The Evening critic., 1883-06-05
sTAR-RouTE FEES.
Excessive Charges of Special Coun.

Special Dispatch 10 the Chicago Tribune.
WASHINGTON, d. O., juno 2.--The Star-Route
trials are drawing to close, with the verdict
still IN doubt. When these trials shall have
been completed the discussion Will naturally
revert to the excessive fees paid to special
counsel. Attorney. General Brewster, In q re-
cent Interview, said: "Mr. Bliss Is paid 800
made with Attorney. General Macveagh. Mr..
Merrick receives, think, less than 500 per
day, and do not believe Mr.. Ker receives 500
per day." Mr.. Brewster justified this outlay
by saying: "The expenditure OF every dollar
used by the Department In these cases was au.
thorized by Congress. The Approprlations
advised Of the use made OF our funds; and,
understanding the character Of the expendit.
ure, tho sum that this Department asked
1t is extremely doubtful whether any man
in Congress knew at the time that such large
sums were being Pse to Sounse SCI Ths wyct was
long after the Star Route appropriations were
voted. These appropriations were In bulk
necessary to pay Witnesses from the Terrific.
ries who are detained here for months at large
expenses, and that without them the trials
lied to incur liability beyond the amount of
an appropriation. But nothing was said in
Congress to the effect that the money was
II there had beep-and Congress had believed
it-very likely this money would not have been
appropriated. In this respect the explana-
THAT Attorney. General Brewster did not
always entertain the views In regard to the
expenditure of the public money for counsel
fees as he does as present Is evident from his
reply TO the bill OF Mr.. W. A. Cook, one OF the
original counsel in the Star-Route cases, who
is fully as efflcent as any OF those now re-
tanned. Mr.. Cook claimed $4,000 compensa.
tion as special counsel for a period OF about
three months. Brewster cut this down to
1000, giving as his reason for doing so that
the amount claimed was greater than the
salary paid to n Cabinet officer or Justice of
the Supreme Court. To this the following
reply was sent by Mr.. Cook, who has never
received an answer:
WASHINGTON, D. o., nov. 81, 1870 Ben
jdf,in Harris Bre1DSter, Attorney General Of the
United Stdtes-SIR: have received your COM
munication Of the Odd instant in reference to
my bill as special attorney Of the United states
included the months of January and Febru-
aIy and seventeen days OF March, and was for
$4,000. The bill was for services actually
sworn to. OF the amount claimed, you allow
$1,000. In doing 80 you assign your reasons.
1t is, think, due to myself that these should
be briefly noticed. 1t is, perhaps, too, due to
you.
1. cannot deny that the rate of compensa-
tion included in the bill exceeds the pay OF a
Cabinet officer or Judge OF the Supreme Court
But that the pay OF q Cabinet of1lcer or Judge
OF the Supreme Court is standard for the
compensation of an attorney at.law, especially
employed in important cases, cannot admit.
1t certainly was not the rule adopted In rela-
tion to your own compensation in the Star
Route cases, nor In determining the compen-
sation OF Messrs. Bliss Merrick and Ker, and
presume 1t will not be ydisputed that Mr..
Bliss has been allowed for the period en-
braced In my bill an amount exceeding 81, 500,
and that, too, for services similar TO mine.
2. 1t is a mistake that during the months In
cluded In my bill, "there was no active service
by me-" and that "it is for service out Of
court" During the entire period Except the
last few days. 'active services" were rendered
by me, and the month of February was de-
voted chiefly to the ''bond cases" against Boone
ct al in the Police Court. 1t is somewhat re-
fact.
Having thus answered your statements, and
aina ,or me 10 adS tbat anxious 70 naiy
adjust my claim, accept the allowance made
1t is possible on more mature reflection and
consideration of the true facts you might ap.
prove the bill as rendered. But this would in.
volve delay which am anxious to avoid. Re-
spectfully, etc,, WILLIAM A, COOK,