New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-06
A TALK WITH SENATOR VAN WICK.
HIS ATTACK on AiE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NOT
DUE TO SYMPATHY WITH THE STAR ROUTE
DEFENDANTS.

DUE To SYMPATHY WITH THE STAR ROUTE
DEFENDANTS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
WASHINGTON, March 5.-Senator Van Wyck has
had the misfortune to bc complimented for his
speech of last Friday by a Washington evening
papeI which has had no other object III existence
for the last year or two than to defend the Star
Route piunderers. Another paper declares that
these compliments settle the status Of the senator
from Nebraska in relation to the star Route gang.
The Senator has a quaint, old fashioned look and
manner that always make his talk interesting
whether his opinions accepted or not. TRIB
UNE correspondent meeting him this evening asked
if he had the comments OF the papers classify
ing him among the friends Of the Star Route de-
PENDANTS.
"Oh yes" he replied in comfortable tone, 81
have seen them Let them talk. 1t doesn't matter"
But" queried the correspondent. "do you
wish 10 let the statements go undenied, that you
are trying to embarrass the prosecution "
"EmbaTTass the prosecution VIII Il nonsense!
Why, lts monslrous! Tnc idea that we should
allow this thing to 90 on until the costs of the trial
mount up to such a huge sum! IL must have cost
the Government nalf million already. You know
this star Route business was begun two years ago.
The frauds discovered under the admInlstra-
tiOn of Mr.. James, and all the good that has been
done for the country was done by HIM, and he did
10 by stopping the service winch had been iraudu-
lertly put on. Now, then al er that, you know,
began the attempt to have these men punished.
They had all the Post Oifcc Department all llS de-
tectives all its machinery, sending ITS agents over
the whole country. Them they had all the agencies
OF the Department of Justice, with its high saared
special attorneys. Ihey prOtracted one trial five
months, without themselves seeming 10 know what
they aOle 10 prove The same criticism fear,
will apply to what has talen pace recently The
people demanded the punishment IL possible OF the
Star Route cOnspIrators; buC wnen. with all the
power of the Government, ali it's appliances at
command, they were wiling TO employ iavorlte
set of attorneys, paying them at rates winch out
rage public sentiment, they began fraud which
itself required punishment 1T least cessation
much as the Star ROule vIllanies.
EXPENSES LIKELY TO EQUAL THE SUMS STOLEN.
"If allowed TO continue they will equal the aggre-
gate amount stolen through the star service.
Had the Post Office Department been stirred up
il shonld have been after active inquiry by Con-
oress. il would have saved that National scandal,
for II is perfcc y evident that those frauds could not
have been continued except by the criminal negll-
gonoe or still more criminal acquiescence OF the
chiefs and heads Of the Department. 30 with these
frauds in the Department of Justice t IS lar better
to attempt TO check them now than let them run
TO tHeir legitimate END. Any pretence that we must
wink at all this and consent to IT, because ~ VIII
emDarrass the prosecution, is startling: why, /
drew my resolution twice last session, but tore III
up for tear such "a claim woud De made. Now that
they are still continued IL would have been GRIM
ina on the part of Congress TO adjourn without
calling attention TO the matter. III am wrong, let
them show wherein"