Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-28
BREEzES BLOWN
TO THE PEOPLE FROM TIE kATloAAL
CAPITAL. a.
The Star Route Prosecutions . Nigh
Official Of the Post Office Department
Says-Postmaster General lanes
eeonomy-Arthur's In
...... ra tentions. T
MATTERS or NATIONAL INTEREST

Intention oil the fOStfnaBtef uenofef ano
Attorney General to push the star route
prosecutions vigorously now and to DO
it Immediately. Col. George Bliss, OF
New York. will control and direct the
prosecutions. There is mass OF eyl-
dence, all arranged and ready for pre-
sentation to the grand jury, and 1t ID
positively asserted by those who are con-
cerned in the management OF the cases
that there is sufficient evidence noe In
hand to procure several indictments.
Guiteau's case will receive the first al
tention of the jury, but that will
scarcely occupy more than day or two
at most, and the Star Route cases will
be taken up as soon after as other press-
ing criminal cases besides Guiteau's will
admit OF. 1t is now believed the grand
Jury will probably reach the Star Route
cases by the latter part OF next week. A
high official OF the postoffice department,
not Postmaster General James, said 10
Western Associated Press reporter
tonight that because OF President Gar
fields condition very little progress
could be made in the Star Route prose-
cutions during the summer, beyond
Collecting and Arranging Evidence.
That during all that time the post
office department had been compelled
to submit quietly to abuse aud denun-
Citations of the Star Route ring and its
organs, but now an active prosecution
of the ring will be made. He said
President Arthur is as fully
determined as ever his predecessor was
to punish the men who defrauded the
government through Star Route con-
tracts, and Postmaster General James
will remain at the head of the depart.
ment until those prosecutions are all
ended.
Speaking of the opinion advanced by
some that the time of Postmaster Gen
eral James expired by limitation on
October l9, one month after President
Garfield died, this official said ii this is
proper construction OF the law, then
James will be re-sppointed, to remain
iu office until he finishes up the Star
Route cases, as President Arthur means
that no guilty man shall escape. This
Official said James administration had
reduced the expenses OF the Department
by cutting off useless expenses by the
grand sum of $l,60O,000, and that not
exceeding fifty complaints all told had
been received OF any inconvenience to
people by reason OF this curtailmeD',
and these complaints
Had All Been Instieated By Contractors.
That the reduced service gives TO the
section through which routes run all the
mail facilities that are proper and nec-
essary. This postoflice official said fur
ther that those engaged in Star route
prosecutions had no confidence whatever
in District Attorney Corkhill; that he
had obstructed and delayed the work OF
prosecution by every means in his pow
er; and it had been determined that he
shall not have any control or direction
OF these cases. President Arthur has
the fullest confidence in Ex-District At
torney Bliss, OF New York, who is an
old personal friend, and fully approves
of his selection as chief prosecutor. The
President has expressed desire that
the prosecution shall be pressed as Wig
orously as justice to all parties will al
low. Undoubtedly the accused parties
had hopes OF impressing President Ar.
thur that this prosecution was really
persecution, and at least rendering him
lukewarm in the matter and they are
disappointed at their signal failure.
The ring made a prompt and bold
move to get both James and MacNeagh
out OF the Cabinet, and thus overthrow
the prosecution at one blow, but this
result has been
Altogether Unfavorable to Their Schemes.
The members of the Cabinet who re
turned to-day called on President Ar
thur during the forenoon, Secretary
Hunt being the first and Secretary Win.
dom last to do so. They stayed but a
short time. The President saw but few
other visitors to-day. Ex Secretary
Boutwell, was with him half an hour in
the evening.
He describes the President as appear
ing much fatigued and somewhat dis
tressed by heat. which had been exces
sive for several days. The ma'arial
symptoms he felt few days ago
have passed away. Senator Jones Of
Nevada will return tomorrow and Sec
retary Kirkwood will reach here from
Mansfield with Mrs. Kirkwood in the
morning.
Attorney General MacVeagh stated
this evening that he recognized to the
fullest degree the propriety Of President
Arthur's selecting as his confidential
advisers gentlemen who had
heretofore sustained relations not
only of personal good will but also
OF political sympathy with him. Indeed,
he did not think any administration
could be strong il there was any ground
for suspicion or distrust among the
members. As soon, therefore, as the
President had taken the oath OF Office
Mac Veagh said he rendered his resigna-
ton in writing. He had also assured the
President that the resignation
Was Not Form, But Fact,
and he hoped it would be convenient to
designate his successor by the time tie
Senate met. MacVeagh added that
on public grounds he ielt no
difficulty in pursuing the course
his feelings dictated. The only political
work to which he attached any import.
ance at this time was the work of ad.
ministrativs reform, including. of course,
the exposure and relentless pursuit OF
all plunderers OF the public treasury.
If President Arthur engages heartily
and thoroughly in that good work, as
he hoped and believed he would, then
he was entitled to credit, doing it with
an Attorney General OF his own selec.
ton, and not with one Inherited from
President Garfield.