Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-01
HIS EXPLANATION OF THE SUIT
RELATIVE TO THE FEDERAL
BUILDING
MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE
COULD NOT AGREE.
Mr.. Leyson Says That he Was in Fa-
vor Of Investigating and Settling
All Just Claims.

Relative to the suit begun recently DE
w. Nee. White and Joseph A. Lewis
against J. H. Leyson. Elias Siegel and
Frank Shaw to recover $11.449. alleged
to be due for services in securing tn
sale to the government of the site for
the new federal building. Mr.. Leyson III
an interview last evening said:
Mr.. Siegel. Mr.. Shaw and myself.
who have been made defendants in this
case, constitute committee OF residents
and property holders in the vicinity of
the plot of ground that was turned over
t. the government for the postoffice pur-
poses. 1t was the desire of the property
holders to locate the building in that
section and the committee was appont-
ed to promote that end to the best of
cur ability. l owned So feet of the site
and the remainder was secured from
Mr.. Daily. l found on investigation that
he owned the property. it being por-
ton of the surface of the Washoe lode
claim l went to Anaconda to see him
in regard to the matter. and he was
very well impressed with our plans and
treated me very cordially. However,
he said that as he was a very busy man
he feared that l could not reach him
personally when it might be necessary
in the negotiatio and he referred me
to Joseph A. Lewis in the matter. Mr..
Lewis did act as Mr.. Daly's agent IN
the deal. but it did not occur to ME a.
the time that he was intending to make
any claim for his services. l supposed
that he was acting for Mr. DAILY, and
that it was portion of the courtesy
that Mr.. DAILY had expressed himself
being willing to extend the furtherance
of the public enterprise.
However l recognize that Mr.. Lewis
did a great amount of work in connec-
ton with the deal in the way of
Strengthening out titles and other labor
that was necessary before the transfer
to the government could be made.
did not understand the exact nature of
Nh Whites claim. but from the first
when the claims We're presented to the
committee was willing to give the gen
tleman a hearing that it might be
determined what was the nature of the
services that had been rendered. and.
of course. if they We're found to be Just
obligations they should in justice be
paid.
Elm this view of the case I was alone
on the committee. my associates alb
solutely refusing to have anything
to do with investigating the merits of
the claims of Messrs. White and Lewis.
This action was taken at one of our
meetings and afterwards I vainly at
tempted to present the matter to NJ.
Siegel's attention by a personal call
upon him. My position was simply
this-that out of courtesy to the gen.
temen if for no other reason we should
at least give the claimants a hearing.
but my associates on the committee
seemed to hold that as the site had
ben turned over to the government it
was a closed incident and there was no
need Of doing anything more about it.
II will be seen that being in the minor
fly on the body l could not do anything
in the premises. no matter how much
7 desired to have some amicable and
satisfactory settlement of the difficulty.
When there was an absolute re-
fusal on the part of the majority of
the committee to consider their claims
the plaintiffs in this suit took steps
to bring the matter into the courts for
adjustment and the complaint that was
flied few days ago was the result
l am in favor Of settling for any just
obligations that We're incurred in the
transaction of securing the site and
turning it over to the government and
after that whatever remains of the
fund that was collected by the property
owners i'll the way of subscriptions
should be appOrtioned to them pro rata
This should be done as soon possible
as all money that was collected more
than was necessary for the carrying out
of the object that was sought in all
fairness and justice SHOULD go back to
the contributors.
II would suggest that it would be Well
for the subscribers to hold a meeting.
and to them the claims of Mr.. White
ard Mr. Lewis could be presented. and
undoubtedly they would have a hearing
as l have all along desired that they
should. and also at such a meeting re-
ports could be presented from the
treasurer and other members of the
committee, and there could be an in
vestisation as to how the money has
been expended
When a crowd is composed of men, 1t