The record-union., 1897-03-14
Will Cause the Removal From Service Of
a Government Official.
Commissioner of the Land Office Lamo-
reaux in Trouble.
Secretary of the Interior Bliss Signs
an Order Regulating His Acts in
the Chicago Water Front Case,
Which VIII Probably be Immedi-
ately Followed by the Commits
sioner's Dismissal.


ately Followed by the Commits
sioner's Dismissal.
WASHINGTON, March ia sensa-
tional order repudiaung the Acts of the
| General Land Office in the Chicago lake
front case, which Will probably be fol-
lowed Immediately by the peremptory
dismissal of Silas w. L2moreaux. Com
missioner General of the Land Office,
was signed by Secretary OF the Interior
/ Piss to-day
/ The order directs that all proceedings
subsequent to the filing of application
/ to locate Mckee scrip on the lake front
| be rescinded and aunulled, and orders
a new trial before a new commission.
not yet appointed. within thirty days
after notice to all parties
I The action is based on q purported
opinion given by Lamoreaux to one Of
the parties in interest three days before
the time appointed by himself for the
formal announcement of his decision
and notice to other interested parties.
The land on which it was proposed to
locate claims by means of this scrip is
in the heart of Chicago and is i'm
mensely valuable, estimates of it's
worth ranging from $15,000,OOO to $50.
100000.
The decision formulated and promuI-
gated by Commissioner Lamoreaux
winch resulted in to-day's scathing re-
Duke, 1t is said at the Department, is
directly contrary to a decision rendered
by him in August LIST last. involving.
"a glYrn1 1gY,
Cept as to the parties with the pres
ent one. The former decision was
rendered on an application by Martin
M. Coony and others to locate with
Mckee scrip on identically the same
ground and under the same circum-
stances. it is said, as the present case.
/ he application of Coony ct al. was re-
gected. while the application of Har-
yey Nj. Lafollette and Matthias Zenner
was allowed by Commissioner Lamor-
eauX in the decision repudiated by Sec
rotary Bliss to-day
The rehearing in the Chicago lake.
front case has been set for April 9TH.
CHICAGO, March 13.-Judge Lamor-
eauX left here q week or more before
the change of administration. the state
ment being made that he was in q.
-
haustion, and before his departure he
rendered his resignation to the Presi-
dent. In view of to-days develop
ments, it may be that he will be dis
missed.
The Department to-day made the fol-
lowing Official statement on the Chi
cago Lake Front matter:
ON the both day of February Secre-
tary Francis directed that judgment in
the case be suspended until the furth-
er order OF his Department This ord
er has been published. The Secretary
was thereafter informed that no decis-
ion had been rendered; none was found
IN the proper office of the Land De-
partment; none appears in the letter
press, where all decisions are required
TO be copied prior to PRONUNCIATION.
In response to telegram from the
Assistant Attorney General asking
Commissioner Lamoreaux if he had
Siven out a copy of his opinion in the
lake front case, if so when and to
whom, Mr.. Lamoreaux replied: on
the 10Th [ signed an opinion and had q
number of copies made the same day
to be given to the press on the 23rd.
which date 1 had announced that the
decision would be promulgated. One
Of the copies of the Goth 1 gave to 4
party, with permission for him to use
it after the decision should be promuI-
gated, but in no case to be used until
PRONUNCIATION. This was done on the
20th. On the 22d, the Secretary sus-
pended promulgation.'
Although it does not appear to
whom the copy was given. yet as Mr..
Lamoreaux did not disclose the name
of the person, although requested to
do SO, and reported merely that he
gave it to "a party it is to be presumed
that such party was not without in
terest in the controversy. Moreover,
before this Department was advised
that any decision had been signed,
counsel for the scrip holders had re-
Quested that such an opinion should be
promulgated Knowing of the opir-
ion is therefore traceable to them.
THE improperly of giving out a
copy OF an Unrendered, unpromulgated
decision to one of the parties in the
controversy, in advance of it's formal
announcement, is too obvious to re-
quire comment. Mr.. Lamoreaux
states that he gave a copy to a party
three days in advance of the time APP
pointed by him for its PRONUNCIATION in
the usual and proper way. Neither
faith nor credit can attach to an opin-
ion under such circumstances. Since
it was never properly filed, it was
deemed best to disregard it and direct
new trial. This was DONE"