Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-23
tasecial Telegram to the Globe. |


ment counsel in the Spencer coutem pit
case was particularly caustic. George
Bliss is generally looked on as the coup de
grace of all the star route prosecutions,
principal and secon 3ary. That lawyer
of such enormous talents as to be worth
to the government $40 day for every
day in court, even when hired by the year,
should have tried to get a witness on a
civil instead of a criminal subpoena
addressed to the marshal who was
known to have no power, and served by
an alleged deputy marshal who had no
Jurisdiction, cannot fail to increase the
contempt in which the department. of JUS
tice is already held, and hasten the day of
wrath for Benz. Harris Brewster. Why
Bliss IS in the case, nobody, or rather the
very few people who know will not tell. It
was understood he was originally en-
p!oyed because he was friend of the
prospective president, and he was em-
ployed to interest Mr.. Arthur in
the cases, and induce him
to give administration support
to the prosecution. No one interested in
the prosecution has for long time had
any confidence in Bliss straightforward
ness or good faith. Mr.. Merrick and Mr.
Ker, his assistants, have undoubtedly dis
liked and distrusted him. Bliss entire
silence regarding the most prominent de-
fendant Ia the first star route trial is not
the only incident that has caused remark
to be made about his tender feelings for
the defense. Judge Wylie to-day spoke
sharply of Bliss occupying a room near
Spencer from June 10 to July 10, 1882, and
failing to call him to the witness stand,
though June 20 was the time Spencer was
summoned to appear, and then on July II
procuring en- attachment for Spencer on
the ground that he was IN contempt be-
cause he had then been called as witness
and was not in the city. That Merrick
and ker have done their best for the gov
eminent is not questioned, but Bliss is
credited with much of the unreasonable
delay Of which no one has complained
more than Ker, whose per diem,
by the way, is much smaller
team that of his associates. Before going
home day or two ago Mr.. Ker called up
on some of his personal friends to say
good bye, and to tell them he probably
would not see Them again for some time
as he intended to return TO his home to
resume his practice of law in his own Of
ice. The manner of his going and the
emphasis he put pom his declaration that
he did not expect to return to Washington,
have convinced some of his friends that he
has severed his connection with the
government cases against the star
route men. With Ker retired in disgust,
the Kellogg trial postponed because
Walsh was not on hand just IS Spencer
vas not on hand, and with Bliss sternly
rebuked By Judge Wylie, the government
is pretty thoroughly discredited. Bliss
action in regard to Walsh and Spencer are
so much alike as to constituts very strik-
ing coincidence.
HEAVY FEES.
Just before the end of the last session
of congress Senator Van WICK obtained
report from The treasury of the payments
to special government counsel il the star
routes, as we'll as other cases,
Already he has got the senate to adopt a
resolution asking for similar information
for periods before and since the period
covered by the report already made. This
Information will probably produce no
effect In the senate beyond philippe by
Senator VanWyck against the attorney
general, but the Democratic house will IN
doubtediy have an investigation OF the de-
partnent OF justice, and this information
will be useful to start on. Mr.. Brewster is
so thoroughly y discredited not alone
by the expensive and futile star route
prosecutions, that the eommonsst princi-
pies of political prudence and self interest
would demand that the president should
get new attorney general. But Mr.. Ar
thur has q very high idea of the amount
of dead weight that he can carry, and the
president who retained in his cabinet the
worst gubernatorial candidateson record is
not likely to ask for the resignation Of the
unique Brewster.
UNsERMLY HASTE.
Although tbs house is still waiting for
committees to be appointed and the sen
ate finds nothing more important than a
tedious discussion of its rules, there is nc
sack of energy on the part of the legisla-
tive and executive branches Of the govern
,ment, when money is to be paid out. The
joint resolution authorizing the payment
of mploJes at the capitol to-day instead
of at the end of the month, apparently
assumes that these unfortunates haven't
cent with which to buy Christ
mas presents or even
Christmas dinner, and that being the cas-,
the payment was, of coarse, a matter Of
vast moment When the resolution hat
been signed by Messrs. Edmunds and Car
Isle, the PRESIDENT had gone to New Yorl
to eat the forefather's dinner. For NO
mont it was supposed that the children O.
the capitol era ployes would awake Tuesda!
morning to empty stockings, and possibly
go to bed Tuesday night with empty stom
aohs, but the officials wsre equal to tn,
crisis in the nations affairs and proves
that the government at Washington stil
lives. The joint resolution was sent by
special messenger to New York by the "A
train yesterday afternoon for the presi
dents signature. Mr.. Arthur received tn