National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-11
GIBSON'S GRIEVANCES.
His Advice Was Not Followed in the PrOseCu-
ton Of the Star Route Cases,
And Other People Got Very Much More
for Their Services Than He Did.


between Messrs. Brewster, Bliss, and Cook,
were against Messrs. T. J. Brady, 8. p. Brown,
j. S. French, and VIM. II. Turner, contractors
of the Santa Fe and Prescott route. This
case was selected of a consultation at Elberon
between Messrs MacVeagh, Bliss, Cook, and
Gibson. As the statute Of limitation had
almost run in this case, a procedure by in
formation was thought best. The first indict-
ment in the star route cases, tho witness
said, was found against L. p. Lilly and
George Brott and the second was against the
Dorsey combination. Why no indictment
was afterward found against those whom it
had boon proposed to proceed against by in
formation, MIR. Gibson could not toll. The
witness had written letter TO the attorney
general, Mr.. Brewster, early in 1882, urging
that indictments be found against such
PERSONS. Mr.. Gibson said he considered the
case of the route from Prescott to santa te
quite simple, and that the government ought
TO have tried II. He regarded this case the
strongest that the government had, and
thought tho delay in that special case had
been injurious to tho government. The
foreman of the grand jury had informed Mr..
Gibson that it would sit from 0 q. m. until 4
p. m. daily to consider the case. Mr.. Gibson
said he received no reply from the attorney
general. Tho witness testified also that he
had gone to the foreman of tho grand Jury
and asked him to proceed, but the foreman
had said that the government did not want
TO proceed in this case. This fact, aud tho
fact that he had written n letter to the at
torney general, led him to write to Mr..
MacVeagh. MacVeagh came here aud saw
the attorney general. Mr.. Gibson proposed
to resign. He said that his bill originally
was $500. Judge Black had told him that
il was one-half less than what it ought to
have been. Mr.. MacVeagh had told the
witness that Attorney General Brewster and
Mr.. Bliss wanted him out Of the case, but
were afraid to ask him to resign. Imme-
diately witness went to the attorney general
and said that Mr. MscVcagh had told him
this, whereupon Mr.. Brewster told witness
his resignation would DO accepted.
"Why did Messrs. Bliss and Brewster want
you to resign ?" asked Mr.. Milliken.
~ don't know further than that was not
of the same politics"
"Were not gentlemen of both political
parties engaged in the case?"
II was the only democrat"
II seems though that after they wanted to
get rid of you they got man of the same
politics, Mr.. Merrick2'
"They wanted man Of Merrick's promi-
nence."
"Dld the government find any fault with
your"
mot that know of. Mr.. MacVeagh said
to me that they wanted everybody out of the
cases who had boon connected with him."
Who wanted them out2"
THE government, and they had placed
on Mr.. MacVeagh the responsibility of pay
ing the costs. l understood that Bliss and
to manage and control the cases themselves,
and they did not want such letters as had
written to the attorney general"
did Mr. Bliss or the attorney general say
that you had given them annoyancep
ION tho contrary, they had asked me to re-
main"
"Then what do you mean by saying thoy
wanted you to resign"
Gentlemen don't always mean what they
say"
Then you mean they liod?'
"Oh, l wouldn't use so harsh word as
that"
Continuing, Mr.. Gibson asserted that Mr.
Bliss had said he was going to run these cases
in his own way.
."Did you ever find any fault with the
cases?" member of the committee asked.
~ was never much of fault finder, but
there was something which satisfied me that
Mr. Bliss was going to have his own way.
The ground Of my difference in opinion wa:
that simple Casa case involving one OF
two routes-should be tried, and not ono in
volying 1874 routes, as did the case in which
theory or philosophy of these cases II
give it,"
Lets SEQ about this. We are not studying
philosophy" suggested Mr.. Milliken.
Mr.. Gibson then gave his theory: III
the first place, in the investigation which wa
began the main object seemed to be to get a
much as possible into the newspapers. The
result was to raise an expectation in the pub.
lie mind which was never realized. Dorsey
was a disturbing element owing to the fac
that the gentleman who succeeded President
Garfield had made q speech at banquet II
New York in which he eulogized him. Fo
political reasons think it was determined tt
proceed against him without regard to the
strength of the case"
Is il your judgment that the government
felt compelled to proceed in that case because
Dorsey was in it?'
"The question of salary might have hat
something to do with it. When men get more
than 500 day it is not human nature t
abbreviate."
Explain how counsel for the government
got MS high as $500 day, requested Mr.
Springer.
Inc witness referred to executive docu
ments and went through the bills rendered
by Mr.. George in detail, showing the saar,
and expenses per day the grand average 10
the whole being something Q or $3.50 day
for salary and over $40 day 10. expenses.
MIR. Ker received $3l, 0lI.77," said tn
witness, land was actually employed 23l days
an average Of over Sl3O Il day. He made on
of the most remarkable charges think, any
body ever heard Of For preparing indict
ments in star route and straw bond cases HI
charged $4,000. One of the indictments wa
abandoned and new one framed IN its plac
by MIR. MerriCk. The government paid in a!
for counsel fees in Washington Sii,iI602, o
which, besides the amounts credited to Mossrj
Bliss and Ker, Mr., Brewster received $4,000
Mr. Merrick S31 900 Mr. Cook about $1,000
and myself $1,000"
"Do you think your fee of $1,000 OK
brilliant" inquired Mr.. Milliken.
II would have been doing poorly if hat
not earned more money than that outs dc 0
those cases in the same time. / asked 10
5000, but never ma o any bill for expenses
Did any Of the special counsel appear a
the same time that they were employed b!
the government for individuals in privat
cases ~ asked MIR. Springer.
Mr.. Bliss did for the national banks. ii
appeared before the commissioner of interna
revenue. About Si,0OO,000 were involved"
1--WE want to be correct about this, and haC
better investigate at tho commissioner
Office" suggested Mr.. Milliken.
In answer to inquiries Mr.. Gibson said tina
he thought Mr.. Brewster's fee OF 5000 wa
quite reasonable, and that Mr.. Cook los
money whom he gave his services for 81 00t
Tho witness said that Judge Black, at hi
instance, came to Washington and urged tn
employment of Mr.. Brewster as special couu
sell There had been some talk of solectn
ex-senator Henderson, of Missouri, but Nj
Brewster was employed
M. .utn h, Il A..