Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-06

al that Macveagh ought to retire. but subsequently
ne saw his way clear 10 asking him 10 remain. The
reports OF unfrendlineSS between President Arthur
ana witness We're untrue. Nothing hut the utmost
hihlheSs and frendlinesS existed but IL was en-
parraSsing to witness to he in the Cabinet because
Tue men who Were engaged I'm manufacturing and
C,,Tculatlng reports OF these unfrendiy relations
SMF 4ofhin and others Were on intimate terms
WIN the President, and witness had frequently TO
meet them In his calls upon the President Nj.
Arthnr finally said he thought would BE- better for
witness 10 remain in the Cabinet and so on with
the prosecutions, but witness explained that he
nan not been the prosecutor: that special counsel.
aoie ana ready, were retained for that; that the
Gases were left as legacy from the former admin
1stratlon, and 1t was Tor the incoming one TO prose-
cute He gave his views to the President. as he did
10 tne puoIc soon after, on that question
PRESIDENT ARTHUR SAID
distinctly he wanted the cases prosecuted to the
very end. Coming 10 Col Corkhil's connection with
the eases. Mr. MacFeagh said he had no knowledge
to justify 1t, but
COL coRkHILL
was believed not to have any sympathy with the
prosecution. 1t was known that his relations with
the accused were Of the closest and most friendly
character. at the outset witness was told that
Corkhtll had not the confidence OF the prosecution.
he made up his mind that it was impossible 10
prosecute hopefully without change In the dis
tr1ct attorneys Office Everybody connected with
the prosecution agreed that Corkhill ought not 10
De trusted with the cases. and whether that was
unjust 10 him or not witness did not think that the
rear OF injustice to any individual ought TO be per-
lhltted 10 stand In the way of vigorous prosecution
of these cases. Corkhill had urged the appoint
ment OF Col Cook as an assistant and that was
Uone. COrkh1ll met witness and asked when the
cases would be ready for preSentment. Witness
replied that he (Corkhih would be informed when
they We're ready, but he couldn't say just then.
CoRKHILL DISMISSED THE GRAND JURY.
and said afterwards that witness had virtually
agreed TO it. This difference In Corkhils recolec-
tlon OF the conversation from the correct occur
renee did not inspire witness with confidence in
him. on the night before the President was shoot
ri,.r ar md
said he would like to appoint his old friend Mr..
Riddle. Next morning witness wrote Riddle ask
Ing him to call on him. witness object being to
offer him the place: but he did not see him until
after the shooting. when he told him that the pro-
posed change could not, OF course, then be made
It was the unanimous sentiment OF the prosecution
that
CoRKHIIL OUGHT TO BE REMOVED.
Witness so advised President Arthur, but he
differed with him, saying Corkhill should remain to
prosecute Guteau. Witness held that as Porter
and Davidge had been employed for this he could
not see the necessity for Corkhi. but the President
refused to remove him. Witness mentioned this TO
Illustrate the difference in views between himself
and Mr. Arthur and To show the force OF his reason
ing to the effect that it was better for him not to
have remained in ArthurS Cabinet. Continuing.
MIR. Macveagh said that the impression against
Corkhill was strengthened by his failure In the
prosecution OF another case. Everybody who was
I'm earnest In behalf of the star route prosecution
objected TO COrkhli. and be trusted vii h
single matter connected with the cases He was
not allowed ID know anything OF the slightest cha:
acter about them The record evidence against the
accused, said the witness, when put beside the
work OF the inspectors. wits conclusive TO his mind
OF guilt. 1t was so conclusive that he regarded
proper moral support here only necessary To con-
viction. 1t required nothing more aflirmatiyey.
but only negative work The needed moral support
could not be had with Corkhill prosecutor.
Mr. MacVeagh said in answer to a question by
Mr. Springer that he did not say that 1t the in
fuence OF those concerned in these frauds that
taned Col Corkhi in his office district attorney.
