The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-07-03
Our Washington Letter.
Special to the Democratic Press:
WASHINGTON, June %, 1884.

: SPRINGER'S SHORTCOMINGS.
WORK, THAT HIS COMMITTEE NIGHT
HANE DONE, BUT WHICH 1T
FAILED TO DO.
A number OF Democrats are looking
towards Springer's Committee work
during the Winter with anything but
approving eyes. 1t is felt by MAJOR
ity Of Democrats that Springer has
really neglected his opportunities, and
where he might have secured the ina
peaehment of the Attorney General
and the exposure of the purchase of a
seat upon the Supreme Bench for
Stanley Matthews, he has contented
himself with overhauling the petty
larcenies of the United States Marsh
ais throughout the country. None of
the most serious allegations made
against the Attorney General have ev-
er been remotely alluded to in this So
called investigation. There has been
ne attempt made TO summon the At
torney General to explain his remark
able decision in the Ottman case, where
SIC, 600 of good Treasury money was
turned over to the thief Ottman, to be
divided between him and his pals, who
called themselves special counsel
There has been no attempt made to
uncover the transaction, whereby Geo.
Bliss, while under pay of the Govern
ment, appeared against it as attorney
for the national banks in the celebra-
ted national bank tax case, whereby
he secured decision from Brewster
which gave the banks over four mil
lions of dollars. 1t has been currently
charged that the decision itself was
written by George Bliss and signed
only by Brewster. This decision was
based upon an outrageous technicality,
and was i'm plain contradiction of the
act of Congress. Although this case
| is one of the most notorious of all the
fragrant things charged against the
msmanaged Department of Justice,
and this investigating committee
Under the plea of assisting the COM
mittee, the Attorney General some
months ago detailed several special
agents to help Mr.. Springer. The ef-
feet of this has been to fill the commit
tee room with Department of Justice
spies, who have run the Investigation
since they were taken on Springer's
staff. 1t is this crowd, headed by
Brewster Cameron, which has so per-
sistently kept the committee at work
in going over and over again the tread
mill of the petty knaveries of the
thieving marshals. There is not line
of testimony taken in this direction
that could not have been completed
within two weeks, and yet it has been
dragged through the entire Winter
until volumes of printed rubbish upon
this subject have been accumulated.
Brewster Cameron, the Attorney
Generals chief spy, has hung about
Springer's committee room all Winter
He is still in Washington. He was
appointed last Fall Receiver of Public
Moneys in Arizona. aud was confirm
ed by the Senate over two months ago.
He draws the pay of this place while
he stays in Washington and continues
to spy upon the amicable Springer.
who would be the very last to do any
thing to annoy his friend, Benny
Brewster.
HOW HALE AND FRYE, OF MAINE, AND
BILL CHANDLER ARE wHOOP-
ISG FOR BLAINE.
There has nothing funnier occurred
in Washington for long time than
the extraordinary political sOmersault
performed by the two Maine Senators,
Hale and Frye. Hale owes his entire
position in politics to Blaine. He was
for many years the most abject follow
when Blaine was Speaker, Hale was
practically a messenger boy for the
chief of the House. He used to be
known as Bubble Hale anu as Blaine's
puppy dog. Frye developed later. lie
was a more manly character, and was
not so abject in his following. Still,
he was faithful to Blaine's interests, |
and obeyed general directions very
well. Hale and Frye managed Blaine's
fortunes at Cincinnati, and again at |
Chicago in 1880 But two failures
discouraged them. Hale, who had now
become rich through the death of his
father-in law, Zach Chandler, began
to look about for some more successful |
man upon whose skirts he could hang
After Blaine was retired from the Cab
met Hale was ready to give the retired
statesman the sack aud bark and snap |
at his heels. Hale said repeatedly that |
Blaine had seen his best days, and af- |
ter short time got the idea into his |
small head that Arthur had chance |
to succeed himself. He became known
as the Administration Senator in the |
Senate. He and Arthur became very
intimate. 1t was a very common
thing for Arthur to walk ever to Hale's
house after midnight, where the two
would sit aud chat over their wine
until the early hours of the morning.
Hale committed himselfunwaveringl
to Arthur, and so bad was his political
judgment that he never hedged by try
ing to keep on even ordinary terms of
civility with his old chieftain.
Frye was not quite SO open in his
desertion of Blaine. He became angry
with Blaine when the latter remained
so long in the Senate after Garfield
had given him seat in his Cabinet
But Frye, in all his sulks, could have
pulled into line if Blaine had seen fit
at any time to ask him to come to his
support. Frye was very reluctant to
give Arthur his support, but under the
influence of Hale he gave negative
approval of the Arthur movement.
When the Chicago convention was
nearly ready to meet, Frye went fish
ing, and Hale remained in Washing
ton to counsel Arthur and help him
direct his canvass over his special
wire. After working all he could to