Evening star., 1897-02-22
| THE PERRlNE CLAIM
Investigation of the Issuing of the Patent
Begun by the Senate Committee.
Taken mt the Hearing To-
day-An Alleged Agreement
With the Heirs

began an investigation of the issue of
patents for the lands embraced in what
is known as the Perrine grant in Florida.
This is the case In which Dr. Perr;ne
President Clevelands father-in-law is in
terested as one of the heirs of Mr.. Per-
rine, who undertook, under grant of
Congress, to settle a township of Florida
about half century ago, but who was
killed by the Seminole Indians before he
had long been the land The property
has since been settled largely by sauatters.
who have sought to secure homestead
grants, and the Perrine heirs were unable
to secure patent for the land until three
weeks ago, when it was issued by the In
terror Department.. 1t was this act by the
Interior Department that resulted in the
investigation begun today.
There were present in the committee
room Senators Dubois, chairman: Petit
grew, Garter, Mcbride, Tilman, Berry and
Villas.
EX-Representative Brookshire of Indiana
appeared as attorney for the squatters in
cor nection with Mr.. E. /. Robinson of Jack
sonville, the latter having been a settler
on the land in dispute and attorney for
other settlers
MIR. RObins0n's Testimony.
Commissioner of the Land Office Lamo-
reux was presented and upon the opening
Of the hearing submitted a quantity of
documents bearing cn the Perrine case.
Mr. Robinson was sworn and testified at
lergth.
Mr.. Berry inquired the number of set
tiers on the Perrine land grant.
Mr. Robinson replied that not counting
the settlers that had been brought there
by the Florida and East Coast Railway
Company there were eight such settlers.
These were actual settlers on the grant, in
addition to which there were others VINO
hsr q
land year and half ago; had improved
it, and visited it frequently, and was try
ing to close up his business affairs in jack
sonville so that he might take up per-
manent residence on his homestead. One
of the settlers on the section on which he
had located had been there thirty years
and had never conceded the claims of the
Perrine heirs, but had always endeavored
to perfect his homestead claim.
An Alleged Agreement.
Mr. Berry asked whether there was an
agreement of the squatters on the Perrine
grant with the Perrine heirs.
Mr.. Robinson replied that he knew moth
ing about that agreement He said he did
not think such agreement contained the
names of all the settlers.
A reference was made to an agreement
between the Florida and East Coast Rail-
way Company and the squatters, and upon
the request of Mr.. Tillman it was read TO
the committee, this agreement being among
the papers submitted by the commissioner
of the general land office
Upon request of Mr.. Tillman. the con-
tract between the squatters and the Flori-
da and East Coast Railway Company was
read. Under this contract the squatterS
agreed TO withdraw their contest in he
general land office, or at least a number of
the squatters, SO as to allow the pa tent for
the grant to be issued to the Perrine heirs
on condition that certain land be decided TO
them. This contract was made in June,
hr llp1lu tad 70 Etnr hnxxr
the railroad company had any business
to interfere in this matter.
MIR. Holcombc's Statement.
Mr.. C. w. Holcombe, who represented
the Perrine heirs, replied to Senator Till
mans inquiry by presenting an affidavit
from ]. E. Ingraham, land commissioner
of the Florida and East Coast Railway
Company, in which it was stated that one
Of the duties of Mr.. 1ngraham was to en-
courage the settlement of land along the
line of the railroad He said he had been
approached by a representative of the
Perrine heirs and asked to do what he
could to facilitate the settlement of this
land. he agreed to do so, and he came in
to communication with about thirty squat
ters on the land. He found they had insti-
tuted proceedings to have the land thrown
open to settlement by the government re-
gardiess of the Perrine land grant He
explained to the settlers that their course
would retard settlement of the land and
persuaded them to enter into an agree
ment to withdraw their contests on con-
dirion that each squatter should receive
twenty acres of land but subsequently the
agreement was changed SO that the squat
tiers were to receive forty acres each.
Three Of them, who had made more ex-
tensive improvements on their land were
10 be gwen eighty acres each. Mr. In
graham notified the Perrine ners that
ne would also assist them in securing set
Es.lr 1ara.
Part of The railroad made sundry improve
ments of the same by opening drains, &c
He said that last November certain at
torney, whose name he did not mention,
advised the settlers to reopen their pro-
oeediags before the general land office, tell
ing lhem that by SO doing they would Sc
cure more land. The affidavit stated that
most of them refused to do this
1t was also shown that under this agree
ment the railroad company was to get one
half of the Perrine land grants out of
Whlch half the settlers who were promised
forty and eighty acres of land each were
TO be provided with the same.
Mr.. RObinson's improvements,
Mr.. Robinson was asked regarding the
improvements he had made on his claim.
and said that he had set out trees, had
built house, which had no window ex-
cept one in the garret He was asked If
ne had any stove in the house. and re-
piiea @ that he had not. though he had
made arrangements for stove This lat
ter remark created considerable am,,se-
ment. He also acknowledged that he had
entered into a contract with the railroad
company to accept fifty acres of land in
payment for his claim
Inc committee then went into executive
session. 1t will have other hearings t.n
this subject before making a report.
SECRETARY LAMONT