The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-03-08

Bow the star Route Lawyers are
Plundering the Treasury Worse
than the Thieves Themselves.
Especial to the Plain Dealer

Bow the star Route Lawyers are
PIundering the Treasury Worse
than the Thieves Themselves.
Especial to the Plain Dealer
WASHINGTON, March 3.-Senator
Van Wyck, of Nebraska, astonished
his Republican colleagues in the SEN
ate yesterday by bitter criticism of
the methods pursued by the Depart
ment of Justice in the star route trials.
He said the way the trial was being
spun out was an outrage, and that the
fees allowed the lawyers were scanda-
lous. Taking up the vouchers of Geo.
Bliss, he ridiculed the charges made
there, in quoting such items as - fifty
cents for sleepiDg car porter,n and
" five cents for stamp" The vouch-
ers showed that he was allowed $3.50
day and expenses. Merrick, another
lawyer, received even a larger per diem,
but as he lived in Washington, the
vouchers did not show that he charged
for toard. 1t was perfectly plain now
why these suits continued as long as
they did. 1t was an Inducement to
these men to continue suit six
months, and also a temptation to them
to mix up the jury. If it was true they
did-he did not say they did-that
courts for the administration of Justice
in the District of Columbia should be
occupied for six months in common
case, it was an outrage which ought
not 10 be tolerated. No greater dis
grace had ever been connected with
the jurisprudence of any country than
that which had been exhibited in the
treatment of cases in the District of
Columbia. He desired that the party
should be protected from such outrag-
es. 1t had always been in the party
that the Republican party punished
its own thieves. Only lately he had
discovered why Howgate had the pris.
on doors opened. Where was the pro-
lection of the people when the head
of the Department of Justice not only
tolerated but inaugurated such pro-
ceedings?
Mr.. Cameron, of Pennsylvania-Do
you mean TO say he got dollar of it?
Mr. Van Wyck-Oh, no.
Mr.. CamerOn-Then you be careful
how you talk be more careful how
you talk; you must stop now; stop
here.
Mr.. Van Wyck-I am glad my friend
comes to the rescue. l tried to do it,
but the force of the facts were against
it.
oI al z a -USSdu MI Cdill6rOD,
threateningly, and then stopped.
Mr.. Van Wyck-I have not said the
Attorney General took any of this
money.
You talk too much, ;" replied Cam
eron. Don't talk any more in that
way"
Mr.. Van Wyck-I don't pretend
that the Attorney General took any
| of this money, but when he puts his
name " Brewster to these vouchers,
when he allowed $40 day for hotel
| expenses, when he at one time allowed
twenty live cents for telegram and
at another five cents, when he allows
Bliss not only travelling expenses, but
a sleeping car and fifty cents for the
porter. say he does thing which
any man in his senses knows not to
be right. I don't pretend that he got
any of this money himself, but this
mode OF extracting money from the
| treasury is no better than the star route
method, none whatever.
| It is possible, said Mr.. Van Wyck,
that that is the way the gentleman or
the Attorney General would seek to
meet these charges, if what I have
read is true-surely it demands some
other answer than that. I do not want
to see the Treasury plundered, as plum
dered it is, whether by cobspirators in
star routes or in any other way. In no
country where justice was recently
administered would it be possible to
have an ordinary criminal prosecution
protracted as this star route triat has
been, not once but twice. The country
is being robbed. What has been saved
through the energy of the former Post
master General is being spent now by
a combination of lawyers getting $3.50
day. [ want this extravaganza to
stop. l move that these papers be
printed and referred to the judiciary
Com mittee.