Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-15
ecutive and judicial appropriation bill met yester-
day afternoon hut failed To reach aureenoent ON

ecutive and judicial appropriation bill met yester-
day afternoon but failed to reach an agreement on
the section OF the bill which proposes to transfer
the army records OF soldiers from the custody Of
the surgeon-general to that OF the adjutant gen.
era, the section which proposes equalization OF
the salaries of the employees OF the House and SEN
ate and the section which grants to the Secretary
OF the Navy for the use of his department por-
ton OF the south wing of the building now occu-
pied by the State department The House con-
ferees will report their disagreement to the House.
and ask for a vote OF that body upon the sections
in controversy.
Senator Kellogg and the Grand Jury.
THE LOUISIANA SENATOR'S vINDICATIoN-THE PRO-
CEEDINGs OF THE GRAND JURY-THEIR ACTION
HAS NO REFERENCE TO THE GUILT OR INNOCENCE
OF OTHER PARTIES.
The action of the grand jury yesterday in ignor-
ing the charges brought before them duplicating
Senator Kellogg in alleged star route Frauds has
been the subject OF considerable comment and
speculation and several stor;es more or less true,
as to the proceedings OF the grand jury have been
printed. The only question which the grand Jury
had presented to them for consideration was the
completely of Senator Kellogg. Their inquiry was
not invited to the guilt of other parties. When
they first met, as indicated by their appearance in
court to ask for Instructions, the question was
ed by two OF the members as to the right of
Bliss to be present. Some OF the members who had
had experiences on the grand luries before
asserted that it was customary for the prosecu-
ting officer to explain case and then retire, leav
OF witnesses. This matter, however, was settled
by the court in favor of allowing Mr. Bliss to re-
main The jurors it appears, came to conclu-
sion very quickly after hearing the evidence.
There was but one vote taken, and that was unan-
1mOuS In eXoneration OF Senator Kellogg. On
trustworthy Information obtained by THE STAR it
can be stated that no comment or criticism was
passed upOn the character of witnesses or their
testimony. The evidence OF Walsh was not con-
Sldered as conclusive or satisfactory proof OF guilt
or guilty knowledge on the part of Senator Kel-
lOgg. As stated before, the relations OF other par
ties TO the alleged frauds only came up before the
grand jury Incidentally.
One OF the grand jurors said to a STAR reporter
that 50 Ear as he saw into the cases or the other
persons brought up incidentally he believed Ii he
had been called upon to VOTE he would have voted
for indictment. AS to the statement OF Mr. Bliss
pubithed in THE STAR, that il he had been men,
Der o. the jury he wOuSI have voted to tndct Kel-
l0gg,t the grand Juror did not believe Mr. Bliss would
nave made the statement under oath. Mr. Bliss
could not oe said to have done more in defence of
Yesterday morning Mr.. Bliss having intimated
that he would have more testimony to present
Monday, the grand jury placed W tn him the re-
SponSibliity OF holding the jury together.
When the Jury appeared in court. however Mr..
Bliss dld not make any request OF The court, and
the jury was adjourned.
member OF the jury said to a STAR reporter
Ihat he believed that the Jury was as good one
as c0u!d be fmpannelled; that they would indlct
tne PRESIDENT, Senator or anyone else ii there
WIS sufficient evidence placed before them, but
grounds, especially after Judge Wylie had in-
stTuc;ed them that they should not find bill cx-
cept upon evidence sufficient, as they believed, to
convict the accused parties.