The Washington times., 1895-06-16
IF Mr.. BIRNEY has TO GO
MANY Names Suggested as to His
Probable Successor.
Intimation That the Sugar Trust May
New District Attorney.

The American Sugar Refining Company,
commonly known as the Sugar Trust, that
is credited with having this week raised the
price of sugar half Il cent on the pound
and collected heavy tribute from the Ameri-
can people, may have finger in the dis
tribution of District offices.
The trust has been openly charged
with, and has partly confessed, sue
cessful interference in politics and in
legislation, and that, too, in the
very connection in which it's influence
is now apparent.
When President Havemeyer and Secretary
searles, of the trust, refused to answer ques-
tions asked by the Senate committee to in
vestigate the relations of the trust to tariff
legislation, and it was proposed to turn them
over to the Department OF Justice for prose
cution, one of the committee went for some
information to a trusted employe who has
lived all his life in the District.
"Wbat of the District Attorney here?"
he asked. "Will he stand up square aud
prosecute these big guns for all he's
WORTH"
Mr.. Birney?' was the answer, 'yes,
he Will He will do his duty faithfully,
with big or little"
And the Senator went away satisfied.
But now comes the information that
the prosecution OF Messrs. Havemeyer
and SearleS has been turned over to Mr..
Taggart, pending, it is supposed, the
appointment of a new District Attorney.
The test case made upon Broker Elverton
Chapman is To come to hearing next
Monday. Mr.. Taggart whose time has
been closely occupied for months with
the Potomac Flats case, cannot be as
we'll prepared as he should be aud in ad-
dition labors under the disad vantage
of being subject to direction in the manage
ment of the case. He cannot even be sure
whose direction it will be. This dis
turbance in the District Attorneys work
Just at the critical moment for the sugar
magnates, is suspected by some to be the
result of q well-laid plan rather than a
mere coincidence.
Gossip as to Mr.. Birney's successor is buy
with the names of Messrs. NJ. j. Colbert,
Henry E. Davis, and Judge Miller. In
case the latter should be named, MagiS-
trate S. G. Mills would go in his place, and
two good Democrats would move up a
place, making room for a new man below.
MI Colbert is said to be backed by Judge
Morris, of the court of appeals. That is
a strong inflSence. In addition, Cardinal
Gibbons is believed to be ready With his
good offices to help the young man, who
belongs to Judge Morris former law firm,
and possibly no man possesses President
Cleveland's confidence i'll a larger degree
than does the American primate of the
Roman see. Both by his official position
and his personal strength the great Cath
olic leader has Won the Presidents friend
ship. He is believed to be largely respon-
sible for Judge Alvey's appointment, and
his word would go far to make Mr. Colbert
| district attorney.
On the other hand, Mr. Davis has prob
abyl not lost the place in the Presidents
! esteem Which he gained when he appeared
| before him to fight old Sam Strong's 8
! claim against the District for S425, 900,
when S46 ,000 had been awarded as just.
/ What do you know about this?'' the
President asked gruffly, without tie civil
! ity of asking his visitor to be seated.
! Mr. Davis, nettled by this treatment,
! sailed into the subject with the vigorous
! English and fullness of information ut his