The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-18
SPECIAL COUNSEL FEES.
Letter from the Attorney General Concern
the Sums Paid in the Star Route Cases.


the Sums Paid in the Star-Route Cases.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Attorney-general
to-day sent to the Senate a letter concerning the
action of the Department of Justice in relation
to the fees of special attorneys in the star-route
cases, in which he says, in part:
Had it been originally supposed that the cases
would occupy the time they did probably the rate
fixed would not have been asked for given When,
however the trial was tediously protracted by the
policy of the defense the total paid for the
ices of Mr.. Bliss did appear excessive, and 1 ac-
cordingly urged that abatement be made by him
as did also to the other counsel. Mr.. Kers bill
reduced and Mr.. Merrick made reductions at my
quest but Mr.. Bliss insisted upon full
compliance with the requirements of
the original contract, in one instance
laiming it allowed him to charge for arguments
sum in excess of 800 per day, which refused to
grant, and or the 4th of November 1882 he wrote a
letter threatening to withdraw from the if his
count not paid. While the cases were in progress
thought it injudieious to insist upon concessions
which would bring about the withdrawal of Mr. Bliss
don't think the amount received by MessTs Merrick
and Ker excessive out of proportion to that paid
in cases of even less magnitude between private par
ties In the first trial the against Dorsey ct al
l personally appeared in court often my other
duties would permit followed the with from
day TO day, and made the closing argument before
the court and jury Two of the defendants
vcted the first trial but the rregularity and in
congruy of finding subordinates guilty and failing to
convict the organizers and general
who made the whole gain and those who had set on
foot the whole scheme to rob the government-was
manifest that the verdict set aside upon motion
of the government On the second trial there an
acquittal.
The public men who were involved in these cases
were not their trials before these ures aone they
their trials before the people of the United
States, and they were convicted by the judg
ment OF the whole country. They are not punished
by Imprisonment, but they had better be in prison
than now at large, objects of scorn and aversion
These prosecutions have not been without their use
fuuess 1 have been informed by the postoffce that
they have saved to the government, in that depart
ment alone, So, OO00 600 per annum. The effect has
IN oil alx--
departments in Washington. The officials have
assured me that before these cases were begun the
halls of the Postofice Department were swarming
with these dishonest iobbers They there no
more. The wholesome lesson of these trials has ex
PEELED them. The thoroughness of these investiga
tons has made it plain that there is place high
that it could become sanctuary for thief pub
lie robber.
SAMPLES OF THE CORRESPONDENCE.
The documents submitted to the Senate to-day
by the Attorney general are with few excep-
tions, copies of letters or extracts from letters
passing between officials of the Department of
Justice and counsel for the prosecution in the
star-route cases. Among them is a letter from
Attorney general Brewster to Bliss, dated Oct
%, 1882, in which he says
Your bill I indorsed and mean to stand by I re-
greted that SO large sum at once was asked for and
wished you had presented it at different times so YOU
might have collected it by installments.
Another letter is from Attorney general Brews-
ter to Bliss, undated, in which, referring to a
bill sent him by Bliss, from Washington, he says
For my own part, person ally, object to full
fees and have accordingly signed the allowance and
sent it to Washington. You must remember that
members of Congress, who not city lawyers, and
who come from the country, where fees are low will
object and complain at fees at ths rate of $40 per
diem, including Sundays.
Another letter is from Bliss to Brewster Cam
eron, dated Nov. 4, 1892, in which he says:
What did Lawrence sayl What is the prospectl I
want money, and, moreover, want to know if it is to
be paid; for if it is not go out of the starroute
cases. am in no mood for fooling.
In a letter from Bliss to Brewster Cameron,
dated May l5, 1883, referring to the bill he had
sent to Brewster, and stating that the latter had
promised to pass it as soon as he (Cameronl re
turned and that he had objected to something
he thought in excess of his agreement which he
Bliss had waived, the latter says:
want it passed before he goes away. Perhaps he
may like to have record to show bill reduced. If
so, reduce the bill he has from $4,000 to $5, 900
and approve it.
Next is letter from Bliss to the Attorney
general, dated Aug. 10, 1885, asking whether it
is desired or expected that he should take part
in the trial of ex-senator Kellogg, and saying
he considers the government has right to
his services if it wants them.
The more recent correspondence be-
tween Bliss and the Attorney gen
eral is somewhat acrimonious. The subject
of discussion is the bill rendered by the for
mer amounting to something like SO; 00C,
and covering portion of the last and the
beginning of the present fiscal year The At
torrey- general seems to have approved the bill
in gross but, upon suggestion of the Comptrol
Ter, to have recalled it, and to have asked Bliss
for a somewhat more detailed statement of serv-
ices rendered. Bliss, in reply, quotes from
letter written by Brewster, when they both were
star-route attorneys, and when Brewster was
himself interested in the amount of compensa-
ton, as follows
am resolved that he must resolve what be will do
or will. will not incur expenses and turn my back
my home and affairs to be hereafter haggled with
and probably maltreated and slghted. That wlnot
bear.
Bliss complains that he is 'being haggled
with" which, he says, touched him keenly
ut is not" he says, the money,
but the course pursued. If you
do not mean to pass the bill