New-York tribune., 1876-08-10
THE MAJORITY REPORT.

them.
THE MAJORITY REPORT.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 9.-The report submitted
by Representative Clark of Missouri today IN behalf of
the majority of the House Committee on PostOtces and
Post Roads relative TO the conduct and management OF
affairs connected with the PostOnc' Department says
"The testimony is voluuinous containing nuch niorma-
ton upon The methods OF administration pcisohai CON
duct of officers of department the action ofcontracors
connected Herewith. and of the principal outeS o
the service through which the Government was de-
raudcd Yet the testimony is defective and incomplete
in that some OF the witnesses were unwilling 10 ihPdr'
facts within their knowledge, others ahscondet so ta
they could not be made to respond to subpchds' ana
others still arc dead discovered in the admins
traon OF The postal service. whether roneong upon
higher lower officials OF the department, or upon the
contractors operating in connection with the department.
or boih combination, seem. 50 far rs the testimony
extends to have originated with Ring CONTRACTORS rs
method OF obtaining contracts at eNorhitant prices Ap
rrorriatelv characterized tho strawbid system
which had its beginning several years back but seems 10
have reached its highest development under t9 adnn
isfr,tion of Posma General Crcswc and has con
tnued with less force however under his succrSSoTs'
The rcport then proceeds To describe the well known
1odus opcrdHdi Of this system aud after g'vihS some
Illustrations from the testimony. continues as follows;
Bv administering the department in violation OF law
i'm some instances. in others administering " uhH'I =
vicious and GucS'ionab.e c"aitne'.oh iso'ro' Hn H"
..,a,r,.,t.
letter was seeinlgS , fatyir i M c,rrTrt and evil
, ,gl,2 ,,a. c1 '"hi "ti ''iincd.
RESULTS or THE SYSTEM.
First. Service was improydr'tly and IncoEsdcritcN
granted wleIo public demand existed or puhc c'h'e
nenCe accrued
Second Exorbitant prices were allowed Tor services
when nee led, and work when done
Third Services. WucD not rendered according 10 con-
-, ;, ~, .,,,t mr. u,a,.;Iro were ucycIt, less fully
t1,
ri, ,.-l,, croi .r,s detected on thc par OF con
~ -. ,.ti,,, i,,. H. ON takcu h, TIE
90 - 49,. =. ,,.,. I'm. o.. cor t,., ..aid fraud
won vr ris,,i corrip,an dcrellcti5n or rcruiss-
- ,,.-i .to mon. .r,,,,.ut t,or mo- sufficient
- ,,.i.,. ,,. s.i.r,,,.o,, or to prevent u rc-
- - "a, ., 60. .i,i.,c. 81, fl,t the f,oy.
o,cpt III violation pi lwand throu h cor
,r a Ir uf ,. a. have generally gone free ho'h of
,,i,.r r aud puuiitu r: Iu. routes openly held by
,, I..I r. rt ,,. t . er. estimated by Nituc,-..
9ttnr,,.y ~ y land route. vr lr in 1870 ANA 1871 ~
hosonaslgi , ggMS' cy yrr y, for less number Of
times cr week thm he o.t -r'i,". mahhE snow "i
economy when finally worked 'L' 'nc hands oi tr luS
Inv the service sp admirably that II seems hud
to csc ,pc tht conviction Lat D, Wa part o ''''n''i
tltrd programme.
m fion nf the Horse is called go thc fact that n
oil H. 49, rn,,,cs within dc nrt year. and m many joe
stance within the inst month there W.s an "!d's "i
c,csF sovjco from o- tI.y rrI 10 two ami ir
nTrnti, Fix ti,ncs incrca.r ne a o. contraction, sfa
ITo rata Tate tho Original coatu,t Wien On. ifi' o.
stipn.f,l ror in contract. rLI me foStmnsi"ii' tu
~ d, I.
arc ,licr,. sed ia the same proportion.
l.,,.. ,r,,,.. .....,,..-rr,1t,S
'.'" '''-'"'
EcierIu. % the administration o' i"hlhi'''i ''..''
.,,,tl tho ,,,iority then .l,: "T.c abuses iueli.a'
Nicn"'''' Wv ''"' -. -. ,,.,i,,t A., .,.
10 the 'At-''i anu li'''''' w .' -
tanin. contracts known n the N:aW bi system ''"
80 Nr.t p,t.bIe drypopIncut anN it, mos. of-IIyc
40 Il, - .d,.;,t.,-,,i,7, ,y,. .p,,,u
pleNh'"'' ..'''' '"'' P',' ~ , ...,,.
20 exist Jy the head OF the department. dl" p''
H,rts ,r made 10 correct the conceded cN- OF tar
D....r mt ~, bis f..tftlouy off.
hye'ei1' III -i''"' ~ =, . - ...,
c!al stat m,uts ana pcr3onai eNliDh'e a. sup
,le,,crtayv thereto which were evidently intended
=. ,,.., "a, ,,,. a Ca, acf ..,. lint ;ls Do.
us 3h '''''''' wv '' ' .. .. 81, 80 49,.
fcuse make. uch concessions d' cause it I'd I W ~
., .,g Il, nm. ,i,r off ,al C1uluct that officer
P'"I'A'' az " 70 | -, .t,,..r a.. ,rt.,,,i. mr.
uhdcf bi"N' a., Ia Ss i.,1.,.
cOlbpcth, - P'' -, a.. No., .,.- adj uttr~
considered i 'oil'''i"I VIZ ,,',..,, n
mlmncaclird tfuNoiN' S''tS'>,' .''' '.,,r.
ina! negligence Ol q elnH' In'"AP' ~ ~ '''' ~ iI
sion and discharge OI nc Eull's oI 'A,t IT,, a.,
In support Oi these ch'ds'7 lH' l'po' H-. '' 80
one Peterson vac given noHo"ihr c'htioI %. hi '".
tracts iOf stcahfDpi' h'i $3.50 y" -, e.
River ana lt' iLDd'aI.,7 & ~ ~, ci -, ,I, r,'fa
with him directly. AthoulA - non -"l "i ,i' , 80"
eods i,n"'' 80 or o, ami Peterson wos I.itno.
Tur m,aiority neat ullc-o that fo-inIsicf-Gcncr1
Crcsweh failed 10 hn"u, % 'o1 ,,,,,,,t i,,in
@ mS", D'ro"- %"Iton Of S,ciI"n 30 Of thc postal
code wicl Iasos such combinations ltrcnpp.f tn''
OF forfeiture. lhcy nay te "i,'''i 40 . ,i
kei or III '." 'ni, '"n ~ W. ~ l. ,d 9rl, out ne II.
cn,t,cs aud vel ,ytu fun knowledge Of Asth1Ttrtrr
and Lt. ur,iious her Nr roswell nor ~mii ever
G.ru,d il NECESSARY 10 invest ate the matter Peter
son, contracts. the manner in which hc performed Toe
service. dd they abIdsc his contracts, bdl ~