President Arthur told witness that he thought it
his duty to retain Col. COlhhiil until the Guteau
prosecution was over, and that the limit OF the
Presidents Intention, so far as expressed by the
President 10 witness. The witness read Il news
paper Interview with himself, expressing the
friendly understanding he had with the President
ported. He was asked in regard to a state
nent he had made to the Presidents confdng
TO him the name OF the gentlemen he proposed to
name as his Uhe witreSS) successor. MIR. Mac
Neagh said he had simply mentioned this to show
the friendly relations between himself and the
President. The selection was not made on account
of the bearing OF the appointment upon the star
route cases. The appointment was not made. but
another place in the Cabinet. The witness gave an
account OF the employment OF Messrs. Gibson and
Cook in the cases and the subsequent designation
MESSRS. BREWSTER AND BLISS
as special counsel The latter Two were employed
at a compensation to be fixed by the department.
He had consultation with MeSsrs. Bliss and Brews-
ter their fees in which he told them that their
compensation would be fair and honorable. After
witness left the department Messrs. Bliss
nSounf and Brewster nat Were paid each SEQ & on
basis. Witness wrote a letter stating that he cor
daily approved this payment. About the first or
January, after witness left the department. Mr..
Brewster,Sl account. He said he proposed to pre-
sent bill for $500. ereditng the government with
$500 MI Brewster desired 10 get witness
opinion In order to relieve Mr. Phillips Of elnbar-
raSSnent, as ii was known then that Mr.. Brewster
be the Attorney General Mr.. Bliss. who ilai
lan Drnrn fral
his bilI $1,000 Witness wrote to MIR Phillips. ap-
proving so far as he could unotiicay, the payment
of the n,a sums and subsequently these bills
was compensation for services up to the
time OF the consultation. The witness produced
copies OF number of letters that passed between
himself. Mr.. Brewster and Mr.. Phelps. relating to
the employment and compensation OF Mr. Brewster
In one OF these letters. written 10y Mr. Brewster In
October, 1891 Mr. Brewster stated that his under
standing that he and Mr.. Bliss We're to be paid
500 day each and expenses for the time actually
given to the preparation OF the case or attending
court.
The witness was asked if the charge per diem
made by Mr.. Bliss was not unreasonable. lie said
he did not think such a charge unreasonable for a
limited time; but whether for a years service or
two years service such charge was unreasonable
or whether gross sum should be charged. The
witness had never made his own charges on a per
diem basis. He did not think that 500 a day was
unreasonable, Judged by the standard OF the New
York bar, from which Mr.. Bliss was taken, ane,
which standard was higher than that OF the Phil
adepha bar.
Mr.. Springer called attention to note attached
by Controller Lawrence TO the bills of Mes-rS.
Brewster and Bliss for 900 and So 00 respectively
that the approval OF tue Attorney General in this
matter Was conclusive. and asked il that referred
to his rhe witneSS) approval after he left Office
s. do not knOW,' said the witness 50 My own
Judgment is that Mr.. Lawrence did not think any
thing conclusive upon him."
The witness was asked il he considered
$50 days would be a limited time. He said he
thought If Judge Porter was employed in tie Gui-
teau for $50 days fee OF SIS 00J would not he
excessive, considering everything. Such fees were
rare, but they were well earned. He said there
were lawyers in New York, and he thought in
Philadelphia, who could not leave their office for
six months. sever all their professional connections
per day and gain anything by it. The witness ex-
planned the attempt TO proceed against she star
route defendants by Information as growing ont OF
the pubic demand and the importantly OF the Pres
tdenJ that some active step should be taken SO
far the witness knew, the employment OF
Messrs. brewster and Bliss was brought about by
persons desiring an earnest prosecution OF the cases
THE RULE OF SUCCESS.
Mr.. Hemphill asked the witness if the considera
ton Of success, as well time and labor involved
did not as a rule affect the conversation of
attorneys.
The witness said that that consideration had ifs
effect.
THAT is not the case, though, remarked Mr..
Stewart, 'when the government is the employer
81 don't See,' said Mr. Hemphill, sswhy the GOV
ernment should not be governed by the ordinary
rules OF business"
The witness submitted letter he had written
pensatisn for MeSsrS. Gibson and Cook curing the
five OF six months they had been employed at that
time. Whatever compensation was paid to Mr.
Bliss after January 1St 1882, was not in compliance