Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-03
The Star Route Cases.

The Star Route Cases.
Next to the Guiteau case the people of this
country are interested in the star route prosecu-
tions and they will watch every movement i'm
these cases critically. There is conviction in
the public mind that there was a criminal waste
OF public money. to say the least i'm the admin
1stratiOn of the star route service for several
years prior to the Inauguration of the Garfield
administration. The enormous expenditure for
that service. consuming the total appropriation
before the fiscal year was more than half gone,
and the apparently excessive increase of the pay
of certain contractors have fixed the conviction
of wrong-doing in the mind of the people. They
have seen the figures spread out in the news
papers showing that on some certain route the
service was doubled and the time increased. per-
haps. two-thirds, but the pay increased tenfold
or more. The administration of the service
upon this plan may have proceeded from error
of Judgment or Incompetence; but nothing short
of a trial before the courts can demonstrate
whether it was ineapacity or fraud.
If, as those who had charge Of
this important branch of the public
service claim, the expenditure and the "expe-
diting" were honestly and properly ordered and
enforced. and that the good of the service de-
tial test of motives and acts before the courts,
for by that course only can they obtain vindica-
ton If they have been in the right But, it is
said that the defense intend to go into court and
move to quash the information filed last Friday,
and the purpose of which was to give the pros
ecutiOn an unquestionable legal standing in the
courts. This procedure does not look like
willingness to meet the accusations before a
tribunal ofjustiee. Postmaster General James,
whose administration of the post office depart
ment has received popular approval, and who
has had access to all the evidence against the
alleged star route ring, in an affidavit attached
to the information pending i'm court, declares
that he believes the charges therein set forth to
be true Were the prosecution to be dropped
now, leaving the cases where they stand, the
popular verdict of guilty would be rendered
against the accused if this estoppal of prosecu-
ton should be brought about By them.
The elaborated official report of the autopsy
made upon the body of the late President is now
made public. 1t seems to be specific enough
to answer all possible enquirers There may be
technical points upon which members of the
medical profession Will base criticism but the
one important fact, that the wound was neces-
sariy fatal is generally, if not universally con-
coded The critics who clamOred for the re-
mOyal of the bullet now confess their error.
Even had it been practicable to cut out the
missile the post norton examination proves
that the operation would have done no good,
but rather harm. 1t is a source of sOrrOwful
satisfaction to the people to know now that no
human means could have averted the result.
They can thus dismiss the narrowing feeling
created by the professional critics, that some
oil
nent, could have saved that valuable life.
The gentlemen engaged in collecting money
Tor the October celebration in this city, have ac-
complished considerable in spite of the most adj
verse circumstances. 1t is now too late to pre-
pare more than a creditable reception, with fire.
works and music. In Baltimore the man who is
preparing the properties for the OriOle pa
geant has been at work for two months He has
m ample building at his disposal and a large
number OF men. who are working eighteen hours
day in order TO have everything ready in time.
II the action of the general committee here de-
Gliding against aspectacular procession were now
reversed there would be hardly time to prepare
anything that would not look cheap and tawdry
beside thee exhibition in Baltimore One ad-
vantage Washington has that Baltimore could
not balance with all the money contributed by
her wealthy citizens Our noble avenues and
stately buildings-sweepng sstas filled with
beautiful and striking objects- make agreeable
pictures, which good taste would leave unbedz-
ened and unadorned.
If the star reuters have had any expectation
that President Arthur would .'let up on them,
that hope must now be dispelled by the author
itative statement of Mr.. B. H. Brewster one of
the special counsel prosecuting the star route
ring He says there is no doubt of President
Arthurs hearty sympathy with the prosecution;
in fact, that the President told him in so MANY
words that the star reuters should be purs6ed
with the vigor and the rigOr of the law"
There are many inquiries as to when it will
Be appropriate to remove the drapery of mourn
Ing from private residences and business
houses" There is no exact rule in force, though
the general practice has been to remove it day
or two after the funeral. On the public build
ings it Is retained for thirty days.
sirs GARFIELD has promptly settled the ques-
ton raised as to the place of final interment of
her late husbands remains. She believes it was
his wish to be buried in Lake View cemetery
and this belief is sufficient in her mind to deter
mine the matter. She has informed a gentle
man who visited her in relation to this subject
that the question is no longer open and will not
be opened.