Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-07
FROM WASHINGTON.
STAR ROUTE INvESTIG ALTON.
General Macveash Before
the Committee.

direct evidence, making it impossible at that
time TO secure the indictment OF
Dorsey. Brady and Kellogg. This was
source of great anxiety and distress to Presi
dent Garfield, who favored prosecution in
the courts. was told that vigorous efforts
had been made to have me turnod out of the
cabinet on the ground of base misconduct, il
even being intimated that | had been en-
gagged in plot to steal papers sent to the
President. was only interested to know if
the President had seen fit to receive such
charges. He said he had decliued them.
These charges were made b. Rerdell.
Where did he land at last?" Mr.. Springer
asked
.'In shame and everlasting contempt" re-
piled Mr.. Stewart.
The witness continuing said Efforts to re-
move me were made by those implicated in
the star route fraud. | could not impute
their motives, | will let the committee judge.
They would say they wanted me TO get out
because | was bad man. Until the death
Of the President thought it my duty to re-
main with him. After his death | thought it
my duty to leave, torrent of abuse was
pourned on me for declining, and the star
route men-insis,sd day after dav that should
remain, The reason of the change in the
attitude of these men was perfectly apparent
to me | was known to have been in very
ardent sympathy with President Garfield on
all questions about which the republican
party was so strenously divided, almost into
two hostile camps at Chicago Upon every
one of those questions, had been in as hearty
accord with as had been in hearty opposi-
ton to President Arther. Mr.. Arthur was
well known to entertain and have given ex-
preston to his low opinion of sentimental
politicians, of whom l was one, and I was
known to have entertained and frequently
expressed my low opinion of practical poll
ticians, of which he was one, and these men
certainly have seen the President, who had
called me here and sustained me under great
obliquity and abuse in these prosecutions,
being now dead and buried. The opinion of
these men was intensified by newspa
pers edited by Hastings and Gorham.
They had steadily taken the side of Arthur
and as steadily opposed me with as mean
words as their tongues could express. When
Arthur came here found him in cl ose appli-
cation with these editors. When you, gen
tlem-n. consider these things, and when you
add the condition of affairs as they existed in
the arena OF the District of Columbia, | think
you will see the improprlety of my remain
ing in prosecution against men. When |
published nv reasons for leaving, had no
reason TO believe that had anything but the
cordial approval of the President in my ac-
tion He made a short visit to New York
and then think | came. The change in
his views subsequently became more con-
vinced that ought to remain. thinking that
the cases ought to go on in the same hands
as they had started.
Mr. Springer asked the witness to whom
he referred when he said yesterday that
President Arthur had selected a man for at
torney general but had afterwards changed
his mind,
The man was made member of the
cabinet" MacVeagh replied.
The witness was asked to explain the Sc
lection of the counsel in the star route pros
ecutions, and the compensation preferred for
services.
Il Immediately before the death of the
President" said MscVeagh, asked Mr..
Brewster and, at the suggestion of Mr..
James, Mr..Bliss to be government counsel.
Gibson previously had been employed as
assistant in the department of justice, with
special detail TO work up the star route cases.
About June lst Mr.. Cooke was appointed.
Brewster was brought into active service
about Sept. 18th. No letter was sent Gibson.
it seems. concerning his appointment, but a
communication was sent Cooke, Blss
and Brewster. These communications had
clause that the compensation would be fixed
by the Attorney General when the cases were
ended left the department Oct 25th, not
expecting to return except to introduce my
successor. While in Philadelphia | was IN
consultation with Bliss and Brewster about
the fees. Don't remember what was said
then | ought to have said and pre-
sumo | did, thai the cases were OF great
Importance and difficult, and that the outays
would be decently compensated, according
to the service required and their own stand
ing at bar Before my formal resignation,
each of these men asked for $1,000 on ac-
count. This received my commentator and
were paid, subject OF 500 day and expenses
had been talked of Pointed out that |
thought it impossible for the Attorney Gen
eral to make a contract. About New Years
after had resigned. Brewster consulted me
about the settlement of his account 1t was
then known to me that he would be the At
tornev General He said he would present
his bill for $4,000. Bliss proposed to make
his bill S6000 He had been more closely
engaged in the work than Brewster.
| said had right to interfere, but it seemed
TO me that the charges were reasonable, and
wrote the acting Attorney General Phillips,
stating, that | saw no reason why SoOOu ana
$1,000 should not be paid The amounts were
subsequently, paid Shortly after Brewster was
made Attorney General. | received letter
from him asking my opinion about the COM
pensation to be paid Gibson and Cooke. My
Recollection was that those men had been
emplove d. assiduouslv seven or eightsmonths,
and | thought that $1,000 would be reason
able. and if was in his place would pay
that. Stuart asked I'm view of the magni-
tude and Importance, and the great sum OF
money involved. in these prosecutions and
professional standing of Bliss and Brewster, do
YOU think Mr. McVeagh that the per diem
of 500 day and expenses unreasonable.
Il certainly think such charges wonld be
reasonable for a limited time, but whether
thew would be reasonable for one or two
years is different"
s.If the time was 80 days or $50 days,
asked Van Alstine. ''wss!the charge proper!
Even if the time was I50 days, think
under the circumstances the charge was rea-
sonable.
I'm your Judgment. was there any improper
neglect on the part of the officials Of the gov
ernment pushing these cases: asked Stew
art.
Certainly nothing of the kind during my
time
at was reported that Garfield proposed
your removal from the cabinet. said Spring
er. "Will you explain that:"
Il came into the cabinet as President Gar
fields choice: never allowed any one to ask
took