Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 March 1884 — LIGHT ON THE STAR ROUTES. [ARTICLE]

LIGHT ON THE STAR ROUTES.

The Story of the Proeecations Retold by Mean. James and MacVeagh Ex-Attorney General MacVeagh’s Rea* sons for Retiring from Free!* dent Arthur’s Cabinet. Before Mr. Springer's House Committee on Expenditures of the Department of Justice, ex-Postmastor General James and exAttorney General Wayne MacVeagh have been rehearsing their brief experiences as Cabinet officers, and telling what they know about the star-route frauds and star-route prosecutions. From the mass of testimony elicited and wired from the national capital, we compress into a column the pith of the dual narrative. As Told by Mr. James. The ex-Postmaster General produced a printed statement of star route investigation and the alleged frauds brought to his notice by Senator George Spencer. Before the witness was made Postmaster General he was called to Washington by Whitdaw Reid. Together they called upon the President. James was then informed that he was offered the Postmaster Generalship. Star route measures were talked over. The President said there was something rotten in the Poatqffioe Department, and he expected the witness to "put his plow In beam and subsoil it On March V, 1881. the President again brought the mattes to the notice of witness. He said he expected witness to cut off frauds. If, upon investigation, he found any persons guilty, they would be turned over to the Department ot Justioe. Witness proposed to call Mr. Woodward into the inquiry, and this met ths approval of the President John Swinton, one of the editors of the New York Sun, suggested the name of A. M. Gibson as Inspector, and he was accepted and put to work. Hersrwltness entered Into a lengthy narrative of the details of the work of Gibson and Woodward, all of which are familiar to the country. Witness suggested to the President that civil suits be first Instituted against the accused. The President thought criminal suits should be begun. The Attorney General warned the President that criminal suits might strike men in high official position and turn the political tide to the Democrats. Witness said Dorsey called on him to denounce Gen. Brady, and demanded bis removal. Witness recommended Brady’s removal to the President, who took the matter under advisement. After concluding that Brady's resignation would not be demanded, tbe President reconsidered, consented to it, and witness asked for it. Brady immediately handed itin. Then Dorsey began to hedge. He cringed and crawled, and his braxen effrontery disappeared in his pleas for clemency. The story of Rordell's confession was rehearsed, and was directed especially at the alleged "deplorable character," Dorsey. Witness related that upon visit, ng the President with William A. Cook he found Dorsey and Attorney Ingersoll in conversation. Cook warned the President that "something awful" was about to happen. James said that Bliss, Glbnon. Woodward, and others retained in the case did not tlx their own salaries. “Right here I want to say," continued the witness, "that what I say ot the other Postottioe officials Includes Gibson. The statement ot ths witness closed with the assertion that “Imd the President not taken the step he did against the star-routers he wouldn't have fallen by the assassin's bullet.” “Why do you state that the assassination of Garfield was the trait ot the star route prosecutions?” inquired Mr." Stewart. . “I do not state that,” replied witness. “That's the inference drawn from your assertion. I think you need to explain your situattop.” Witness said he wouldn’t make that assertion because he didn't know it. From the character of the newspaper clippings found upon the person of the assassin at the time tbe deed was committed it was plain that his head was turned by press accounts of the star route prosecutions.

Mr. MaoVeagh’s Story.

Ex-Attorney General MacVeagh testified that after President Garfield was shot he considered it undesirable to complicate the starroute cates, and ho de ired to do nothing to complicate tbe President who would succeed Garfield. He wished hie successor to go in as little embarrassed as possible. "I had," said Mr. MacVeagh. “several conferences with President Arthur as io the general subject of tbe prosecution of the star-ronte cases, and he expressed a desire that I remain and continue responsible for the prosecution, first as Attorney General and subsequently as leading counsel for the Government, but I felt I oould not do so.” Explaining the talk he had with President Garfield in the political effect of the prosecution of the star-routers, Mr. MacVeagh stated that he warned the President that it would strike some of his high political friends, men prominent in his election, who held letters from the President which he wouldn't desire to have made public. Witness explained the great gravity of the step proposed, as there was at the time a division in the Republican partv, and he thought the prosecution might hazard its future. Among those high in political position referred to were Dorsey, Brady, and Kellogg. Witness told Dorsey's attorneys that papers had been found in the department which needed explanation. He also told Dorsey that there must be an investigation by the Grand Jury, aa he could not bo injured if innocent. He said the matter caused Garfield great distress, but he consented. He was made aware ot all the steps taken in the investigation, the issuance of warrants projjosed, etc. Restated that it was not Garfield’s desire that the matter be settled by judicial investigation. Witness dwelt upon the efforts of Dorsey to have him turned out ot the Cabinet, and the use of Rerdell’s affidavit was referred to. The grounds upon which Dorsey'demanded the removal ot witness were that he was generally a bad man. Witness entered into an account of the circumstances of his leaving the Cabinet He said it wlFattributable to President Arthur’s sympathy with the star-routers. Witness cited the intimate relations of Arthur with Hugh Hastings, George C. Gorham, and other friends of star-routers. They supported Arthur before the assassination, and were cordially received afterward. He thought the gentlemen had great influence with Arthur. Witness didn't desire to remain in the Cabinet. He suggested to the President that he had better have another Attorney General; as the citizens of the District of Columbia believed if he remained it was merely to administer to a dead man’s estate. Mr. MacVeagh testified that he' did what he could to oust District Attorney Corkhill, but President Arthur was set in his desire to have Corkhill piosecute Guiteau. The ox-Attorney General’s testimony next turned upon the subject of salaries paid to the Government's attorneys in tbe star-route prosecutions. The testimony on this subject tended to throw the responsibility upon Attorney General Brewster. In fact, ne explicitly stated that Mr. Brewster first recommended the payment of two a day to the attorneys. Tne only account witness passed upon really was $2,500 to Attorneys Bliss ana Brewster prior to tho’apSiintment ot the latter as Attorney General. e recommended, however, that these two gonmen should be paid SO,OOO and $5,000, respectively, for services from the middle of December to the Ist or January. Mr. Bliss first suggested SIOO a day, and it was insisted upon by Mr. Brewster, who wrote several letters upon the subject ot salary, and Insisted uj on the settlement ot his MH before tie entered upon the duties of Attorney General, aa he did not want to irass upon his own bill. “Was not tse sa.ary of »100 per day unreasonable?" inquired Mr. fete wart, ot the committe. “Not for a short time,” replied the witness. "It might be unreasonable if it should ran a year or iwo years. For iso days it would not be an excessive salary."