction.
discipline equipment and supplies as ever before
in it's history Considerable attention. he says, has
been given TO minor tactics and training In the
feld which, under the present short-service term.
have become more pressing. He states his opinion
that the growing Improvement in the quanty OF
the young men entering the Army mas not apateh
in the least Much OF the report consists OF de-
tails not generally interesting. but he especially
notices the advances made in cavalry drill.
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