The evening times., 1897-03-13
land OFFICE IMBROGL|O.
Judge Lamoreux Admits Giving
Out an Advance Opinion.
MR.. BLISS ORDERS A RETRIAL
He Says the Action of the Commits
sioner Was in Flagrant Disregard
of Right aud Justice. and Re-
herring Must Begin In Thirty Days.
Mr.. Carlisle the Attorney.

ooCIttdry bliss To-Day vacated anu an
nalled the orders and proceedings in the
Chicago Lake front cases and directed a
new trial before the Commissioner of the
| General Land office within thirty days.
The reason for this action was shat
Land Commissioner Lamoreux gave out
copy of his decision in the case to one
party three days before the time set by
himself for final announcement, and in
| violation of Secretary Francis orders.
This Is the case in which ex-Secretary
Carlisle has recently engaged as special
counsel. 81 H.
The case has attracted widespread atten-
tion becauseofthe great amount OF 1noneyin
dispute, and also because there are rumors
OF scandal, involving men of national yep.
utation. The suit was brought against the
scrIp-holders, Benner and La FOlett.
Several weeks ago it was said that Judge
Lamoreux had decided against the scrip
holders, and that he was about 20 issue his
| decision. Later, however, he had re-
versed his decision, so as 70 make it fa-
yors BILE to the scrip-hOlders. He then left
Washington suddenly.
Reports came from Chicago and Milwau-
kee that Judge Lamoreux had dropped off
in northern Wisconsin and left a copy
OF the decision with one OF the scrip at
teTneys, =. j. Sommers.
The full text of Secretary Bliss ruling,
addressed to the Commissioner of the Land
Office, is as follows:
'.Sir: 1t having been made known to me
that there is in your office what purports
to be an opinion signed in the matter OF
the application OF Matthias Benner
and Harvey NJ Lafollette, to locate Nc
Kee scrip on what is known as the Lake
Front OF Chicago, Ill, and that copy or
said paper has been delivered To one OF the
parties to the controversy before its rendi
tion and PRONUNCIATION, in flagrant disre-
gard OF right and justice, in violation OF
the express order OF my predecessor, ana
the usual and just rules OF procedure, now,
therefore, in the exercise or the discretion
and authority conferred upOh me by law,
direct you to order a Tehearing OF such
application, at such time as you may des-
ignate, not later than thirty days from the
date hereof, and to immediately notify
all parties in interest or this order and or
the time fixed for the hearing.
an orders and acts of your department
heretofore made or done in the matter of
such application are hereby rescinded,
vacated and annuiled TO the end that said
application may be heard de novo and true.
and et ,ual Justice done between the parties
On the ED day of February Secretary
Francis directed that judgment in the
case be suspended until the further order
of his department. The Secretary was
thereafter Informed that no decision had
in no
proper office of the Land Department;
none appears on the letter-press book,
where all decisions are required TO be cop
led prior to PRONUNCIATION.
In response 60 telegram from the AS
sstant Attorney General asking Commits
sioner Lamoreux if he had given out
CODY OF his opinion in the Lake Front case,
il so when and to whom, Mr.. Lamoreux
replied:
.'on the 20th signed opinion and had
number OF copies made the same day TO be
given to the press on the 23d, which date
l bad announced that the decision would
be promulgated. One OF the copies on
the Goth gave to "A party with pennis-
sion for him TO use it after the decision
should be promulgated, but in no case
TO be used until PRONUNCIATION. This was
done on the Goth. On the 22d Secretary
suspended PRONUNCIATION.
IS. LAMoREUX."
Although it does not appear to whom the
copv was given. vet as Mr.. Lamoreux did
not disclose the name of the person, al
though requested to do so, and reported
merely that he gave it to "a parity it is
to be presumed that such party was not
without interest in the controversy More
over, before this Department was advised
that any decision had been signed, counsel
for the scripholders requested that such an
oninion was in existence.