The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-16
Lnnd omce scnndaI.

| the ownership of land on the lake front at
| Chicago, got into print before it was pro-
mulgated. or even filed. 1t is said that
the land, together with the improvements
thereon, is valued at $5O,OoOOOO. II is oc-
cupied by many people, some of whom are
among the wealthiest citizens of Chicago.
The claimants are scrip holders. who, be-
lieving that the title TO the land still rest
ed in the United States through an inten-
tional or accidental oversight of the gov
eminent surveyor who originally survey
ed the land, entered it with their scrip.
The question as to whether or not the
claimants are entitled to the land came
before the land Office many months ago.
1t was argued before a board composed of
Commissioner Lamoreaux, the assistant
commissioner, Judge Best and the chief
Of the land division. Mr. Shaw. Judge
Best and Mr.. Shaw reached the conclu-
sion that the present occupants of the-land
were entitled to it, and Commissioner
Lamoreaux favored the claimants Com
missioner Lamoreaux, however, was the
sole judge. and the conclusion he reached
was the decision of the land Office in re-
spect to the matter.
Commissioner Lamoreaux wrote his de-
cision and placed it in a safe in his Office,
and then went away to his home in Wis
consin. Before going, however, be gave
orders to his subOrdinates to promulgate
the decision on Feb. o. On Feb %. Sec
rotary Francis hearing that a decision had
been reached issued an order that it be
suspended until further orders. He was
not satisfied with it.
A few days ago the decision was publish
ed in the Chicago newspapers, and then
there was trouble in the department of
the interior, and particularly in the land de-
partment. In the land Office it was as
serted positively that the decision had not
been given out by any one of the officials.
A dispatch was sent to Commissioner Lam
oreaux about the matter, and in reply
that official said he had given copy of
the decision to a party with the warning
that it should not be published until after
it was regularly promulgated. The warn
ing, it seems, was not effective. Com
missioner LamoreauX had no right to give
a copy of his decision to any one, and his
having done so naturally subjects him to
a good deal of severe criticism.
AS soon as Secretary Bliss took charge
of the department of the interior he issued
an order severely criticising Commissioner
Lamoreaux for giving out the decision to
one of the parties to the controversy, and
| directing him to order a rehearing of the
case. The rehearing has been fixed for
April 5.
AS far as known 1t is not charged that
Commissioner Lamoreaux was improperly
| influenced to render a decision in favor OF
the scrip holders. His fault is in giving
one of the parties to the case a copy of the
decision before the decision was promul-
gated, but that is a fault sufficiently Sc
rious to cause unkind comments to be
made on his conduct.
| If the scrip-holders should finally succeed
in getting the land for which they are
contending, they will be among the rich-
est men of the country. The scrip cost
them but a comparatively small sum.
-s-@-s-
1t must have been very gratifying to
Mr.. Watson to read the report of the
meeting of the middle-of-the-road popu-
lists at Denver the other day, the attend
ants showed so much pluck and fire and
political enthusiasm. 1t seems that they
tried to pluck out each 9TH
er's hair and eyes and fire
each other out of the hall; all for
the good of the dear country and the
down-trodden people. And the women OF
the movement were In the fight with as
much determination to mash noses and
snatch things bald-headed as were the
men. What a captivating political party
| the the-roaders constitute, to be
sure! What a glorious and CORY country
we should have if they were permitted
to run it, That they know precisely how
to govern a commonwealth or a contl-
nent is evidenced by the manner in which
they govern themselves.
Mrs. Coffeen of Elkhart county, Indiana
is no longer a spiritualst A medium by
the name of Klein the other night mate
riaIized the spirit of the departed Mr.
Coffeen In order that he might speak tc
his disconsolate widow. who was in the
audience. The naturalization was SO
striking that Mrs. Coffeen bounded upon
the stage to greet her returned spouse. In
accordance with all accepted ghost lore
when Mrs. Coffeen threw her arms around
the naturalization they should have
swung right on through the shadow and
left her hugging herself. But they didn't
They stopped, and she found herself hug
ging Mr. Klein. She is an athletic woman
and the deception made her angry. When
she had finished with Klein he was nearer
to being a ghost than he had ever been.
A lottery bill giving a monopoly of the
business to one company is said TO have
been prepared for presentation TO the next
session of the Nevada legislature. IL is
predicted that 1t will be passed without
trouble The argument-that is the pub
lie argument-whch is being employed in
behalf of the bill is that lottery would
bring into Nevada in a year great deal
more money than the prize fight. There
doesn't seem 20 be any doubt that the gov
ernor, who goes out TO meet prize fighters
and makes them speeches of welcome,
would sign the bill. or almost any other