Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-11-07
RATLING RUCTION
AROUND THE COUNCIL BOARD.
The Gentleman from Pennsylvania Receives
Some Pointed Hints as to His
Duty - The Guilteau
Case-financisI.
McVEAGH ADVISED TO STUDY LAW.

W hShlNrlOS, NONcluDcl y. Lie 90"
this afternoon publishes what purports
to be a report OF the Cabinet meeting
held in President Arthur's parlors OH
his return from Yorktown. 1t says that
the President informed the members
that he had called them together to con-
slider the Guiteau case; that from facts
which had come to his knowledge he
believed the Government was entirely
unprepared for the case, and avowed I,
with good deal OF emphasis, that he
considered such state of facts disgrace.
full.
MacNeagh, who was present, gave no
sign, and the President asked him what
preparation had be III made for the trial
OF the case, when the latter replied that
he did not consider it any part
OF his duties to attend to
criminal prosecutions. The President
replied that this was great state trial,
and the whole country looked to the
Attorney General to see it properly con-
Quoted. The latter replied that it was
neither law nor custom for him to ap.
pear in criminal trials.
The President sharply asked Mac.
Neagh how it had been in the Aaron
Burr trial "Oh, hut that was a trial for
treason" Dir. MacNeagh replied.
81 es, said the President, land this is
a trial for numbering the Chief Magis-
trate OF the nation, and to my mind it is
the positive duty OF the Attorney Gen
eral to take charge of the case"
MacVeagh reiterated his position, to
which the President replied that the
statutes OF the United States authorized
the Attorney General to appear for the
government at any time and ir any case
he deemed proper, and referred him to
the particular section.
The scene, by this time, become quite
exciting, and the lawyers of the Cabinet
being appealed to, decided with the
President, but MacVeagh still insisted
it was beneath the dignity OF his
office to appear in the case, and finally,
in reply to question by the President.
admitted he had done nothing to assist
in the case, and ii additional counsel
was wanted, Col. Corkhill could employ
them.
The President, with considerable
warmth, said that that was a new sug-
gestion to him, and that either Mr..
MacNeagh or himself was very ignorant
OF the law; for, according to his reading
Of the United States statutes, it was
made the express duty OF the Attorney
General to engage assistant counsel in
any case where in his judgment the in
terests of the Government required it,
and finally announced that he was de-
tsrmined that the Government should
have able csunsel, and would
himself direct, ii Mr.. MacNeagh
declined to do so, that Judge John X.
Porter of New York, and Walter
Davidge, OF Washington, be employed
as additional counsel in the prosecution
of Guiteau. Mr.. MacVeagh then said
that if the President desired it TO be
done he would employ the gentlemen
named.
1t is said that at the close OF this some
what remarkable Cabinet scene the
President remarked that the Attorney
Generals knowledge OF the law would
bt SltuNiN iuIpIDNtu Dl Itdulu3 tue
statutes of the United States, which
defined the duties OF his office.
Financial Matters.
The debt statement for October pre-.
sents some gratifying figures. On the
fist OF July, 1880, when the debt was at
its highest figure, the interest charge
was Sl5l 900, QUO per annum, while it is
now not quite SCI, ,0O0,000, reduction
OF about three. fifths. The reduction OF
the DEBT lor the month amounted to
over Sl4 00Q, 900. The prospect is that
a like reduction will he continued dur
ing the year-at least that it will not
fall below $4,000, 900 per month.
The total amount Of standard silver
dollars coined up the Sept. l, 1881, is
S49S, ,3222, 105, but Of this amount only
about "A per cent. is in circulation,
the remainder being in the treasury
and represented by silver certificates.
There is now greater demand for the
silver dollars than ever before. The
Government has purchased 100000
ounces OF silver, which will be coin .d
as rapidly as possible to meet this de-
mand.