Evening star., 1897-03-15
THE LAkEq FRONT CASE
Secretary Carlisle's Connection With It
Explained.
The scheme Came Very Near Succeed.
Ing on thr Ex-Secretnry's
RECON- IN Ell d IA ton.

There were no Developments today in
what is known the lake-front. or Mckee
scrip, scandal. No action was taken by
Secretary Bliss in the matter, and the
whole case remains in statu quo. Until
after the hearing before Judge Best the
acting commissioner of the general land
office. it is not likely that Secretary Bliss
Will take any steps looking to the rebuke
or punishment Of Commissioner Lamoreux
Inc latter, 1t Is said, is extremely sick at
ms nome In Mayville, Wis. where he was
taken several days before the Inaugural
uoa- He Is not confined to his bed. but is
uiittsr the constant care of a physician. He
Is aoie 10 sit up in an arm chair, propped
up with pillows. but is not allowed to talk
about the scandal in which his name is in
volved.
senator Spooner called at the department
thiS morning to see Secretary Bliss and as
certain if there was any news In regard to
the matter. and if any action in censure of
Judge LamoreuX was intended He was as
sured that nothing had been done so far
ana that he would be duly informed il any
action was intended which required his at
tention.
Going to the Courts.
So far the friends of the 'scrippers" as
the claimants in whose interests the Lam
oreux decision was made, are called are
scarce quantity about the Interior De-
partment. 1t is understood that their
course of action now will be to carry the
case INTO the federal courts, notwithstand-
ing the TACT that the decision favorable to
them was not formally filed and made one
or the records of the general land office. 1t
was found in the commissioners safe
drawn up in the handwriting of one of the
counsel for the claimants, a circumstance
that Is not without precedent in land office
procedure nor In the courts of the land and
duly signed by the commissioner.
Ex-Secretary John c. Carlisle explains
his connection with the claimants in
a statement which sets forth that he was
approached in his office in the treasury
building several weeks ago by representa-
tives of the "scrippers," who asked him 20
become counsel in the case and offered him
a check for $4,000 as a retainer. He re-
Piled that he could not undertake to prose-
cute any claim before any of the govern
ment departments at that time. but that
after the 18th of March he would be glad
to consider the offer. At this time it is
learned that Judge Lamoreux was told that
Mr. Carlisle would appear as counsel in
the case and was making a thorough study
of it. During the interval until after the
4th of March Mr. Carlisle was distinctly
considered among the 'scrippers'' as one
of their counsel
Almost Success.
On the day when he turned over the
Treasury Department to Mr.. Gage. Mr.
Carlisle was asked on the street by Repre-
sentative Peter J., Somers of Milwaukee
and Gen. Dudley, both of counsel for the
"scrippers." to accept the offer that had
been made to the ex-Secretary. He then
and there did so and went to the Interior
Department and asked Secretary Bliss TO
promulgate Commissioner Lamoreux's de-
cision. This the new Secretary was, on the
first impulse. inclined to do, but on second
thought he decided to consult his prcdeces-
sor. Mr.. Francis. who explained to him
that he had suspended all action in the
case by an order issued February -
b. for Secretary Bliss second Thought
the 'scrippers" would have won their case
Mr.. Francis motive it is said, in stopping
all action in the case that his admin
istration, which was a short one, ought not
to bear the onus of two such decisions as
those in the Perrine land grant case and
this Mckee scrip case