The Evening critic., 1883-04-02
IN THE SACRED NAME OF JUSTICE
"Brewster. Attorncy.GoneraI., Com
mits Gross Outrages Against Com.
mon Fairness and Decency.

mon Fairness and Deceucy.
rho corruption and abuses in tho Depnrt.
moht OF Justice while Landaulet Williams was
Attorney. General provoked general indigna-
lion, and were among the causes that led 10
INC Overthrow OF Grantlsm in 1874, when n
,hns ,hrsp p hepu6llcan lean majority was swept out Of
AFTER being exiled for six yearB from the
HOUSE OF Representatives, tho Republican
managers who controlled tho lato Congress
came back with ravenOus appeiitoe. The los.
son or 1874 had passed out of their minds,
They put Secor Robeson Mt tho hoad OF the
parry, and again took up the old policy of ex.
trayagnnce.
Tho people took the first opportunity TO re.
peat In 1882, the punishment OF 1874, with
MI tho original emphasis. Midway in tho
term OF tho Administration tho Republican
party is without posltiye majority In tho
senate, counting Malone and Riddleberger as
9uisiuers, and Is In hopeless minority in tho
In this condition OF things the commonest
worldly wisdom would suggest care in tho
conanct OF the public business, In order to
avoid reproach on the one hand, and, IL possi-
bic, to attract confidence on the other hand,
Ihht characteristic does not appear to exist
IN IN some me, Of the Departments at Washing.
ION. Ine recent ndmonitions seom to have
there.
Congress- appropriated "three hundred and
twenty i've thousand dollars for payments OF
District Attorneys and their assistants" for
the current fiscal year. or this sum ''Brew.
s,sr, Attorney General has paid for special
regular administration OF justice
Sl3S.7O5.99i
The Department OF Justice Is equipped
more liberally than ever before In It's
whoie history with all the means and tho
machinery for prosecuting and for defending
causes In which the Government ls n party
There are District Attorneys in all the States
gency.
Yet the official report OF the First Comp.
tfoller OF The Treasury shows that the Attor-
y.General has employed at enormous cost
In twenty States and Territories special
council for tho rdinary practice of the pro-
Iesei0n from an Indictment for murder down
10 the common collection OF small debts.
Plain people Will naturally ask, For what
service are the Attorney General, the Solicitor
General, their stan OF eleven assistants and
the regular force or District Attorneys ap-
pointed, Ir outside counsel must be called In
constantly to do the work for which the
regular officers are paid This abuse under
Landaulet Williams, bad and dlsgraceful as 1t
outrageous prodigality.
Mr.. Brewster Received n Large Re-
taincr for the Star-ROute Cases,
and his connection with that prosecution wns
me ttepping.stone TO the place he now occu-
ney.General he went out OF his way to an
nounce TO the public that he would personally
conduct the star.Route cases, as he was
bound TO do In good faith 10 tho retainer he
bility.
That pledge has not been kept in any proper
eense Three special attorneys have con-
Quoted the prosecution at great cost, and with
what degree OF success is known to the coun-
try. They are not TO be blamed for getting tho
heavy retainers and fees that have excited
remafk all over the country. But IL Is GER
tainly remarkable with such payments that
accounts for the personal expenses of counsel,
Tor board, travel, porters, washing, cigars and
the like, wholly for their comfort and conye.
nience, should be allowed at the Treasury.
The money devoted to the department of
Justice is scattered among the various super
numerarles by their pempOus flgurehead with
q lavishness that equals the extravaganza of q
Republican majority In Congress- Only the
Attorney General is not so reached by the
people as arc the members of the House of
Representatives.-N. Y. Sun.