New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-11
MIR. GIBSON TALKS PLAINLY.
HIS OPINIONS OF THE STAR ROUTE PhosE-
CUTIONS.

l
| CUTIONS.
| SOME THINGS HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND But
| OTHERS HE DID-CoUNsEL FEES.
| WASHINGTON, March 1O.-A. NJ. Gibson, be-
fore Mr. Sprngers Committee to-day. said the norma-
ton proceedings determined upon at conference be-
tween Messrs Brewster, Bliss and Cook, were against
T. Brady g. F. Brown, j. s. French and W. II. Turner
contractors the Santa Fe and Prescott route This case
| was selected at a consultation at Elberon be-
tween Messrs. Macyeagh, Bliss, Cook ana I'D
| son. The first Indictment in the Star Route
cases was found against T. p Lilly and George Dro'''
| and the second Indictment against the DORSEY
combination. Why no indictment was after"aru io
against those whom 1t had been proposed 10 ,s
TO proceed against by by information. Mr. Gibson oo
tell. The witness had written letter W 'o w., ~
General Mr. Brewster, early in 1887 ursins 'O "
dictmens be found against such persons MI eioSo SUI"
no considered the case Of the route from Prescott 10
Santa Fe quite simple and that the Government ought
| hovn tried IT, He thought the delay i'll that
case had been injurious TO the government
Mr. Gibson said he received reply from the Attorney
General lie gone the foreman OF the Grand Jury
and asked him 10 proceed under it, but the foreman had
said that the Government did not want to proceed IN TINS
case This fact and the fact that he had written aleter
10 the Attorney General, led him to write TO MI MAC
Veagh. who came here and the Attorney-Genera.
Mr. Gibson purpOsed to resign. Mr. MacVeagh had tod
the witness that AttOrneyGeneral Brewster ana MI
Bliss wanted him OF the case but were afraid to ask
him TO resign. Immediately witness went to the Attorney
General and said that Mr. Macveagh had told him this
whoreupon Mr. Brewster told witness his resignation
would be accepted
"Why did Messrs. Bliss and Brewster want You to re-
signT asked Mr.. Milliken
81 don't know further than that not in the same
politics."
Q-Were not gentlemen of both political parties en-
gagged in the case Al was the only Democrat. .
Oft seems though that after they wanted to get rid OF
T tey wanted g da man Us U of Merrcs prominence
Odd the Government find any fault with you! A.
Not that know Of Mr. MacVeagh said to me that they
wanted everybody out of the cases who had been con-
o.~Who wanted them QUIT A.--The Government and
they had placed Mr. MacVeagh the responsibility OF
wanted me TO resign They wanted manage and con-
troll the themselves and did not want such letters
as had written TO the Attorney General
O-Dd MIR Bliss OF the Attorney General say that you
had given them annoyancef A.-On the contrary, they
o~Then what do you mean by saying they wanted you
resgn9 A.-Gentlemen don't always mean what they
Q-Then you mean they ledi A.-oh, Wouldn't use
so harsh word as that
MR. BLISS TO HAVE HIS OWN WAY.
Odd you ever find any fault with the casesf
Al was never much of a Pathfinder but there was
something which satisfied me that Mr. Bliss was going to
have his way. The ground OF my difference OF op
ion was that simple case involving one OF two
be tried and not one involving 1874 routes
place. I'm the investigation which begun the main
object seemed to he to get as much as possible mo me
the public mind, which never realized Dorsey was
Gentleman aaEs wSo Succeeded President Garfield had
made a speech at a banquet In New-IorK, IN wlch
he eulogized him. For political reasons THINK IL was
determined proceed against him. without regard 10 the
strength OF the case.
PEELED 10 proceed In the because Dorsey was in t2
AThe question OF salary might have had something to
do with IT, When men get more lhah @ZOo uay' II Is nOt
Q,~Explain how. counsel for the Government got as
Mr.
November s, 1881, retainer of $500 and rendered
January l. 1882 bill for $6000-abOut $40 day His
expenses were additional at the rate OF 81 70 per day
This was period OF fifty days of service including
two days at Elberon, making contract with the
Government. Another bill rendered TO March 4,
1892 for S. 300 at the rate of sos 10 per day for sal
airy and So day in addition Tor expense no case was
another bill for $7444 rendered, $4,000 being fee
forty and half days at l56 per day salary and
$14 50 per day for expenses. on September ~ 1S2,
penses was rendered. This included period Of seventy
days services at 50 day for salary and 81 per
day for expenses Another BILL dated January g. 1883
1888 SO l3 for salay ana $ll S623 for expenses was
rendered. On March &c. 1888, after period Of fifty
one days of service, a bin for 5000 was
drawn, at thel rate of Sill 2G per day @Yn for for
with 9Seqgn was 6 Tena d on Zoo 5ga a
made part Of which is still pending The total amount
Mr. BSss services including salary and personal ex-
penses Is S57732 10 an average OF something over $l0o
day for salary and over $40 day for personal ex-
penses.
A REMARKABLE CHARGE.
MI Ker received S31 914 II. and actually en-
ployed 234 days, an average Of over $3.50 day. He
made one OF the most remarkable charges, think, any
body ever heard Of For preparing indictments in Star
Route and straw bond he charged $4,000. One Of
the indictments was abandoned and framed in
lis place by Mr. MeTrick. The Government paid in ali
for counsefees in Washington $l44l46 go OF which, be-
side the amounts credited to Messrs. Bliss and Ker Mr.
Brew received $1,000 Mr. Meirck $37 800 Mr. Cook
about 81, 900, and myself $1,000.
Q.-Do you think your fee of $1,000 eXorbitant A
| would have doing poorly II bad not earned more
money than that outside of these cases. In The same time
| asked for $1,000 but never made any bill for eX-
penscs.
Odd any of the special counsel appear at the same
time that they were employed by the Government for
individuals in private cases AMr Bliss did. for the
National banks He appeared before the Commissioner
of Internal Revenue About 81 100000 was involved.
Mr. Gibson SAID that he thought Mr.. BrewsteIs fee Of
IS 600 was quite reasonable and that Mr.. Cook lost
money when he gave his services for 1000 The witness
said that Judge Black at his instance, came TO Washing
ton and urged the employment OF Mr. Brewster special
counsel There had been some talk OF selecting eXsen
ator Henderson, of Missouri but Mr. Brewster was en-
Moved.