National Republican., 1886-11-19

Tue hulnOTIly W tuOsc uuNlnB Charge Oh Juc
police there. The fact that a letter had
been written 10 Mai Walker critlclsing the
monner In which the police did their duty
at the white house caused no small feeling
Of Indignation.
When the commissioners left their Office
TO 90 home they were asked the nature Of
their conference, and replied that they had
done nothing. Mr.. Webb was asked II he
would give out Immediately TO the press
the results Of the commissioners oxamina-
tion. lie replied, "Certainly."
Gen. Henkle and Mr.. Garnett, counsel
for Lieut.. Arnold, asked Commissioners
Wheatley and Webb yesterday to hear argu-
ments In behalf OF their client. The com
missioners declined to do so, claiming that
the testimony would speak for itself.
Messrs. Wheatley and Webb consented to
let the record show that an application to
make argument had been made and was
declined. Mai, Walker yesterday declined
TO talk with newspaper men, and he said
that he had no intention of resigning.
II is reported that the commissioners have
been talking the matter over very carefully,
and II is believed that they have almost de.
termined on their line Of action. Many are
Of the opinion that the commissioners were
yesterday in receipt OF Maj. Walkers res
ignation. The belief is very strong also that
Lieut.. Arnold, Sergt. Diggins, and Officer
Edelin will be asked to resign, and likely
also several lieutenants.
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT IT.
The trial Of Police Lieut.. Arnold before
Commissioner Wheatley was closed yester-
day. 1t has come out during the hearing
that the examination was 10 measure
forced by the Presidents direction, and II
is believed that he will push the investiga-
tiOn further. Whatever action the police
board may take, IL now seems difficult to
whitewash the matter out Of sight. Aibany
Journal.
Lieut.. Arnold, though opposed by almost
the entire District government, was able to
make strong defense to the charges
against him. In his testimony he stated
positively that Walker had given him in
structions to watch congressman for the
corroborated the testimony of Lieut.. Kelly,
clearly proving the truth Of his original
statement. Arnold will be dismissed to
protect Walker. This, however, may be
the most unfortunate step the commission.
ers could possibly take. General iudigna-
tlon has so risen against Walker and the
commissioners that the dismissal of Arnold
would call for demand upon the President
for the removal of the commissioners
PhHd delphid Gail.
One ieutenant-Arnold-wa arraigned
the author of the vile suggestion, but the
evidence taken so far tends TO show that the
really guilty party is not Arnold but his
superior in office, Maj. Walker. the chief OF
police. Considering the fact that the wit.
nesses for the prosecution are all subordi.
mates Of the chief of police, who is inter-
ested In fastening the charge upon Arnold
in order to clear himself, It Is surprising
that two lieutenauts should give testimony
HE nfl nj al lFnE IA ht.VN
self The question as to his completely is
deemed no longer open. The Only doubt
iswhether the skirts OF the commissioners
themselves are clear In the matter. Some
believe that Walker got the idea from one
of them, and not few believe that there is
a regular game to save Walker by making
a sCapegoat Of Arnold. The last idea Is not
without plausibility, but 1t is incredible
that any OF the District commissioners
should have lent their sanction to so infa
nous a proposition as one to employ detect.
ives to watch members of Congress, In
order to extort appropriations Or
leans Hcdy'pe.
The testimony taken in the trial of Lieut.
Arnold, Of the Washington police force,
shows that Chief of Police Walker should
be promptly retired to private life. Even
IL the testimony does not show that the
chief really did suggest that the errors of
congressman should be noted for use IN the
way OF quiet argument-and the evidence
given by at least two lieutenants is to the
effect that the suggestion was made-it
does show, upon the chiefs own admission
that he urged the lieutenants to use their
influence with congressman to gain support
for Increased appropriations.-NcV YOrk
Times.
The police investigation, with It's scan
dalous revelations, has closed so far as TIN
taking of testimony is concerned. The ar
gument will at once proceed, but the cas-
so far as the evidence goes is already befor,
the public. There seems to be but on
opinion In Washington as to the effect o.
this evidence, and that is that Lieut.. Ar.
mold did not announce that Maj. Walker
the chief Of police, had issued a general or
der that system of espionage upon con.
gressmen was to be established, and tha
report was to be made to him In case con
gressmen should visit disreputable places
but 1t seems to be established that SON,
general suggestions to that effect wer
made, and that private intimations weri
given at q council between the chief o
police and his leutenants, the effect o
which was that II information Of that sor
should be reported through responsible
authority, advantage might be taken Of /
| to secure additional appropriations from
| Congress for the police force, aud 1t Is ast
conceded by both parties 10 this unsavor,
controversy that tho chief of police dlt
suggest to his men the proprlety Of being a
active and as useful lobbyists as they Coult
with all Congressman whom they knew, Il
the end that large appropriation for thu
| police there might be secured. The adms,
sion Of this latter fact will undoubtedly
have q most unfavorable effect upon con
gressmen, aud will materially iniure tn
| police force of the city as at present organ
| ized --BOStOR Journal
The Washington police department scan
| dal grows more interesting as the inquiry
progresses. Though Superintendent OF Po
| lice Walker yesterday repeated his contra
| diction Of Lieut.. Arnold's story, the testi
mony supports the lleutenant's first state
ment that the SUPERINTENDENT did sugges
| to several subordinates that the police de
partmtnt might profit by the collection o.
| information concerning the private habit
| Of congressman aud the private haunts the,
| frequent The statement has been cOrrobo
rated by other official witnesses. The trutl
| Of the charges seems beyond question, ant
| the commentators are striving to fix tn,
motive for the system OF official espionage
The first theory explained 1t by the fact tina
| the commissioners desired TO secure vote
on large District appropriations, and IL ye
| thought that some officials higher In ranl
| than the police superintendent will be com
promised II the searching investigation 1
| prosecuted further Another explanation
and by far the less plausible, declares tina
the administration officials are interested Ii
sCcurii vote on the extension of Massl
| chusctts avenue. This Improvement, II /
alleged, would greatly enhance the valu
real estate in the vicinity of the Presi dent
new home, Red Top, rechristened Oal