Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-01-28
Srnn GnMntr Register
BEAUTIFUL BLISS.
Some of his Pretty Financial Transac
lions.

tons.
Perhaps District Attorney Bliss, OF
st. Louis, can give perfectly satisfac-
tory explanation of his financial trans
actions with the representatives of the
Brazilian Government. If he can, he
ought to do so right away. for there is
version of the story told here which
presents him in light not favorable.
Mr.. Bliss official life has been i'm fair
way to extend far beyond the time of
most of Mr.. Arthur's appointments,
but such matter. as this Brazilian bus
;ness is calculated to affect his tenure.
The story is already in possession of
those who will not hesitate to use it if
they can as lever to effect a change
In the Office. AS told here the circum-
stances are these:
Some time after the arrests were
made of the so-called Brazilian coun-
terfeiters, the men who endeavored to
get a plate engraved in st. Louis, for
printing Brazilian securities, MIR. Bliss
entered into communication with the
Brazilian Minister, Senior j. g. do
Amaral Vaiente, relative to the prose-
cution of the parties concernei In the
scheme. He came on and had con-
ference with the Minister, in which he
represented that it was greatly to the
interest of the Brazilian Government
that the men should he convicted and
punished as severely as possible. He
explained, so the story goes, that while
there Was IA way of reaching the Gull
prits and making them suffer, the pro-
ceetiings would entail considera BILE ex-
pense. The United States statutes did
not provide any way for meeting these
expenses, and, therefore, there was
danger that for want of money to back
up the prosecution these NEIL might
90 clear. Senior Valente listened to Mr..
Bliss, and, accepting his statements
without question, gave an order Oh the
Brazilian Consul General, intending To
explain to his Government the use
made of the money, having no doubt
the expenditure would be approved.
THE FIRST PAYMENT.
Mr.. Bliss got $500 for a starter. Sub
sequently he drew two or three times,
until the amount which the Brazilian
Government had invested in the prose-
cution of the Whites was 81 500 or ST.
500. Then Mr.. Bliss began to write
the Minister about the possibilities of a
much larger sum being needed, and he
mentioned $40, 900 as the amount which
might be required to put the White
brothers where there would be- no fur
ther danger of their designs upon the
Brazilian currency. There ensued
some controversy, and the people about
the Legation here began to talk. Mr..
Bliss came Oh tn Washington and call
ed upon Senior Valente. Perhaps he
found the Minister a little skeptiral
about the necessity for spending SO
EnucII money, particularly as, up to
that time, no itemiZed account had
been rendered. At any rate, the two
gentlemen walked down to the Depart
ment of Justice, Mr.. Bliss insisting
that the Minister.shouldh hear from the
highest authority that there was no
law by which the United States could
pay the expenses of such cases as these
he was pushing against the White
brothers. Attorney General Garland
was appealed to, but turned the Minis
ter AMI the District Attorney over to u
subordinate. Mr.. Bliss explained the
peculiar features of the counterfeiting
cases and the action he had taken.
The department official said Mr..
Bliss was wrong. There was IL provi-
sion i'm the United States statutes to
meet the emergency. He took down
the books and showed it to the visitors.
Mr.. Bliss expressed the greatest sur
prise. He had known nothing of the
section, he said. Then the department
official said there was fund of $50, 900
out of which to pay the expenses of a
prosecution under the statute he had
shown.
RENDERED HIS NOTE.
Mr.. Bliss turned to the Minister and
said that he would, of course, restore
the money which had been advanced.
BE offered his note for the amount then
and there. The department official
said there was better way of getting
at the settlement than by giving a note.
If Mr.. Bliss would make out the ac-
count, giving theitems ofexpenditures,
the bill might be audited and allowed
and the money paid directly to the
Minister. Mr.. Bliss replied that it
would be impossible for him to make
the account here. 1t would have to be
done on his return To St. Louis. He
renewed the tender of his 81. 0. u" to
the Brazilian Minister and the confer
ence broke up. Mr.. Bliss went back
to st. Louis, promising to straighten
out the prosecution and remit the
amount he had received to the Brazil
ian Minister. So the matter rested un-
til late developments had the effect of
starting the talk again, and thus the
story gets out, AS stated at the out
set, this is the way the circumstances
are given here. Mr.. Bliss can proba-
bly, present them in a different light.
If he does not, he can hardly blame
the Democrats for getting after his
scalp few weeks hence Washington
Special to the Globe-Denaocrdt.