Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-27
THE STAR ROUTE CONSPIRACY
Has Secretary Teller Gone West to Induce
Ex-Secretary Spencer to Testify?

A Washington special says "Attorney
General Brewster has not yet examined the
voluminous report upon the ATTEMPTED
bribery OF members of the star route iury.
and seems In no haste to do so. 1t is said
that 1t will be good days work to read the
document carefully. This has led to an
opinion quite generally held that &c will be
withheld until after Tuesday, Cabinet meet
Ing, although, being strictly a department
matter, 1t does not appear that It's discussion
DY an unpIep1red and incomplete Csbi-
net, at an hours session, can add much
to Its importance or construction. The
argument put out by the department for the
stDgularly deliberate manner Ia which the
Investigation has been conducted belittles
lngersolPs effort OF the other day by taking
the lofty ground that the department viii
not rush into newspaper controversy, and
tnat what 1t win say will stand upon it's
merits, and be independent alike of what
has preceded and Of what may follow.
There is reason to believe, however, that the
Attorney General appreciates that the de-
partment Is in a sense on trial and that the
delay In Issuing the report msY be accounted
Tor by his desire that It may 90 out lawless.
thus serving the double purpose of refuting
1ngersol's production and exonerating the
department. from the shadow Of suspicion
OF responsibility for the conduct of its sub-
ordinates. It has leaked out that Secretsrv
Teller's trip to Colorado, which was an
nounced with needless frequency for week
previous to his departure on Friday, will
have something besides pleasure for its pur-
pose. Recent publications In the World
and elsewhere with regard to the flight of
ex Senator Spencer when he was wanted
as a government witness seem to have
reused the administration to a sense OF the
importance of counteracting the opinion
that Spencer's fight was acquiescsd In if not
advised by the President, who is believed to
have promised Spencer that his office on
the PacMc Railroad Commission would not
be endangered by his putting himself where
ne could not be made to testify against the
confplrators. One inference commonly
drawn from this circumstances, among
others, was that the administration wished
to save Brady and Dorsey. This, It must be
said, Is getting to be the belief here, and
spprehending that it may soon be believed
throughout the country, It has become
desirable that Spencer should declare
himself In such way as to lift
the threatening cloud of suspicion. Mr.
Teller's mission Is supposed to encom.
pass this purpose and a card from Mr..
Spencer, assuming personal responsIbiIitv
for his flight and attempting q plausible
explanation OF 1t, may accordingly be look
ed Tor shortly. Speculation does not vet
deal with what his card may say. but there
seems to be no doubt that II the President
feels that he is likely to be compromised by
further approval OF spencer's course. he
VIII not hesitate between a blight upon
himself and whatever consequences spen-
GERS testimony may entail upon the con-
spirators. 1t need surprise no one, there
fore, should Spencer declare his willingness
to respond at any time to q summons, ex-
cusing his flight, IL at all, upon the conve-
nient plea, perhaps, of business engage
ments, and possibly of unimportant infor-
nation. He will hardly plead the true ex-
PLANTATION Of his personal friendship and the
Presidents good will towards the conspira-
tors"