The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1883-11-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
m our regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, November, End, 1889,
The discussion which has followed the
decision OF the Supreme Court in the
Civil rights case still continues and it
seems to be the determination of the col>
ored element to make it hot for the re.
publican party. A literary bureau has
been established and Mr. Bob Ingersol,
who, now that the Star Route cases are
over, is out of job which keeps him
before the public, has been engaged to
lecture in different cities to work up
sentiment for the ''downtrodden race
a petition is to be sent to Congress signs
ed by Fred. Dougless and other repesen-
tative men, demanding protectective leg
islation and it is plainly intimated that
the republican party is to be held re-
sponsible Tor the presumed outrage which
are to be committed ON the colored pee
pie by the lapse Of the civil rights law.
It seems TO the not directly Interested
lockers ON that the co!ored people are
asking for something they don't want,
working up a sentiment against their
own interests, and the republicans in a
very embarrassing position, politically
without the least necessity for it, or the
most remote nope of getting redress.
The large question of civil rights has
another example furnished in the case
now before Equity Court of Hallett Kill
bourne VS. The United States. This is a
suit for S350,000 damages for imprison>
ment by order of Congress, for the refuss
al OF the plaintiff to produce his private
books aud papers on an order of Congress.
The decision is expected to be favorable
to the plaintiff, indeed it is admitted that
he viii get a judgement for $4,000 or
more, thus sustaining d former decision
The case IS notable particularly becaus it
establishes the precedent that congress
has no power to compel witness to an
swer, or to surrender his private property
Kilbourne was for long time imprisoned
in the old Capitol Jail and his damages
are assessed on this grievance. 1t is
rather an imaginary and fictitious one;
however, for while he wa. there he was
praised and feted by the public, his cell
was furnished like Il parlor, was redo.ent
with boquets and flowers, and he held re-
cepeptions and gave wine dinners to a
jolly circle of intermates without re-
straint. 1t raised him from obscurity to
notoriety and if it now provides him
with a fortune he may well call it a lucky
disgrace.
The raid upon the bogus Pension Ats
torneys seem to be in a very fIurish-
ing condition just now. The Prose-cut>
ting Attorney of the District will make
up cases against the offenders for pres
sentiment to the grand jury at once, He
believes that be can convict some of
them of swindling the manned soldiers
He is receiving hundreds1 of lette.s Of
complaint from the victims Of these
sharpers, and it is plainly evident that a
large share ofthe Pension Attorneys live
by fraud and Misrepresentation. But it
is doubtful whether the prosecution will
amount to much. Some way these
sharpers always win the case. Princi-
pally because it is next to impossible to
get legal evidence against them Their
swidling Operations aggregate large
sum but it is mere trille against any
one man, and so the prosecution lacks
motives 1t may result in Congress pass
ing special law to enable the Commiss-
ioner OF Pensions to prosecute cases him
self and this is what o, gbtr 70 be done,
Only the Commissioner has ten times as
much to 90 now as one man ought to
attend TO-
Speaking of Pensions, the new public
building, the Pension office, is beginning
to loom up to fine propotion 1t occupies
nearly halt of the reservation known as
judiciary Square. 1t is now up to the
second story and is amazingly large. 1t
is $50 feet front and is built OF brick 1t
is designed to he finished by neX' Spring
but Comminncr of Pensions Dudley, in
reply to question about it said sarcas-
licalIy to your Correspondent that he
did not think it would be done this cen
tury.
1t will be q huge monument of brick
and mortar, ns plain as factory, which
it will resemble in degree as it seems
to be largely devoted to manufacturing
claims against Uncle Sam, General Sher-
idan, little Phil took command of tine
army this week. He will be stationed
at Washington and it is said that he will
make IL scittetaion among the army Of
army aristocrats stationed here. few Of
whom ever see any more active service
than walking down the avenne Of an
afternoon. ="
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