Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-04-26
Extravagance In the Department q
Justice.

The report which has been made il
response to the Senate resolution calling
for the names of special or assistant at
torneys appointed by Attorney-Genera
Brewster and the amounts paid them il
full of interest for taxpayers. Under
the resolution no figures were called fol
prior to January 1, 1882, but in view OF
the figures given since that date it is not
difficult to form an idea as to the ex.
travagance of the preceding year.
The report shows that George Bliss,
of New York, received from MAY 26,
1882, to January 10, 1888, for services
in the Star-Route eases, $4,000. This
was exclusive of .sexpenses, board,
railroad fare, etc. 1t was exclusive
also of $4,000 paid on the first narned
date for services prior thereto. It was
simply for less than eight n1orIhs' OF
not continuous service as an attorney in
the cases referred to, and as an assist
ant at that. Something like $4,000 a
month is what the bill amounts to, and
very tidy compensation it is for a law
yer of Mr.. Bliss standing. 1t is almost
as exorbitant bill as that presented by
Mr.. Bliss namesake, the Doctor, for his
services in treating pus-pocket. The
lawyer, however, succeeded better than
the Doctor. The latter had Congress
to deal with. The lawyer only had
Brewster, Acknowledgement.
Mr.. Ker, of Philadelphia, seems also
to have profited by Brewster's generosi-
ty with the public money. During the
year 1882 he received little over &c.,
900 for services as attorney in the South
Carolina election and Star-Route cases,
some $3.50 of the amount being for ex-
penses, board and railroad fare. r. T..
Merrick gathered in $4,000 from the
same source during the same period,
and H. H. Wells, who formerly prac-
ticed law in Detroit, gathered in lit
tie less than $4,000 on a similar ac-
count. az
The total expenses for extra legal
services in the Star-Route cases during
1882 amounted to more than $4,000
Ii the expense were a necessary or
proper one the country would not
grudge it in such a cause, though in the
best possible outcome it is ''sending
good money after bad" But who be-
lieves that the enormous expense is
necessary or that it would be made if
Brewster were not thoroughly imbued
with the ''milch-cow'' theory of govern
ment? - 80
Not only does tho report show this
needless extravaganza in Washington
and the Star-Route cases, but in many
other places and in all sorts of cases.
Business which should be attended to by
the paid attorneys of the Government is
farmed out to assistants. In MISSISSIPPI
pi, Chalmers, the notorious, gets $500,
and that for services in his own Elec-
ton case. In Alabama an assistant at
torney gets 50, 800 in Election cases in
which the Government is nowise inter-
ested. Even in Detroit, where the Gov
eminent interests are in theAhands of a
thoroughly capable attorney, we find
one fee of 800 paid for outside assist
ance in a case which was settled by
compromise. And all over the country
there are similar cases of wholly I'M
justifiable and reckless expenditure of
the public money.
In the ordinary course of things, no
reform is to be expected in this matter
until Congress meets. But when Con-.
gress does meet, something should be
done to prevent continuance of the
gross abuse disclosed by this report
Detroit Free Press.