The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-05
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL



came TO being deceived and led into oectd-
ing the famous Caicago lake f-o5t case,
" aich involves property valued Al seySrA
millions az collars. almost oezore ne nad
discovered WAT the interior department.
booked like. bat the details are exceeoinsay
ir-eres-trg
II Wa. the first day that AR Bliss had
spent al the interior department and the
retiring secretary. Mr.. Francis, Tas with
aim, explaining al he could about the
routine OF the department
A telephone message came asking IL the
secretary Of the interior could see MS old
friend Gen Blank for few moments ar.
Bliss sent back word tina. De would De very
sad 70 see the general az any tine and
few moments later this old friend, who
proved 70 De one OF the best known astor-
nsys practising before the interior DEPART
ment. came into the secretary's private
Office
The secretary took his old friend into
little room adjoining TIE Office and a few
moments later came out with Estle paper
IN his hand which he was about 10 sign,
but upon second thought handed over 70
Mr.. Francis.
'sTais.s said Mr. Bliss. us an order
which my old friend Gen. Bank. asks me
20 sign. he says II IS purely matter OF
routine"
1T is purely matter OF routine" said
ex-Secretary Francis. as ne carefully pc
rused the paper IN question. But he
continued, IL you put your name TO thai
paper. you viii have confirmed the order
which was recently made by Secretary
Iamoreaux and watch | prevented from
being promulgated until further inquiry
could be made. This simple little matter
OF routine which your friend Gen. Blank
asks you 20 tx up as favor for him
merely disposes OF few million dollars
worth OF government land bordering on
Lake Michigan in the city OF Chicago"
Secretary Bliss had grown. red in the
face when Mr. Francis first began 10 talk.
BY the time he had finished he was as
white as a sheet. He said nothing TO Sec
rotary Francis. but after a moment turned
and went into the adjoining room where
his "old FRIEND was awaiting him. II was
scarcely half a minute later when Gen.
Blank passed out, seemingly In very
great hurry. for he did not even stop to
say good by. Mr.. Bliss came back TO his
desk and mopped his brow as he sank into
his seat.
View" said he. addressing himself to
Mr.. Francis, that was a narrow escape.
Notwithstanding this little experience, IL
was only two or three days later when
Secretary Bliss came very near being bun
coed again. This time II was in case
concerning which the state OF Washing
ton IS interested to the extent Of about
one million OF dollars. II has been known
for. some time IN the department that one
of the attorneys OF the department who
has had charge OF the famous Mcbride
case which Is claim for school section l6,
adjoining the city OF Tacoma, on the
ground that IT is mineral land, had written
up a decision against the state Of WASH
ington and awarding this claim TO Nc
Bride.
Secretary Hoke Smith refused TO sign
this decision and ii was lying upon his
desk when his successor. Mr.. Francis, was
appointed. The latter Il very much OF a
business man and when he discovered that
there was something pending, 10 which
his predecessor did not desire TO afix his
official signature, he himself was very
careful not to do So So the matter has
remained unsettled until the present time.
The same game however. which was tried
in the case Of the Chicago lake front mat
ter was tried In the Mcbride case. This
time Secretary Bliss did not have Mr.
Francis to warn him. and II is claimed
that he actually signed the order. but IL
t'lat be true g. was never promulgated.
Before the hnal steps were taken, some
one about the department had given him
pointer and further action was immed ate
~ suspended.
Representative Jones, who, as attorney
mastered all the intricacies OF this case,
will still continue TO represent the state
in the matter. Since his arrival In Wash
Ington he has asked the new secretary for
rehearing In the matter and feels quite
confident that some further argument VIII
be allowed before the case Is finally de-
cfded upon the existing records. The testi-
mony which has already been taken In the
case would al several large volumes
ITO the vlc.ors belong the spoils' Is
again exemplifief in a way not at all
pleasing 10 two gentlemen from the state
or Washington who have been employees
under the republican house IN the last con-
gress These are Frank Vaughn, OF Ia
coma. and Capt. p. B. johnson. OF walla
walla Mr. Vaughn was appointed assist
ant journal clerk NJ the instance OF Rep
resentatlve Doolittle and Capt. johnson
was given place in the house postoffice
as favor 70 Mr.. Hyde. When this ses-
sion began both men were told that they
could not expect 70 hold their positions
longer than two or three weeks at the
most or until il had been decided which
one Of the new republican members should
be allotted this patronage. Capt. Johnson
resigned at once. but Mr.. Vaughn is SIN
holding his place and viii continue TO do
so untii his resignation Is called for Mr..
vsughrs work has been very satisfactory
ana Tue journal ci-EA Aas Sii"N ~ AafS
him retained. but this IS rot likely to be
done.
One OF the Hr~t things which Representa-
tive Jones took up after his arrival in
Washington was the matter or securing
shipment OF brook trout 20 be deposited
by the United States fish commission in
-he streams In the state q Washington.
Mr Jones SAYS he has assurances that
such shipment VIII be made some time
during the present summer and that por-
ton OF the shipment VIII be deposited In
the streams flowing into Puget soand and
the remainder will be put into the Spokane
river and other streams In Eastern wash
tngton which are tributary TO the Column
b.a
Whe-her the two representatives for the
state Of Washington viii divide on the
question OF the propriety CT the govern
rnent guaranteeing the bonds OF The Mica
ragua Canal Company cannot yet be def
nfts,y stated. Representative Jones SAYS
he IL somewhat surprised ct the attitude
taken by his colleague, Mr.. Lewis, in an
tasonlxinr the canal. and that he himself
had a1wavs supposed the people OF that
stare desired that tire canal be butt 81
as early a dsy as practicable. Just ~
present he thinks that he viii BE in favor
OF .hs canal, although fntinating that bis
opinions would be those OF his constttu-
erts from whom Re had nor heard much
uuon this subject The members from
Washington state have hereeofore been
such ardent supporters OF the caral meas
t,re that e viii seem very strange to find
their SUCCESSES lining Up II opposition 20
~ HoSeve-, there IL hardly any posi-