Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-29

The detectives compl lia that they were not al
lowed to be present yesterday at the tnye5iiga-
tion of The charges against them. II appears
however. that the preseat Investigation before
commissioner West Is noly preliminary to the
prelerring OF charges aad hear. Az OF the ac-
cused parties, ana Is therefore In tn. nature of a
grand jury inqus ton III The .nye5ttg alton shoul1
develop gr0I1I for preierring charges, taen the
officers oa trial wouli have the ri.ht to appear
and make tieir defense. The present examina-
tion Il In accordance With the following orier
adopted by the board:
Ordered. That when accusations against MEM
DerS OF tie metroi otan poli,,e Oh the DiStift OF
Columbia g rc ntde 10 the Commissioners, " hich
In their judgment shall require inve.tig alton pre-
nnin4fs 10 Iae preterflng o! charges aud hear
Ing o tle ctncer accused. Z Commissioner Sh IL be
designated TO conduct such iDvestg tionS SUE
pGl9S at;eSted liz the maine or the president of
the board shall ee iS-uei TO compel before the
Commissioner so designated the attendance OF
Witnesses, AMI such Wtne<Ss@S shall be examined
by hm id pursuance OF the powers conferred by
SECTION 39s OF the Revised Statutes OF TIE District
Of Columbia"
The Senate committee OH the District OF Column
BIZ. has decided 40 report i2voribly the no,nina-
tion o. John Il. OlniStesii for District Columns
sto3er. Meanwhile citizens OF the District VINO
de~lfe TO prefer sworn charges against the APP
pone are unable TO do SD because or the lack OF
qUOi I'm OF the committee whenever they present
On, mseive5 for a he ring. 1t looks somewhat as
II the scheme WAS to get Oln -teid into Office first
F7,iLd. Press.
The Press Is under a misapprehension. The
nomination OF Mr.. OlIastead was referred by the
Senate cOElmttee to a subcommittee, consisting
of Senators Rollins and German. The statement
has been made that the subcommittee were pre-
pared 10 report Ia favor of the confirmation OF Mr..
OiIaStead had there been quorum OF the commit
tee present yesterday. But this statement IS
certainly without foundation as the delegations of
citizens who have waited upon tine committee to
present their views upon the question have been
nrad hot fhuvx hau a rin hafr,r
action was taken.
TIE decision Of New York jufge the other day
that diyi lends shall MOI be paid On the waterei
stock OF a certain corporation whose case was be-
fore hiin Was a long step In the right direction;
but unfortunately 1t does not go far enough to
afford the public the relief 1t needs and has right
20 In tie premises. He ought II he has the power
and II he does not possess 1t he ought to have
Ito pass an order compelling the corporation in
question 10 refund to its customers the excessive
charges collected from them In order to pay dvi-
dends Oh the watered stock SO Illegally issued.
Were reasonable and proper dividends allowed to
be collected and paid only on the actual paid up
capital stock OF such concerns. telegraph tariffs
and railroad passenger fares and freight rates
would not need 10 be half so high as they now
are; ard II Congress and the several state leg1s-
latures ever quit accepting passes and cease to
agents and aJtOrnies OF corporate mOnopolics the
Country VIII nave laws expressly forefdd1ng public
robbery In that plausible AMI convenient FORM At
present. however. the power OF q free pass seems
20 outweigh every consideration OF justice and
0ecsncy.
The Congressman who have gone home to enjoy
the holidays are not welcomed BY their constit-
uentS with any great arIor. On tho contrary
they are receiving ahmonitions to return to the
Wo'x Tor which they were elected. The Cfncin-
natl Gazette gives them this gentle hint: 1.-THE best
thing the holiday members can do now Is to talk
20 Sheir constituents, study the ssntiment prevail
Ing ID b;.siarss circles and hurry back to their
Pacs's at Washington prepared to settle, one way