The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-13
UNDERWOOD'S DISCLOSURE
TESTIMONY BEFoRE THE COMMIT
TEE ON POST OFFICES.
Postmaster. General Jewell Discovering
Frauds in his Department That were Fully
Exposed in The sun Two Years Ago.


OF 1874. after Postmaster q 1cral Jewell had
assumed control Of the Post ONCE Department,
and the country believed he was thoroughly In
earnest in his professions of retrenchment and
reform. 1nr srY published full exposures Of
the frauds perpetrated on many Of " Creswell's
Ring mail routes" for MIR. JEWELS guidance.
The efforts Of THE SUNS correspondent to give
him light were, however. all in vain. for his de-
sire to retain the friendship OF Peterson, Carey,
Creswell and Beknap, and other boon compan-
ions OF the President, made him close his eyes
to the interests OF the Government ana the
people For a few months enjoyment OF the
shoddy society at the capital, this great reformer
lent himself to covering up the frauds Of bis
predecessor.
But the decided action OF the Committee on
Post Oficts and Post Roads awakened him at
last and j. Underwood. special agent OF
mons to appear before the committee, was d.
rected TO examine the records aud ascertain II
there had been fraud as alleged. His report,
dated March 2, 1876, was called for bv the com
mtttee; ana appears us part Of the testimony
and letter r exposing the yery frauds now Oh" on
cially disclosed. were published by The Sun more
than two years ago.
notwithstanding the publicity then made OF
the operations Of the Barlow Straw-bid Ring.
Postmaster General Jewell would nov have the
country believe tina the remained III blissfui ig-
nor nee Of them until this late day. The fol-
lowing Is CndeTwoOd's report
Posi- OFFICE Drrs INVENT orrIcE or srFrALl
Hon: P n Woodsdni, CaiJ special Agent p 0. b..
srR 10 accordance with your Instructions / pro:
ceedei 70 inyes;gate, Win Cap H. G. nopkin. special
routes herein named, and beg leave TO submit the fol
n. rgS ilq fs sas' ro% ~
wac let under contract Oct is. 1870 10 Brady Barlow
3 Bee so s.S sem rs, Sr
der general q ociob 1902 ana the con
va; the lowest bidder his bid being :5S ooO per year
a,
100 per dsy until Sept! $50 when The contract was
sum q sl5sooo, but never commenced service for
thai eiS uSt Oct ia s7o on Witch d.y H BeacSg
asked to be rslea.ed FROM his III ,rsct vhch
low a, above stated; We end letter signed by Brai
BST b co mn sr ate OF o, L. ns ss, he S
mi. order 20 let the contract TO Bsrow We nod pro
Wiling 70 perform me .erylse. and claimed tue
Of conirSct to il row ard Tor that length OF tine
10 Wit to June 80, 1874 We mud no authority Of Law
aI % s
4S1 10 to hc S na .s Yea IN .S "a
siliir9nd wa, completed from Portland distance OF
pror 70 me contract golas eject completed
Jan. would he c mpcied one hunored miss.
Ths departmeni MAS notified o. these facts oy its
tss Contract be made with lie railroad company and
the stage line correspondence shortened SAID railroad
aud Nes Obliged TO carry the msl when offered tho
the company declined carry the mail hut there is
no eSs 10 . he sS, ne ssrycs W. eyer SsrsS 70
ton with his route that there was sdyersei At the
BLUM to YreKs oy way Of ShS Is tnoSs A. he Sser1
mepse rone al,tsnSs o. 1853 miles. once seeE Tor
thl ush mails oe sent tSt route aud the
H., he route was i.coutsud IN, o ma
md any consent OF the contractors TO that arrange
ON ne same day that the .ryice wa. ,inucd
trSetorbe ,sIa rDn,. van ass ny A,V"er son.
.apgy, Of Route is75s, sSa B,sdis BsfloS .Hosed i
cSes.ed 'os any 1t would have COST siscSs '''" y"
These ORDER we're made May s. 1871. anu to take eff.
lie great ihr ugh mail WAS sent over thi. route.
Ps5, Route i5s from Red Slua 70 Tf Sss ' via
ss eaed or as' Ga St s we
inereasea snd s5o5s allowed oy thu arrangement the
try nle, BY rArosd stage service from oroviie TO
AfisT The foufs wa. increased BY the pay Of the
na s1 Of eontf sTSi ~. T.
