The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-02-20
CLEVELAND WILL NOT TALK
Refuses to Explain His Interest
i'm the Perrine Claim.
THURBER SAYS 1T is REGULAR
The Matter TO BE Made the Subject
of Special Inquiry by the Senate
Committee on Public Lands-Of-
ficials Discuss the TRANSACTION.
A Sensation Promised.

President Cleveland declines to make a
statement explaining the granting of a pat
ent for over $4,000 acres Of valuable Flor
ida land TO his wife,s relatives by order of
Secretary of the Interior Francis. as ex-
Gusively told in The Morning Times to-
Cay. Private Secretary Thurber. when
questioned in regard to the story by a
Times reporter. said:
The grant vas both regular and legal
in all particulars, as can be evidenced by
an examination of the records III the case
now on file in the Interior Department.
Mr. Cleveland scarcely knew Of the exist
ence OF such claim by his wife's relatives
until 1t was finally passedupon by Secretary
Francis. The President has no eXplana-
tion to make in connection with the case,
and will, am sure, refuse to make any"
The question involving the validity OF
the grant will he made the subject OF
special inquiry on Monday next by the
Senate Committee on Public Lands, OF
which Senator Dubois is chairman.
Judge K. V. Brookshire, u former niem-
ber OF Congress from Indiana, who has
been retained by the settlers on the land
involved in the grant, will bring the matter
to the attention OF the committee, and will
strongly argue against the action OF the
Secretary OF the Interior. Judge Brook
shire said today that he was positive that
the disclosures to be made would estab-
lish beyond doubt that the grant was IL
regular, and he eventually hoped to have it
So declared.
The matter. he said, would finally find
- i,,A, Aa
intended to institute an action to invah-
date the grant
Judge Prookshire strongly intim ated
that the East Coast Florida Railway, OF
which II. NJ. Flagler, the Standard OIL
Inagnate, is the principal owner, was behind
the whole matter. and backed up the Fer
rine heirs in their successful effort TO re-
cover the land.
Il understand" said Judge Brooksbire,
that the railroad has been trying to Sc
cure the land for many years past, and
adopted their present plan as the most
advantageous way OF getting possession
of it'
The land in question is situated in Dade
county, in the southern part OF Florida.
1t is said to be specially valuable for the
propagation Of tropical fruits.
That the inquiry of the Senate committee
means Eothing more nor less than the in
vestgation Of a scandal in which the
President viii figure coaspicuously is borne
out by the language used to a Times re
porter yesterday afternoon by Mr.. Lion
berger, the Assistant Attorney General
for the Department OF the Interior. He
was asked what prompted the inquiry, TO
which he replied that the committee pro-
poses, as / understand. it, to look into
the propriety OF having issued this patent"
The people involved most directly are,
therefore, those who will be benefited by
the patent. Mrs. Cleveland, Mrs. Perrine,
who is Mrs. Cleyeiand,s mother; DR.. Per-
rne. Mrs CIevcland's step-father; Presi-
dent Cleveland, Secretary Francis, Assist
ant Attorney General Liolberger and Judge
Lamoreaux. Commissioner OF the Land
Office The material benefits. OF course, go
only to DR. Perrine.i the Perrine heirs and
their associates"
Assistant Attorney General LioRbergeT
talked the matter over quite frankly yes
terday and quite defiantly so far as any
public criticism of his conduct is con-
cerned.