Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-30
MR.. DUMONT's REMOVAL.
Attorney Haxelton Seems to BE Nettled at
the Newspaper Comments.

|
did not come back in the best of humor, be-
cause he had heard from afar of the personally
adverse public sentiment stirred up by his de-
manding the resignation Of Assistant Attorney
Neil Dumont. He was especially sensitive as to
newspaper comment and said OF it:
''In the dismissal OF informations filed by
Mr. Dumont, the same being without authority
| of law, there could be no surrender by nv
Office to the liquor interests, as insinuated by
the writer of an article on the subject in The
STAR. My Office is not to blame for
the condition of the law caused by
decision Of the courts and the
neglect Of Congress to take proper ac-
ton. Up to the time that prosecutions were
crippled by this decision the records of the
Ponce Court Will showa very large increase in
! the revenues derived from that clsss OF cases.
My course in regard to these prosecutions has
been well understood by the Commissioners
and accords with their judgment so far as
know. OF course it is not for me to
dictate what course the newspapers may
take In dealing with public af-
fails, but submit that it would have been fair
for The STAR, which has criticised so severely
the retirement Of Mr.. Dumont, to have accepted
the reasons stated in Mr.. Dumont's letter rs
truthful, instead of ignoring them and to have
consulted with the executive officers Of the Dis
IL.
making it q pretext for a malicious personal at
tack upon the attorney for the District.
The Commissioners could have furnished
| all the information on the subject in which the
public had an interest, and this was all that
newspapers needed to give the public
"As the attorney for the District there is no
more propriety in my consulting the newspaper
press IS to the competency or incompetency of
one OF my subordinates, or whether | shall
recommend the acceptance of a resignation
or the removal of a subordinate. than there
would sbe in the newspapers consulting me
about the employment or discharge of
some one in their employ. The responsibility
for the faithful prosecution of the duties Of my
Office rests with me alone, and while hold il
shall be the judge of the fitness Of those asso-
ciated with me in the Office for the performance
OF the duties imposed upon them by the law,
even at the risk OF n personal malicious attack
upon me for exercising such authority, from
whatever source it may come"
WHAT MR.. DUMoNT SAYS.
"Mr. Hazelton," said Neil Dumont to STAR
reporter this afternoon, sis proceeding
with his accustomed smoothness; talks as
though he was very indignant because The
STAR refused to accept my letter of resigna-
ton as the Alpha and Omega of the entire
business. don't care to say much about the
affair. Ny present disposition is to make liv-
ing, and I can't do that interviews. Mr..
when he discusses that letter Of
resignation. When he asked me to write it
he said the resignation was demanded by the
District Commissioners. When / asked him
why they wanted 1t he refused to give me any
reason and declined to resign. Under con-
tinued pressure he informed me, after the
fashion of statesmen, that l was persona non
grata to the administration. That is the only
| reason he has offered up to this time. On the
| evening of the l6th instant he told STAR re-
porter that il was to be dismissed it would not
be upon his Recommendation, yet the next
day he sent for me and insisted
upon severing my official relations with his
olice, Later he told Messrs. Gleeson, Carson
and Bradshaw that had resigned to accept a
better position. Perhaps he may be able to
prove that each OF his assertions was true.
"As to the legal force Of the prosecutions
was making when called upon to resign" con-
| tinued Mr.. Dumont, ''there can be no serious
difference Of opinion. The cases were sound
| in every particular. Three or four people
had already been convicted, others
had pleaded guilty. and the remainder had de-
manded jury trials when Mr.. Hazelton ordered
the cases to be dismissed. Why did he not
nolle pros them have them continued in
definitely so that they might be picked
up at any time? Mr.. Leon Tobriner, coun-
sci for the Liquor Dealers Associa-
was sufficient and 1 am satisfied that Mr..
Tobriner and myself are right in our conclu-
sions. That levy court ordinance is undoub +
edly good outside of the city; within the city
limits We could prosecute under the Nan de-
cision for engaging in the liquor business be-
fore paying for a license"
To STAR reporter who questioned them on
the subject Commissioners Douglass and Ros-
sell directly denied the statement alleged to
have been made by Mr.. Hazelton, that they
demanded the resignation of Mr.. Dumont
1t will be remembered that Commissioner
nyl Of a,t S1,x,t
missioner Ross, who is now absent on n vaca-
tlon, also informed STAR reporter before his
departure that Mr.. Dumont's resignation was
not due to any action originating with him.
Efforts have been made by a STAR reporter
during yesterday and today to secure
from Attorney Hazelton statement which
would perhaps make plain his side of
the controversy, but without success This
afternoon Mr.. Hazelton said no would en-
deavor to have some such statement ready by
tomorrow. He claimed that his action in or
dering the dismissal Of the cases would be more
than justified when all the testimony was in.
Mn. FRENCH IS NOT AN APPLICANT.
swish you would correct a misapprehension
as to myself that seems to have gained circula-
ton, said Mr.. George Z. French to STAR re-
porter today. II have been referred to as an
Dumont. am not an applicant for the posi-
ton in question nor am 1 in any scramble for
1t or for any other Office"
MASS MEETING OF TEMPERANCE PEOPLE
For the past few days the temperance people
have been quiet as to the removal of Prosecuting
Attorney Neil Dumont, but they are going to
say something quite soon. A numerously
signed call for . meeting as follows has been
circulated and Is still in circulation:
1--WE, the undersigned citizens of Washington
and the District of Columbia, having heard of
the resignation being requested Of Hon. Neil
Dumont, special assistant attorney for District
Of Columbia while in the faithful discharge of his
duty prosecuting the ilac:, liquor sellers of the
District, and moving the energy and fidelitywith
which he has discharged his various duties for the
benefit and well-being Of the city. and unwilling
that q true and tried officer should be tram
meled while successfully handling the illegal and
dangerous element Of society, and desiring to
protest publicly against the same, we call upon
all good citizens, regardless Of party. to meet
in the large tent on 18th and V streets north
west on Monday night next at 8 o'clock to take
such action a. will better protect the morals
and health and law Of the city government"
Not Entitled to Free Entry.
The Treasury Department has sustained the
action Of the customs collector at New York in
assessing duty on certain Welsh hymnals i'm
ported for the use Of the Welsh preshvter;.p