The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-03
F0RTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS-.
Mr.. Van Wyck Criticises the Conduct
of the Star-Route Trial
The House Works Under the Pound Rule
Passage of the Pos, office Appro-
priation Bill, Etc.
THE SENATE.
Arrangement of the Department of Justice
by Mr.. Van Wycls.


WASHINGTON, March 2.-Mr. Van Wyck pre-
sented the credentials of Charles F. Henderson,
elected senator from Nebraska, and the Presi-
dent press nted the credentials of his successor
as Senator from Illinois, W, W. Cullom. Read
and fled.
Mr.. Mcmillan moved to refer the river and
harbor bill to the committee commerce.
Mr.. Edmunds opposed the motion, insisting
that the bill should go to the foot of the caen-
dar, but it was referred. Mr.. Edmunds gave
notice that when it should be reported from the
committee he would oppose its consideration.
Mr.. Anthony offered resolution reciting the
announcement by President Pro Tempore Davis
of his intention to resign at noon tomorrow,
and providing that at that hour the Senate will
proceed to elect successor. Adopted.
The bill making the law of 1873 relating TO
claim agents and attorneys in pension cases ap-
plicable to bounty land cases. etc, was passed
as bill to amend to the pension laws and for
other purposes
At the conclusion of the hour the Senate
amendments to the sundry civil appropriation
bill were 1oncOncurred in.
The Senate conference report the District
OF Columbia appropriation bill agreed to.
| Mr.. Plumb, from the committee of conference
on the postoffce appropriation bill, reported
that the eonterees failed TO agree upon Two pro
visions in the bill: the appropriation for fast
mail service and the legislation relating to the
| Pacific railroads. Report agreed to, and new
| conferees appointed.
Bills, providing for the admission free of duty,
| of articles intended for the Louisville and Dem
yer eXpOsltlOns, passed.
On motion of Mr.. Logan, resolution was
| adopted providing for a select committee to ex-
anime into the condition of the Sioux Indians
upon their reservations.
A bill authorizing the Chillicothe & Kansas
City Railroad Company to build bridge across
the Missouri river passed.
| The act to exclude public lands in Alabama
from the operations of the laws relating to min
| eral lands was taken up.
| Mr. Morgan explained the bill.
After an executive session, Messrs. Allison,
| Hale and Beck were appointed conferees on the
| sundry civil bill.
Mr. Logan submitted a conference report on
| the army appropriation bill. Agreed to. The
| Item limiting the compensation TO be paid sub
| sidlzed railroads for army transportation was
| stricken from the bill.
In speaking to pending business, the bill ex-
| GLIDING public lands in Alabama from the oper-
| alton of the laws relating to mineral lands, MIR.
Van WICK criticised the large compensation al
| lowed the attorneys engaged in the star-route
cases, and the Department OF Justice in allow
| ing such large amount. He had hoped the
stories told at the street corners as to the ex-
! traYagance OF the department were not true
| Taking up the vouchers of George Bliss, he rd-
| culed the charges made therein, quoting such
items as "hfty cents for sleeping-car porter" and
| five cents for stamp" The vouchers showed
| that he was allowed $3.50 day and expenses.
| Mr.. Merrick another lawyer, received even a
! larger per diem, but as he lived in Washington
| the vouchers did not show that he charged for
board. II was perfectly plain now, why these suits
| continue as long as they did. 1t was an induce
ment to these men to continue suit six months
| and alsea temptation TO them to hang the jury
if it was true they did. He did not say they did
| That courts for the administration of Justice in
the District of Columbia should be occupied for
six months in "a common case was an outrage
| which ought not to be tolerated. No greater
disgrace had ever been connected withiuris pru-
| dence in any country than that which had been
| exhibited in the treatment of cases in the Dis
| trict of Columbia. He desired that the people
should be protected from such outrages. 1t
had always been In the past that the Republican
party pnnishedits own thieves. Only lately he
had discovered why Howgate's prison door
opened to him. 1t seemed Howgate Demo-
crat and as the Republican party was only under
obligation to punish Republican thieves, OF course
| Howgate got off. Without any doubt there
| have been performances equally as infamous as
the star-i6ute robberies. There equally a
conspiracy mere to rob the government In a
suit which ought to be treated ordinary
suit, grand lawyers were gathered together by
the Department of Justice aud allowed to place
their hands IN the treasury TO any depth they
| choose, and to the extent of time they choose.
There was nothing to limit them in price or in
| the term OF their continuance. He knew of
| another case where member of Congress was
employed by District Attorney Martin I. Town
send as special attorney, and when the Depart
ment OF Justice knew that he should he attend
ing to his duties at Washington, and for those
special services he received $4,000. Where was
| the Department of Justice not only tolerated
but innus urated such proceedngs9
Mr.. Cameron, of Pennsylvania-Do 20 mean to
say he got dollar of it2
Mr.. Van Wyck-Oh, no.
Mr.. Cameron-Then Sou be careful how you
talk; be more careful how you talk. You must
| stop now and here.
Mr.. Van Wyck-I am glad my friend comes to
my rescue. tried TO do 1t, but the force Of the
''You are "a" began Mr.. Cameron, hesitat-
ingy, but then stopped.
| MIR. Van Wyck-I have not said the Attorney
general took any of this money.
"You talk too much" replied Mr.. Cameron.
| "Don't talk any more in that way"
Mr.. Van Wyck-I don't pretend that IL At
| torney-general took any of this money, bat when
he puts his sign manual of brewster" to these
| vouchers when he allowed 81 a day for hotel
| expenses; when he at one time allowed % cents
| for kilograms, and at another cents; when he
| allowed twenty-one cents Tor messenger, when
| he allows Bliss not only travelling expenses but
| sleeping-ear and fifty cents for porter, say
he does thing which any man in his senses
| knows not to be right. don't pretend he OBJ
| tanned any of this money himself, nut this mode
of extracting money from the treasury is no bet
| ter than the star-route methOd-none whatever
| MIR. Logan said this proceeding of the senator
from Nebraska was so remarkable, so unprece-
| denied, that he would ask the senator whether
the papers which he was referring TO were the
original papers from the Attorney generals Of
flee.
Mr. Van wyck said they were copies of vouch-
ers which had been called for by the Senate res
"Did the papers come into possession of the
| senator2' asked Mr. Logan.
"Into possession of the Senate" replied Mr.
Van Wyck.
Mr. Logan-Ooes the senator intend to refer
them to a committed
Mr. Van Wyck-i intend to do so.
Mr. Logan-But the senator takes the opportu-
nifty of makingoa general attack on the Attor-
ney-general's de fartment without any reference
to any report or anything whatever, except 10
get this harangue before the country. Confirm
Ing, Mr. Logan said the course of the senator
from Nebraska undignified and so wide a
departure from the usual method of proceeding
| in the Senate that, without desiring to enter
into the merits of the case, he felt justified In
| saying that If such speech were made by any
| man out doors while tue trial OF these men for
robbng the government was going on, the coun-
| try would understand that the speaker was an
! attorney for the defendants.
Mr.. Van Wyck said he had felt it his duty TO
| ascertain whether the charges made against the
| Department OF Justice were true, and when The
| Treasury Department. had sent vouchers
bearing the Attorney generals own sign
manuel, Ere wstef," showing that $3.50
"a day was paid to one of
one OF these attorneys there was no need to
wait rannrf 81 my cnrnlnittea md lie fnlt