The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-17
Quc,iion. to be Considered.

when Mr.. WILLIAM VI. EvARrs went to
Washington 10 be- the principal Cabinet adj
wiser Of Mr. HAYES. II was not expected that
hc would carry with him his Wall street law
business, on any part ~ it. Though there
may be mocN press prohibition in the statutes
like that which prevented the late ALEX
AMBER I. : STEWART from becoming Secretary
Of the Treasury under GRANT, there are
many good reasons why Mr.. EvARTs cannot
properly continue the practice of his profess
sion while at the head of the state Depart
mcut.
The first fcw appearances Of Mr.. EvARrs
IN court after HAYrs's Inauguration last
March. were Explained 10y his friends az the
necessary fuilmcnt of engagements made
hcfor" he accepted office. lie was tying up
the loose ends. they said Of his extensive
and complicated law practice. Then he
would be ublc 20 settle down at his desk in
the State Department and give exclusive
attention 10 our diplomatic relations with
foreign powers. This prediction has not
teen justified by the facts Nearly n year
has PASSED since Mr.. EVAK1s began tO tie
M the louse ends of hi- private business,
and he j. still constantly and cunspicuously
engaged In the court rooms Of New York,
Washington. and other cities lie now. it is
said, excuses himself for this breach Of pro-
pricty with the plea that he cannot support
his family ON the salary allowed the Sccre-
tary Of State
The charge brought against Mr.. EvAETs
this morning in the letter Of a Washington
correspondent is II much gravcr one than
that Of breach Of propricty. In the we'll
known suit Of the New York Central Rail
road Company against the United States
Government for the recovery Of money paid
~ taxes. the firm uf EvARTs SoUTHSIAYD
a CuOArE are the plaintiffs attorneys. II
is for the interest of the Government to
hnyca speedy trial Of the case. and ii Is the
wish of Mr. EvARrs'S client~ to delay adjudi-
cation. AZ the request OF the Secretary Of
State, we are told. the Attorncy-Ccncral has
ordered u postponcmcnt, in spite of the pro-
tests Of the Commissioner of Internal Roy
cnuc and the District Attorne. in charge of
the case, and in spite If the fact that both
parties had previously fixed upon yesterday
rs the day Of trial and entered their agree
ment on tho records of the Supreme Court.
Ibis story puts Gen. DEvESs ina very bad
light. and Mr.. WILLIAM NJ. EvARTs in a
worse one. If our correspondent has stated
the facts with accuracy, the Secretary of
state has employed his personal and official
relations with the Department Of Justice to
win a point Tor the law FIRM Of which he il
the senior member. lie has made use Of hi-
Office TO push his private business at the eX-
pcnse Of the Government, and has gone
from department 10 department, like an at
torney's clerk with green paize bag in his
hand, TO secure an advantage for a railroad
corporation which pays him fees. This is
not an ediiying spectacle; and we trust that
Mr.. EvARrs will be able TO show that he
really did not interfere. "a our correspond
ent believes him to have done. He has q
sufficient burden upon his shoulders in his
share of the Electoral Fraud, and it Is to b,
hoped that he may clear himself Of the
smaller offence now charged against him.
II Mr.. EvARTs cannot support his family
upon the regular pay for his official labors
he had better leave Washington and come
back to Wall street. II is hardly time yet
to hang over the door Of the State Depart
ment the sign Of EvARTs, SorTHMAYD a
CHoATE, Claim Agents and Attorneys il
suits against the United States of America