Evening star., 1901-04-23
Matters Discussed at the Cabinet
Meeting Today.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUILDING
Government Exhibits to Be Loaned
to Charleston.
COU URTESIES TO CUBANS

ana cabinet officers to the erection of a
new building for the Department of Justice
from such funds are available from the
sl.H0,"W appropriated by Congress several
years ago. Mr.. Knox is in doubt VIII. ther
ne should proceed with the money that is
available or whether he should wait and
lay the matter before Congress at fits next
session He is going to determine the
matter soon, however. he is to have a
conference tomorrow with George b. Post
the New York architect whose plans for
new building were accepted by former
Attorney General Griggs The cabinet
members were of the opinion that Mr.
knox would be able better than any ona
else to say what ought to be done and so
no attempt was made to reach decision
by the cabinet. The opinion was rather
divided as to proceeding now rather than
to ask Congress for additional funds
The Charleston Exhibition.
BY request Of Senator McLaurin the
cabinet discussed the question of loanine
to the Charleston exposition the exhibits
to be made by the government at Buffalo.
All the cabinet officers desire to permit
this loan, and 1t was agreed that the loan
should be made IL there is no provision of
law against it. The Charleston exposition
VIII pay the expenses of the exhibit and
the government will do nothing but make
a loan. The President and cabinet were
glad to do this much for Charleston which
tailed OF any provision for its exposition
during the closing hours of Congress.
The President announced to his cabinet
officers that he had decided to give dim
ner on Thursday night to the Cuban COM
mlssloners who are now on their way to
TINS city to discuss with the President and
oHclals OF the administration the subject
OF this countrys desires as to Cuba The
Cubans.
The Secretary of War talked with the
PRESIDENT about a modification of the civil
service as to employees In minor positions
Nebraska Senator'S Call.
The President was engaged most of the
morning before the cabinet met in a con-
ference with Senators Mnlard and Dietrich
of Nebraska. They were accompanied by
Editor Rosewater of the Omaha Bee. The
two new senator's discussed q number OF
things, Including federal patronage in Ne-
praska There will be a number of changes
In the federal office holders of Nebraska
Among the Presidents other callers was
Senator McLaurin Of South Carolina.
Pardon I'm n Noted Case.
The President today pardoned Joseph N.
Wolfson, who was convicted in the United
States district court of Louisiana of being
in collusion with the bookkeeper of the
Union National Bank of New Orleans in
the embezzlement OF S640,0O0 of the funds
of the bank, and who was sentenced to
eight years Imprisonment The case is in
many respects a remarkable one and has
attracted considerable attention. Wolfsou
was prominent lawyer in New Orleans be.
fore the smash-up of the bank in 1896. ana
had been depositor In the bank for many
years prior to that time. OF the missing
funds Wolfson was charged with having
obtained $4,000. The long legal battle
which today ended in Wolfson's pardon
then began. Wolfson had the aid of pow.
erful and influential friends. The case was
appealed to the circuit court of appeals,
which affirmed the decision of the lower
court, and was then carried to the Supreme
Court on a writ of certiorari Meantime
Wolfson continued the practice of his pro-
fession in New Orleans until the breaking
out of the Spanish war. Being
then still under sentence, with his case stin
pending in the Supreme Court, he enlisted
in the volunteers with the consent of the
Attorney General and the Secretary OF
War; and served until February, 1899, when
he was mustered out. He then enlisted IN
the regulars and went to the Philippines,
where he served until October 1900, when
he was invalided home. In January Of tho
present year the Supreme Court refused the
writ of certiorari and Wolfson then ap.
piled for executive clemency. Mr.. Wolfson
still has about one year to serve IN tho
regular army before his term of service ex-
pires. He expects to return to the Philip
pines Immediately and rejoin his regiment.
In recommending the pardon to the Presi.
dent Attorney General Knox said:
Attorney Generals Recommendation.
HE approaches you a suppliant for
pardon, asking that his brave deeds and
shattered health be accepted as atonemenr
for the crime for which he stands
legally convicted. The history of the
world is full of circumstances where
transgressions of the law in cases Of
the gravest character and conse-
hu signal pIlh-
lie service in time Of war or great emerg-
ency. Many cases may be found In the rec
ords of our civil war where good record
as soldier brought immunity from punish
ment for previous transgressions. HAD
Wolfson's name been untarnished, his MILL
tary services and devotion to duty at the
time of the Chinese crisis would doubtless
have commended him to you for recognI-
ton This is not my own deduction. 1t Is
so stated by Maj. knight. If he has earned
honor and advancement which II lis not
seemly to bestow, would 1t not be PEE
culiarly gracious act to remove from him SO
far as you can the consequences of his Of
Tense? 1t seems SO to me, and therefore
recommend that the application for pardon
be granted"
Wolfson's family is one Of great infiu-
ence in New Orleans. and he has already
many kilograms Of congratulation.
His wife and children are In Europe.
Attorney General Griggs was adverse to q
pardon Of wolfson solely on legal grounds,
and so recommended.
This is the first case that Attorney Gem
eral Knox has acted upon. In his recom-
mendation he quotes from some Of the let
ters Of army officers who speak In such
high praise Of Wolfson, who has been ip
Washington some time, attired I'm his uni.
form of a private.
The President has also granted pardons
in the cases Of Henry Gardes and Walter
w. Girault, convicted in New Orleans in
1897 and sentenced to eight years I'm the
Ohio penitentiary for embezzling funds OF
the American National Bank of New Or
leans, of which Gardes was president and
Girault cashier. The petitioners have now
served all but two years of their sentences,
and upon the recommendation of the trial
Judge and the district attorney, who state
that there is a universal sentiment in the
that the prisoners have been
sufficiently punished, the pardon is issued.