New-York tribune., 1882-02-21

several of the caGes but none whatever TO the propr
ETY. o. returning indictments. Said Colonel Blls':
regard this unanimous action OF the Grand Jury ns,
first vndcation of the administration Of justice in the
District Of Columbia; second yindicat!On o. the
Administration Of President Arthur, who has insisted
from the first that Justice should have full sway
In these cases. and that the guilty, IL there
any, should be puusned; and third, vindica-
tion Of the prosecution and in minor sense of myself
for have said all along that these ought to be in
dcted. and that believed they would be. have had
some experience in criminal practice, and never
saw any case in which the evidence
collected with so much energy,
intelligence and ability as in these That credit does not
belong ~ me nor 70 any OF The prosecution, Dut 10 me
nspccors of the Post once Department who gathered
tniS teslh9ony trom All paris ot tne West. . ,,,-
There has been some criticism Of the apparent delay
or dl aorneSS on the par OF the prosecution was all
than sixteen hours aday-seleenng and Gliding the
route In Wa Ellington Territory there two wi neses
familiar with al the fact wanted the lower end
OF the ron g. aud two who familiar with imp0r-
TAM facts relating to the upper end We concluded,
finally not to call either 0f these bat 10 summon wit
who knew really lrss about e rOntc tran the 9TH
er5, but whose kuOwl,dge rs to facs relating
to the entire route. We called him in order to econ
the Grand jury and the aggregate payments 10 them Tor
shall call about one hundred ard Iy witnesses FOR the
Government in HE prosecution Of these eases"
Whr1 do you expect TO get 10 trial y asked the re-
"Wr." he replied, if the dcfendsnts are homes. in
their desire for sncedy trial W. can begin the cases in
April. II wi require about ten davs TO draw lie indct-
ment5. They are being prepared by Mr. Kerr in the
At0Incy-G,ne ais office. The Governments witnesses
appeare before the Grand Jury have en- allowed
10 return home az would have been fair 10 Keep
them waiting here on dollar and aquarter day,w ich
of course, would not p1v their exp nses. some 90 me
witncss 47O0 III les. We shall be ready to go on
IN April"
Colonel Bliss seems very much erltifcd at tho action
of The Grand Jury lie saws That he cautioned he fore
man and rhe jlrymeu against finding any indictments
that would MOI, tlcir opinion, eslt IN coHVc ION
evidence i,
and unless they satisfied tnat it wOul con
Wet before pc il jury, lot 10 indct upon IT,;
lie states that civil sui's will be instituted
by tho Government against the various mail contract Ors
who are believed To have pr nted by the STAR Route
iig wherever there Is 70 believe thai these con-
tractors have property upon which the Government can
The urctrs of tho contractors canno he pro
Ceeded against these cases. but Colonel Bis says
tLat the Government intends 10 make determined
effort To part, least OF the money illegally
tax n rom II aud pail 20 con cactOrs.
The action Of tie Grand Jury was great surprise TO
the accuse men and her counsel rs they did no be-
lcye indictments would he returned One of h counsel
for The de encc said night tat it small mater
inyhIw the, hId "a club that would denUlsu tue
prosecution The cases get into court lie de-
elm d to state, however what This cub" il. Colonel
Bliss says is no question Whatever that all the
of tue pcrsods iniced come within tle statute OF
limitations