Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-04

1nere Is little that the country can cOngratu-
late itself upon in connection with the Pan-Elec-
Observation-Disclosures scandal which is at present
occupying 80 much newspaper attention. ON
the one hand IL is little to- the credit OF Amer
lean craftsmanship that so many gentlemen
Occupying high official positions should be so
largely Interested in the future prospects OF a
Speculative company whose financial success
must depend almost wholly on the aid IL could
get from their acts and influence as public men.
With an immense fortune depending on their
course in that direction. IL Is demanding almost
too much of human nature to expect that men
otherwise honest and Just will not be drawn a
little aside from the straight line of duty when
the crisis comes, and The interests OF the public
must therefore suffer accordingly. On the OF her
hand, IL is greatly to be deplored that the ques-
lions affecting the legality of the Bell telephone
patents cannot be discussed and determined
entirely independent OF the complications
arising from the so-called Pan-electric interests.
Each branch of the case ought to- rest on its own
merits, entirely disconnected from any consid-
Grafton affecting the other. There doubtless Is
great Improperly in members of any admins
tration being interested directly or Indirectly
in cases whose outcome materially affects their
peeuniary condition; but that has nothing what
ever to do with the question whether the pat
ents of the present telephone were obtained
through fraud and corruption.
1t is of course TO the advantage of those cham
pioning either side to confuse the popular mind
by keeping the vital points out of view by the
smoke of xtraneous charges, and in this way the
public interests are likely TO suffer. Ifthere are
TO be changes in :he Presidents cabinet, as is
demanded, let them be made solely on the
merits OF each individual case, without regard
to who may make or lose by fluctuations in the
stock markets. II, on tho other hand, the Bell
patents fraudulent and worthless, as is
charged, and largely believed, let that fact be
r,.aI
Independent of political considerations. This
much the people of the country who are inter-
ested neither IN Wall Street nor In mere parti-
san success have right to demand. For them
We speak.
1t will BE- seen by the advertisement else
where that the Corcoran Gallery of Art will be
open to the public this evening. and each
Thursday evening during February and March.
1t is understood that the night attendances
heretofore have not been so large generally as
10 encourage the trustees in the continuance OF
evening openings, but the Gesire to afford to
those whose time during daylight is otherwise
wholly occupied an opportunity to visit the
Gallery and study its contents has induced the
action ut present announced. II may be added
that the admission fee Of ten cents which is
charged Is not made for the benefit OF the Gal
iery. nor even ior defraying the necessary
penses of the night openings-which it would
pose of regulating the attendance; and the pro-
ceeds thus arising have usually been devoted
To some worthy purpose entirely disconnected
with the Institution itself. Considering these
things, and especially in view of the value of
the Gallery as an educating and refining
agency, the night exhibitions should be largely
attended, and particularly by that class for
whose special benefit they are provided.
1t is very evident that the republican Sena-
tors are not disposed To hold moot court on
the constitutional powers of the President
speeding removals in the civil service In this
whole matter. as The STAR has frequently said,
the war has mostly been in the newspapers.
There is always more or less friction between
the President anc the Senate over appoint
ments, even when the two agree politically, as
Personal rivalries often enter into the contests.
II is natural that where the two are politically
opposed these differences will be aggravated.
Very likely some appointments will be vigor-
ously opposed and some defeated. But it is not
AT al: probable that there viii be set warfare on
party lines.