Aooksr. olslmisF rat ths additional cap nee would
and fourteen hours TO three day., but mad sworn
nor any statsneniss to the iaets except nom
Mr. psTio% vas s' si I ne sum OF ,.se4s add
tions per .nnun for t.s ieaocton q schedule from
Of adad ma expense in men and horseS
ns s @S "e rIRaed r ,sTf eosDs p5S infect
distance OF la5 mies aud contractor VAS carrying the
TSm snsna to Red buzz ees rs an ne Of Foa nr s
esr'se ,.I,s s1y y, been egrsilea to Ych.ns pre-
oe tryelled Gy stage was about si6 miles. against 6
mad surplus Of nee and stock BY OF staging
Then again; BY the original schedule the time or
| sncel over the route was about nve miles pr hour
would leave The distance TO be nsae ~ stage az SPEED
less than nit hoai but the fArs thai
hat SS RO q" .ef e.. 'S order Sl foe
we sdvaneed so that the spesd would be even ess 3,
stage than orsnel schedule We nnd that en- October
Dcp-rtmen, Tor California, nOtined lie Department
ss cars were running on the south end OF route
he mails we're being car led thereon. and that BY
SCENTS to DO and sss1d Tor snotSs 70 pc sppoS,es
and the contract fog carrying enc mail br let 20 the rail-
10 Tieadins ron chSua. " ',''"1'N
on M soSet vas not ereS 10 ssa ar 70
RSIy a, we can ma THIS rsrosa on south snd the
In oil This mstter you will understand that as the a.
road We. on either end OF Route l475S. the
s'iigss run only IT, 70 end =: iTaS &C. . ,,,
Route 1882 from Keon 70 tho Dancs w.sle' 10 one
Theodore Lee f,r tn OF t7b0O. tie lowest bidder.
u docs not spposr that Lee cyr commenced scrvicc,
T. ls'9 when proposition wss made BY Parser,
ehy for tSe sum Of soo ad ae eo Ta %
made vita r'sm =, that srm 90 tee-eay Of 1870 We
shove named for The service at ,S 500 which II does
Vas Increased fro six TO . ven time. per week on the
ish OF May 1871 aHo an allowance OF 1900 snnum
gent, Of the department who were wei acquainted
| with the service sud ~ opinion WHOLLY
ssary and unwaTanted ny the faels aud demands OF
| the country
| The service h sun seven times per week while the
great thrOu mails 10 Oregon and Washington Terri
tOry do not that route, IN fact conntc
iOn Vith route to Portland that sewn dimes
per Weck, and the ouy places OF importance the
route arc Rose ely ana walla WSla and Deheve the
PEOPLE alter inns week service fuliy ~,
lsnid would he better naisned with that than with
seven ttmct service, a. II wou give tie Pottmasteu
| along the route a III lc rest on SUNDAYS.
For merry there q daiiv service through OrcgCn
but the past year II has only times week
bell We the people nike II much better. IL would
year, aud stil, pay the tcturs well accomnO
date public with all tue mall service the business o.
| the people tcmands We mud endOI scnleut al
| "JecKet" ing Ga I the Department was advises
| vt G. ntractore were running Z dgly lac OF sage,
| from Cavuse, VIA Pendlct u and McadowYihe ~ Uma
u yet tugd partulen allowed conTlctOfs e. OU pei
annuni for sad sery making their u pay t229O0t
| per annuui, when the tacts were, there otAc
| way " get from CaYuse TO Umatila except ~
Pcndeton, aud the stages had to that way, aud al
We md hta,emen on hle In relation TO agent Of con
lrac Ors burning lar tmodnt OF paper mail NJ haf
RIVER station on the route, bu DO not nud tuat
tiOn Was t,kCn bY the department against contraction
on account thereof have the honor to Dc, very {
| speeuuhy, your obeuient servant,
Special Agent Post ON D, pAitlnent.
Here h an ofiicial confirmation OF few o
| the charges mace Two wears agO Va ! HE SUN rel
| alive TO the ex ruvaeance and fraud which pre-
vailed in the Pos once Department undt
| Cteswell, state ~ Things which has not heeI
remedteI by MIR. Jewell, Notwithstanding all hi
protestatVns Of an intention 10 Institute re
fOTms.