The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Ii. 1888.

The conduct of one fancy peacock
appearing attorney general is just
now distracting the able pen singers
of the press. New facts are developed
daily about Brewster's methods of
conducting the department of justice
that are not at all creditable to the
Arthur Conkling administration.
Brewster was very backward in max
ing out his annual report, and at last
the rumOr commenced to pervade the
atmosphere of newspaper row that he
desired to wait until nearly the close
of the session of congress to prevent
that body from taking any action con-
corning the
ENORMOUS AND UNNECESSARY EN-
PENSE
of his Office. Several papers limited
that if the rumored reports of the
money spent were true the attorney
| general should be held to account, and
one well known senator, in speaking
of the matter at the capitol, was hearn
to say that if Brewster used near the
! amount of money attributed to him he
certainly deserved impeachment by
the government. Talk of this kind
became so urgent that Mr.. Brewster
suddenly issued his report, and, to the
aStonishment of every one-Of even
his friendS-the vast waStage of
money claimed was correct, and ex-
plains the dilatory proceedings in the
star route cases in great
measure. The report developed
that Lawyer George Bliss was
being paid the r-;ncely salary of 500
per day, while Ker and M0rrick were
remunerated at the rate of $5U per
day each. Here it is seen that the tax
payers have to pay S9O,2OO.34 for spe-
cial attorneys fees in the star route
case alone, when it is the sworn duty
of the Individual filling the office of
attorney general to conduct the pros
ecutiOn in person, for that functional
~ is not allowed by law to have as
sl>taL ce when he is able to perform
work himself. Besides employing
Bliss, Ker and Merrick, Brewster has
in his service several other attorneys
who are paid fat salaries. The
district attorneys regular as
sistant is totally ignored and
has not conducted a case since the
trial of Guiteau. Brewster is also
charged with criminal negligence. He
spends most of his time in Pennsyl-
vania engaged in conducting private
cases, and it is seldom that he can be
found at his desk; he is just now busy
pushing the claims of Swindling
telegraph company before the state
courts at Harrisburg, in violation of
law and precedent, for at no time in
our history previous to this has the
attorney general taken charge of pri-
| Vate cases. Brewster all along claim
ed that it was necessary for him to
have assistants and the country and
press placed confidence in his demands,
but now the fact is developed
that he is not only using the peoples
time, which they amply pay for, to
advance his own financial interest,
but that he has gang of his friends
and associates conducting the govern
ment's prosecutions at eXOrbitant
fees per diem, instead of a stated
salary for each case for each lawyer
employed. Is it any wonder the star
route trials
ARE LENGTHENED OUTi
No one suppoSes that the three bril-
liant geniuses now prosecuting the
star route men are in hurry for the
case to end.
Brewster is being soundly de-
nOunced by the press, many papers
attacking him which were heretofore
his warmest advocates, notably: The
New Y York Herald, Sun, Times, Tribune
and World, and the four leading
| dailieS in Boston and Philadelphia.
The Cincinnati Enquirer is a leading
western assistant, and is seconded by
prominent journals in both st. Louis
and Chicago. 1t is needless to say
that the ruffled shirt attorney general
is dealt with in plain terms by the
press of our section. BrewSter's an
nual report contains many startling
items of expense, too numerous to
mention here, and the miscellaneous
list is twice as great as usual.
In view of the fact that
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS,
| Has become the most important Gus
toms district On the Rio Grande,
recommendation will shortly be made
by the treasury department to congress
that Brownsville be made a port of
entry. A large swarm Of
TEXAS REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS
Are now in the city hoping to become
collector at that point when Haynes
is dismissed, but it seems as if the
latter has influence to hold his posi-
tion in spite of the serious and well
substantiated charges against him.
A sad scene occurred in the senate
during the discussion of the presiden-
tial succession bill. Edmunds, of
Vermont, opposed the bill before the
senate, when he was roundly de-
nounced by Hoar for being absent
before when the bill should have been
discussed, Mr.. Edmunds being chair
man of the judiciary committee, and
had more than any other senator the
power to push or retard the
bill. The death of Mr. Edmunds
daughter, to whom he was
tenderly attached caused him to be
absent, and the thought of her when
he arose to reply to Hoar overcame
him, and he sank into his chair and
wEPT BITTERLY.
The scene was truly affecting, and
attracted the attention of the entire
chamber and galleries to wit
ness an aged and patriarchal
man like Edmunds weeping. ingalls,,
of Kansas, arose and moved that the
senate adjourn, which was concurred
in, and the grey-haired Vermonter
was led to committee room, with the
tears streaming down his face.
The presidential succession bill is
now in the hands of the house, and
the probabilities are that it will pass
that body unamended. Patents
were issued this week to the follow
ing Texas inventors: John NJ. Bro
sins, East Dallas, running gear; Will
liam f. Irvine, Willis revolving boot
and shoe box. Some weeks the num-
Der of inventions from the Lone Star
state far exceeds this, and taking the
white population alone it presents
very creditable showing besides many
of the boasted states of the north.
The percentage of inventions from
the state rapidly increases each year,
even keeping ahead of rapid growth
in population; and it does not, as for
merly, consist simply of agricultural
machines, but wide scope is taken
by our inventors, and patents for COM
plicated mechanical machinery are
often called for. LIS.