New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-03
GENERAL WASHINGTON NEWS
SENATOR CAMERON IN A PASSION

SENATOR CAMERON IN A PASSION
RoUsED BY ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE ArroRxzY-
GESERAL--THE LARGE FEES PAID TO COUNSEL
IN THE STAR ROUTE CASES
IBY TELEGRAPH TUE TRrBUSE.i
WASHINGTON, March 2.-The administration OF
President Arthur Is to be congratulated upon the
fact that Senator Don Cameron rarely takes upon
himself the role of its defender and champion. Iha
exhibition he made of himself In That ield this
evening little short of dIsgraceful. Senator
Van Wyck long ago became convinced ia his own
mind that the expenses of the Attorney Generals
Office in some respects were extrayagaBt. He
therefore introduced a resolution in the Senate
calling upon the Secretary of the Treasury
for itemized statements Of the amounts paid 70
special attorneys in the Atorhey-GencraPs Office
and received i'll response copies of number of oils
made out by special attorneys. He sought tne oD-
pOrtunity to bring these matters Def re the Senate
and the public in connection with the discussion
of the Sunry Civil bill yesterday, but did not sue
coed.
HOW PUBLIC MONEY IS EXPENDED.
He made the opportunity to-day, declaring it TO
be his purpose to make the matters public, IN
order that the people might know how
their money was being expended. He pro-
duced the bills of the special attorney IN
the Star Route cases, George Bliss, of which
covered space of los days. for which Mr. Bliss re-
ceiycd, In addition to his expenses, $4,000 or
nearly $3.50 day, including Slndays. The items
OF expenses charged by Mr. Bliss furni he'd The
reason for tho exercise of Mr.. Van Wycks powers
OF sarcasm. Five cents for postage. 90 cents Tor
tile porter OF slee Dingcar and $40 day for board
at the Arlington Hotel were among the small
matters found in the accounts. Lawyer Mernck
had alec received $4,000 for about one hundred
kah had mot
made any charges for board and expenses.
One OF the most damaging features OF the matter
In Mr. Van Wycx's opinion, was iou- d IN bills pre-
s.nted by and paid to a member of CONGRESS, under
stood TO be Mr.. Crowley, OF New-York, who was
employed not by the Attorney General, but by the
Districr-Atio rney of New-York, to try case IN
Yves ern New-York. for which purpose he was
cal ed away from Washington during the session OF
Congress. Tue bill rendered and paid for this
service amounted to $4,000. Mr.. IN Wycs de-
clared that the employment of special attorney
by Distrct-Ati0rney was Illegal yet ne SAID.
the Acknowledgement and the accounting ohcsrso or
the treasury had passed the account. He said the
people were being systematically robbed IN tins
way By the lawyers, and the Attorney General was
responsible.
A SENATOR ADVISED TO BE CAREFUL OF HIS
WORDS.
Senator Van Wyck spoke from the seat on the
Republican side nearest to the centre aisle of the
Senate and on the corresponding seat upon the
mocrauc side, about six feel distant with nothing
intervening, sat Senator Cameron. OF Pennsylvania
The latter arose when senator Van Wyck
charged The responsibility upon tine Attorney
General, and, advancing step toward the
speaker and pointing finger at bun, said: " Look
here, do you mean to say he got any OF that
moneyP
=, - :: l.. - o. oo,,sos oo,,lJ bova oa n.
cred that the Senator from Nebraska made any
charge of bribery or any other than OF gross ex
trayagance. Senator Van WICK began a dis
claimer. when Mr. Cameron broke IN with Well,
en- YOU be mighty careful how you talN." Sem
ator Van Wyck began TO repy again. but Senator
Game on win threatening gesticulations repeated
MS command to be careful and continued Tor
some seconds to slap his hands calculating, Stop,
stop now, stop at once
The occupant of the chair Senator Harris
IN his efforts to preserve order, made the
remarks of the two contestants inaudlbe.
It was perfectly plain, how yer. that
Mr. Cameron had lost all self-possessiOn and self
control. His manner justified the reference that no
wanted q personal encounter with tine Senator
from Nebraska. The latter maintained the most adj
mrabie self-possesson, aud remarked, when he got
the opportunity TO be heard, =" | am glad that my
friend from Pennsylvania cohes to the rescue -
"Oh you're -" remarked Mr.. Cameron, who
had sunk into his chair.
MIR. CAMERON INDUCED TO LEAVE THE CHAMBER.
senator Voorhees, went over to Senator Cameron
and persuaded him 10 move further away and keep
still Senator Edmuuds a moment later went TO
HIM aud persuaded HIM 10 go into the cloak-room
Senator Van Wyck continued his arraig Iment OF
the Attorney General for authorizing such extrava-
gauce aud was interrupted by senator Logan. who
made some insinua.Ions that do MN credit. lie
said i'm subs an,e tnat il the charges made By the
senator from Nebraska mad Oeen male BY some Que
outside The Senate az a time the SCAR Route
nj as were ID prog e.s, he (.OgaD would Injer that
he was retained Tor the defence oil thieves.
Senator Van Wyek replied that he had made no
stliemeuC when was not drawn from the official
sign manual of the A .tomey- General himself,
arrangement Wi h. f possIole. or after force than
brIore AID Senator Logan before the CONCLUSION
left the chamber.
la summing up Senator Van Wyck expressed tho
opinion tnaf a cJmbnati"n OF lawyers was robbing
the Government under the forms of law to an ex-
tent which was comparable IN some degree 10 tho
lLesal succe ses OF the star X ute tbl YES. No
W nder lie saiu the trails were prolonged TO An ex-
tent which wouid be diSgrsceIul III er any form OF
government. The temptation To prOlong them was
lrreoistiule No senator arose TO DEFEND tho
Attorney General and nis assistants.
JUSTICE AFTER TWO YEARS.