Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-17
WASHINGTON WARBLINGS,
a Pointed Controversy BE wsen Court aud
Counsel In the Star Route Cases-Misesi-
laneous Notes.
The Star Ronte,s $.

to dwell upon the Importance of the sta
route service, characterizlng it as the fore
runner OF the railway system of the country
contendiDg it was necessary for the pusli
good and declaring the allegations to the con
frary confined in the indictment were false
hoods from beginning 10 enc. In conclusion
Carpenter said: "When remember as a mat
ter OF popular history all the Sc charges agains
my clients were bruited in The newspapers of
great political party, during a heated cam
paigni two years before thus indictment wa
found; when remember they were canvasse
by the press one on side and explained @
denied on the other; when | remember th
attempt 10 connect the late president of tn
United States with the very transaction I,
which this Indictment refers; when remem
Der the proud position my client occupied a
party leader, l cannot but be reminded O
the evanescent character Of everything earth
ly, cannot but be reminded that In the near
future We must all leave, and prior to leaving
there will come moment when memer,
viii unlock all camps aud will turn over ma o..
by page every act of your lives, and may vol
have the consolation in that su
prene hour to call TO mind tha
mistaken by popular clamor, unshaken by
ment, you discharged your duty and rendered
in accordance with the testimony in this case
verdict of mot guilty."
Jef Chandler was the next counsel for the
defense land especially Brady to address the
jury. Beginning in low voice he gradually
warmed up to his subject and received the
closest attention from every occupant of the
crowded court room. In support of the prop.
ositioa of law, Chandler was about TO read
from the decision rendered by the court in the
early part of the case, when Merrick, under
the impression he was about to quote from
some other authority, and thus argue the law,
objected. This gave rise to quite a heated
controversy, participated in by the court and
Merrick and Chandler.
Taking up the thread of his argument
Chandler asserted there h id n )t been a gle
order for expedition issued through the un-
broken influence of defendants. Petitions
had come in by the hundreds signed by men
ofmost honorable character, aud upon these
petitions expedition had been ordered The
influence of senator's, representatives, cabinet
officers and business men has been exerted,
and II had not been shown a single route had
been expedited through the Influence of
defendants alone. In the course of his re.
marks Chandler quoted the court as having
SAID the presumption was expedition was
for the public benefit.
Judge Wylie-The court said the presuup-
ten was every officer did his duty.
Chandler inquired whether that presump-
ton had been overcome.
The Court-Suppose it be proved a public
officer was bribed. What becomes of il?
Chandler-This is not conspiracy 20 bribe
anybody to defend the United States
The Court-The bribing of the second
assistant postmaster general was part of
conspiracy.
Chandler argued the prosecution had not
shown the government had been defrauded.
m h.n n1ra4r , t,oI 49,
would not do to turn the current of this case
into's little sluiceway of bribery
The court said he did not believe it Was
justification for public officer gully of
bribery to say-tk acts he had been bribed to
do were right and proper. If the government
owed counsel 81 900, and the counsel counter
felted 81 900 bond, the government would
lose nothing, but the counsel would have ob
tained his 81 900 in an irregular way.
Chandler-If four or five of us were in
dicted for conspiracy to defraud The United
States and it turned out we did not, would
your honor convict me on that indictment be.
cause it was shown had forged a bond of
the United States? Ii so am answered, 9TH
erwise / am not.
Ihe Court an assuming that the con-
spiracy is established. Ii SO, the fact that the
public received a benefit from the expedition
and increase Of service is ne defense.
Chandler differ with the court most rad
ically on that point.
The Court-That is my present impression.
Chandler-And propose to change it by
The most persuasive argument l am capable
Of. daughter
The court then suggested that Chandler
had better address the Jury for while, aud
counsel understanding the court to order an
adjournment said he could complete his argu-
ment this afternoon.
The court (sarc astically), l hope counsel
will not close to-day.
Chandleri good bumoredly replied, the
court should not be SO satirical. He had been
very modest in this case, more SO even than
his friend Merrick.
Merrick-You are one of twelve. | am one
ont of three.
Chandler-They keep great mass of their
counsel under the cover of brains. Their
whole business is out of sight. (Laughter)
Chandler in illustration OF the proposition
fhSt 1t was incumbent on the prosecution to
prove the government had been injured byex-
petition OF star reuters, put hypothetical
case to the court. Suppose, he said,
he had bribed a public officer to
pass just claim. He admitted he would be
liable to Indictment for bribery as would also
be the officer. But did the court hold they
conspiracy to defraud the United States.
The court said he would leave it to Merriek
TO answer that question.
Merrick suggested that Chandler should
have an opportunity to think over his aues.
ion and the court adjourned.
Surrender of Three and a Half Per Cents.
WARRINGTON, Aug. 16.-One hundred and
fifty millions of 81 per cent. bonds have al
ready been surrendered by the national banks
alone, and there is every reason to believe the
amount received from these banks will aggre-
gate nearly $3.50, 100000.
IMPORTED FREIGHTs.
Solicitor Raynor, of the treasury, decides
that freight on imported goods consigned to
an inland city, can only be collected at the
point of destination. He holds the collector
at port OF arrival has no right TO demand
payment of freight charges.
LAND SURVEYS.
Ont OF the appropriation of 100000 for
surveying public lands, acting Commissioner
Harrison has apportioned $33O.OOO among
surveying districts. The act provides
$4,000 of the aggregate must bs reserved
for the examination of surveys made, and the
department reserved $4,000 for emer-
gences.
CONFLICT OF OPINION.
There seems to be conflict of opinion be-
tween Judge Rlynor, solicitor of the treasury,
and Judge Lawrence, first comptroller of the
treasury, as to who is the law officer or legal
adviser of the treasury department. In his
annual report of December last to the secre-
tary Comptroller Lawrence said, 3" 1 am the
law officer of the treasury department"
Some weeks since a question of account
against the government was referred by the
secretary of war to the attorney general for
an opinion upon the gality of the claim and
the latter gave his official opinion in favor of
the claim, based upon his construc-
ton Of the law. The case went before Judge
Lawrence as the proper officer to
and the claimant. The comptroller filed an
opinion in which he took issue with the at
torney general upon the point of law involved
The eecretary of the treasury referred the mat