Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-14

WASHINGTON, Jan. Especial Attorney
Gibson assisted Col. Bliss today in prosecu-
ton of the star route cases. Mrs. Cobell,
wife of the principal defendant, was in court,
because, as Col. Bliss explained, she was one
of the subscribing witness to some of the
worthless bonds. In answer to Col. Bliss
Judge Smell said, Jackson, one of the defend
ants, had not been arrested. Wilson opened
the days proceedings with a protest against
the reception of the evidence presented so far
by the government. He was followed by Col.
Tatten, who elaborated the point made yester-
day by Wilson, that no large contractor could
find separate sureties on each and every bond
required of him and such is not the meaning
of the law. He argued the government had
so far failed entirely to establish the exist
ence of conspiracy, and therefore the evil
dence was not pertinent and should be thrown
out. He quoted the act of 1874, which au-
thorizes the postmaster general to call for
new sureties on banks if he believed those
given to be insufficient, and asked why this
policy had not been pursued by the govern
ment.
A. B. Williams made the point that the en-
dorsement of sureties by postmasters was
final. The court could not go back of this
endorsement, and the law provided for the
punishment of postmaster who should
knowingly endorse an insufficient surety.
Therefore, he claimed the court had no dis
erection in the case, but must discharge de-
PENDANTS.
Mr.. Cook of the prosecution quoted the law
bearing upon conspiracies and said those cases
certainly fell within their meaning.
The court thought the bids and bonds SUBJ
mitted were admissible because they bore in
manner upon the case and they were placed in
evidence.
The examination of witnesses was then re-
sumed and German and Webster, notaries pub
lie, Washington, identified the bids
and contracts shown by the prosecution.
About dozen of the papers numbering in
all $500, were thus disposed of. Cross exam
informal offer of the papers in evidence.
Williams inquired whether the bail of W.
W. Jackson of $1,000, and Mike Armstrong of
$15, 900, could not be reduced to reasonable
figure, and as was done in Cobell's case.
judge Smell declined to act upon the matter
until the parties were in court. Adjourned
till tomorrow.
Proposed Changes in the Pension Laars.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is. = The house COM
mittee on pensions to-day authorized favor
able report to the house On the resolution in
troduced by Mr.. Brown Qnd) calling on
the secretary of the interior for an estimate of
the appropriation necessary annually to pay
pensions during the next twenty-five years
Comm issioner Dudley addressed the commit
tee on the subject of Indian pensions. He
thought the payment of pensions to Indians
should be made in silver dollars. These pen
slons are paid to the Cherokees, Creeks and
Seminoles at the Knoxville, Tenn, agency.
The custom heretofore has been to make pay
ments By means of checks which have been
very heavily discounted. 1t was suggested the
agent at Topeka, Kansas, be instructed to
pay these pensions instead of the agent at
Knoxville, Tenn, Topeka being a.much more
convenient point.
Col. Dudleywas authorized by the committee
to prepare bill embodying his suggestions.
The commissioner also spoke of the present
custom of payment to inmates of Soldiers
Homes. He referred to abuse of the rules
which permits inmates of Homes leaving after
contracting large debts to retain from the
government payments of their pensions.
Members of the committee discussed the SUBJ
ject briefly and were all of opinion the defect
In the law should be remedied without delay.
Col Dudley then called attention to the
matter of insane and invalid pensions
and recommended the enactment of a provi-
ion which would admit of the payment of
sSuch pensions to widows or orphans. On