New-York tribune., 1876-08-11
1R. JEwELL AND "S1RAW BIDS."

HIS REPLY TO THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES :
REPoEr-ExPIANATION OF THE CASEs or PETER
son, HINpS. O'BRIEN, AND OTHERS.
V,RTF0RD, Conn, Aug. 10.-A representa-
tive of The Eyening Post Of this city called on Cen
Jewell at lis Office this morning and convcIscd with him
in regard 70 the cases alluded to the report Of the
House Tost-Ofce Committee. published tbs morning.
and the following is the substance OF what as drawn
from him in the course of the interview Tie assertion
that the contractor Kittls wToncCly paid certain
sum on his contract simply lase this contract about
which there was suspicion could not after long ad pa
tept Investigation proved TO be fraudulent ana re
was held TO strict discharge OF It's terms Ae was use"
as witness against Hmds hut in such way as TO lose
the case To show that tie Department has not favored
Kitte 1t should be added that ne aitcTward indicted
on motion Of the PostO0ce authorities for otEcr Trans
actions. and has fed the country.
I'm regard to the clerks, there three or fcur OF
them who had participated IN the frauds out were
cognzant of them. perhaps for pay They were Siliy
discharged aud used witnesses as their conduct so
far as could be proved, was not hdiciahle. Ihe
postnaserG eneral had personally little or nothing 10
do with these clerks they III Nj Tyners division
aud he took charge OF the matter and managed with
marked ability following out the trails leading 10 the
NEGLECT of duty by his clerks Tic PCsIastcrGcnera
never saw Hnds. and does not know him to this day
After Hnds's arrest Gov Jewell became appohcnsiye
from information received from various sources tha
owing
Attorneys Office Kinds would Dot be indicted. or If
indicted would be acquitted He asked the President TO
appoint an Assistant DistrCt-AttOrrey. The PT'sdet
anxious for the conviction o! rOgues consented to tGs
but Judge Fisher declined Assistance Tie Postmaster
General sent the Solicitor Of the Department, Judge
Spencer three separate times 20 Judge F,ler, Offering
and urging assistance and. upon Judg" Fisher declining
the Postmastel-GeneTal sent for him. and in personal
interview urged the employment o additional counsel
for which he lthe Pos:masteT-GoneraD would pay.
Judge Fisher continued To decline, saying that the
uries % the District knew him and be huc" the ll.Ics
and that therefore assistance would be oi no avail Ills
statement proved true 60 his lOwIcds: of iuri's and
they Of him. the trial. brought o diums the aosehce
Of the PostmaseI-Gencra Oh an Inspection tour at the
west resulted 10 Hnds's aclrital ~
III regard TO Peterson. 1t should be sala tbl 20 a'
from ms beng fayOritc the Postmaster tcH,iaI IN
Cured PeersOn's hostility by forci4 him &c properly
fufI his contracts After having ic.SlnaiE t'!I NM
in the tw0 interviews they ever bad al j nc
failed bls pay shOu be withheld; he cij fJ al the
pay with ed 10 the extent OF $1,000 ~ one quar-
ter winch peterson mas trieG siucc III ever va" . 20
cover. bet uP 10 Nh. JcwciP- retiring irom 'r GcVt
ence in other quarters, made strOng appeal to tie
President AID presented bis view " tie case n NJ elab
JeScI would refer the public for ali Information con
Seins O'T c 1ne iiI,' rbo "a % lis 6 & 70 "a a
ant Pos Iias;eIGcnCIa had immediate charge uf them
and connected Herewith; and 1t j, bat just 10
Nj. Tyn, say that hc conducted these nyc'tsaiions
with marked aJy, activity, aud integrity. assisted 10y
Judge cpccr the Solicitor Of The department; ANA no
decision In these made By PO,tm"srIG Geneia
Je eli without The hearty approval Of both these gentle
mon, who are stiil III tic department. and with The
records before them, can explain iuly AL me tcuH-
stances
In regard 10 HollT0Ok and O'Brien, whore tcsti-
assault T. said 10 De prtdIcatrd hptn dis,
charged from tise department Tor cause OBoD FOR con-
nivug az UvcrpdyWcrt Of contractors. II this one
Of the eases "Teclcss release IA to the
fact that proof lacking and thar any statute had
been violated Looking to the good o! tie service ana
the breaking up OF straw bids POstmastcI jewell
prepared bill at tie beginning II the session last Dt
cembeg which would in his opinion correct many Oi the
abuses IN regard buds, and urged its passage before
tie Conntse. PCHOnices aud Posi- Roads Dut up to
his retiring from the department action had 30 his
lnowledsl been taken upon 70.