The Indianapolis journal., 1886-08-05
A Long List of Anxious Appointees Relieved
Of Their Anxiety by the Favorable Ac-
tion of the Senate in Their Cases.
Remarkable Result of the Investigation
in the Case of Marshal Hawkins.
The Next Public Printer-InfOrmatio Re-
garding Cancellation of Land Patents
Getting Ready for the Vacation-Notes.
CHARACTER ASSASSINATION.
The Case of District Attorney Connolly, OF
Southern Illinois.

| The Case of District Attorney Connolly, OF
/ Southern Illinois.
| WASHINGTON Aug. 4.-The report of the ju.
dietary committee of the Senate upon the nomi-
nation of Gustavus Van Hoorebeke, to be dis
trict attorney for the Southern district of llli-
nois, vice James A Connolly, suspended, has
been made public. 1t says that Connolly, who
filled the Office from 1876 till the date of his sus-
pension by President Cleveland, was faithful
| and efficient officer. Immediately after the last
presidential election he announced his deter
| mination to resign but was induced to withhold
his resignation By reason of political interests
and conditions existing in Illinois An election
of United States Senator was pending, and
| the contending forces were about equally di-
| vided. 1The belief was entertained" the re-
| port continues. "by the Democratic candidate
that the resignation of Mr.. Connolly would tend
| to compiicate his chances for holding the united
| vote of his party continuously to himself If
Mr.. Connolly should resign pending
the senatorial contest a successor would
have to be selected Several per-
sons had made known their determination to
be applicants for Mr.. Connolys position the
change of national administration. 1t seemed
important to the Democratic candidate for the
Office of United States Senator not to be forced
to declare his choice in respect of who should
succeed Mr.. Connolly. He caused friend to
interview Mr. Connolly and endeavor to get him
to withhold his resignation until determine
tion of the senatorial contest could be reached.
AT first Mr.. Connolly declined, but finally con-
sented, with the distinct understanding that
whenever his resignation should be desir ed he
would be notified, in order that he might for
ward it and not be subjected to suspension or re-
moval There seems to be no doubt of this
definite understanding It was also agreed that
the Attorney general should be notified of this
arrangement, and he was informed of it," The
report proceeds to say that Senator Cullorn
called upon the Attorney general in relation to
the matter and that the interview left no
doubt in the Senator's mind that Con-
molly would be notified when his resignation
should be desired On the 10th OF June, 1885,
Connolly received notice from the President
that he was suspended, and on the same day a
Chicago paper published a Washington dispatch
embodying the substance of report of j. W.
Bowman, an examiner of the Department of
Justice in which he manifested the partisan
spirit in which he had pursued the investigation
of Mr.. Connoliy's conduct in his Office. The re-
port states that the report of the special agent
was filed in the Department of Justice on the I'd
of May, 1885: that it was made in response to
| the instructions given by the Attorney general
| to the special examiner on April 16 1885: that
no notice was given to Connolly of its character,
nor even of its existence. When it was com
municated to the committee Connolly was in
formed of its character and contents, and the
committee says: ''He has made answer to each
any every feature of it in such manner and with
such effectiveness as to satisfy the committee
that 1t Is unfair, untrutnfu and that it ought
not, either In its statement its conclusions to
be accepted as of any weight whatever against
the general good repute of Mr.. Connolly con-
cerning his administration"
The committee says, in conclusion: "It may
be matter of curious inquiry why the Attor-
ney general should have allowed such re port to
remain on the files of his department without
notice to Mr. Connolly. and without some refer
ence to it in the interview had with Senator Cul,
lom IN respect Of the resignation of the ccused
officer. That such state of facts could exist
anywhere is not pleasant to believe, but that it
should be found in the Department Of Justice is
a reproach to its name and it seems to the com
| Eittee that the demands of fair play and COM
mon justice require that the course pursued in
this case should not receive the approval of the
Senate. Therefore, the committee, without in
| timatiug anything to the hurt of the nominee in
this case, or remotely or otherwise suggesting
that he is not a fit person to be intrusted with
the responsible duties of the Office to which he
has been nominated, recommend that he be not
confirmed"
When the nomination of Van Hoorebeke was
| reached upon the calendar, it was passed over,
again taken up.