Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-03


front yesterday in defense OF the star route con-
splrators, his cham ,ionship OF their cause taking
the shape of an outpOuring Of vlndictive abuse Of
the government for employing counsel and spend
ing money for the effective prosecution OF the
men who stole millions from the public treasury.
His zeal in behalf OF the star route men led him
to declare that the suit against these colossal
robbers was one that sought to be treated as an
ordinary suit" and he made 1t matter of grave
complaint that s'grand lawyers have been
gathered together by the Department Of
Justice" TO prosecute this s'ordinary suit at
heavy expense and without limit as to time. Mr..
Van Wyck, In the guileless simplicity of his
nature, does not seem to be aware that this
'ordinary suit" is one prosecuted against the most
fornldably entrenched band OF public robbers
known In the history OF this country, not OF the
world; gang that have two or three million
dollars OF stealings at their command to enable
them 70 fight the government in the courts, pay
host of the highest priced lawyers In the land,
corrupt jurors and detectives, purchase newspaper
support and indulge In a wholesale attempt to
crush out opposition and influence public opinion.
Further, Mr.. Van Wyck does not Seem to know
that the tedious delay In the progress OF trial is
due mainly TO the tactics of the lawyers for the
defense, who have throughout avoided
direct Issue upon the merits OF the case, and MAIN
tained policy OF evasion and procrastinaton,
with the continuous interpOstiOn OF har-sptting
OBJ ctlonS, wfre-drawn croSs-examlnation OF gov
eminent witnesses, and almost hourly Interrupt
tions to the progress OF the trial. by attempts to
bully the Judge, the witnesses, or the counsel for
government
The nomination of Mr.. James b. Edmonds for
District Commissioner seems to meet with favor,
as giving the District an officer OF good business
qualifications and undOubted integrity. 1t is felt,
toO, that the President acted judicously in ap-
pointing one democrat upon the board of Com
miSSionerS- Politics and partiSalSnip ought to be
excluded from the District government Every
local interest would be bound to suffer If the
board OF Commissioners were composed of men
bent more upon furthering the interests Of any
party than OF the citizens. This opinion was
clearly entertained BY Congress when the present
form OF government was established, and there
was a tactt understanding that both leading par
ties should be represented upon the board.
Rerdells testimony has been corroborated in
every material point by witnesses of unquestioned
competency and unimpeachaole yeracity. Per-
sons employed 10 assist Rerden In getting up set
or bogus books with which to deceive a congress-
1onal committee remember that they were di-
rected to omit the entries showing payments to
Smith and Jones the aliases under which, according
TO Rerlell, the then second assistant postmaster
general and his Clefk received their share of the
plumber. The fact that conspiracy to defraud
the government existed has been most cOnclu-
sivey established by evidence oral and docu-
mentary, and Brady has been clearly connected
with IL under the disguise of an assumed name.
The case OF the government Is complete and con-
vinclng 1t Is, In Short unassalable at any point.
Ex-Attorney General Black Is reported as ex-
pressing the opinion that members of legislative
bodies are not Influenced In their action or judy
ment by freerailway tickets. There Is where the
railroad companies and Judge Black differ. They
have been distributing free passes for a great
MANY years TO the law makers Of the country, as
wei as TO judicial and executive officials, and II
they were not well satisfied that the practice paid
handsomely they would have given it up long ago.
Railroads are not in the habit of giving something
for nothing, any more than pawnDroker, and
pound OF their experience is worth ton OF Judge
Blacks theory.
Gov. Cleveland hearkened to the voice of the
New York miiiiOnaiTes and vetoed the bill to re-
dUce elevated railroad fares 10 five cents, which
had passed by an Overw helming vote in the legis-
lature. A long array or the names of men who
count their possessions by the million to petition
Is formidable document in the eyes OF gov
ernor who expects TO step up higher.