The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-10
THE POST OFFICE FRAUDS.
ANOTHER RING ENTRENCHED IN
THE WHITE HOUSE.
What special Agent Hoibrooirs Testimsny
has EstnbIished-A Member of the Commits
tee Acting as Attorney Tor the Ring.

what special Agent Hoibrooi's Testimsny
has Estnbiished-A Member of the Commits
tee Acting as Attorney Tor the Ring.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-The examination
OF Mr.. Holbrook was continued to-day by the
Committee Post O1lces and Post Roads.
The witness gave q clear and detailed statement
OF his efforts to protect the interest Of the Gov
eminent by exposing the frauds perpetrated by
u. II. Peterson in the mail service Of the South
west. To addition to this he instanced half
dozen steam service routes along the Atlantic
coast where the pay wss exorbltant and tho
service useless, and to which he had called tho
attention of Postmaster General Jewoll's chief
OF special agents, who investigated them and
reported thereon. On these reports, service on
these routes was discontinued for time, but
subsequently restored. In every instance Mr..
HolbrOok substantiated his statements by refer
ence to tho records OF tho department or to
official documents. II he stated fact Of which
he had not official end personal hnowledse he
gave the names Of the clerks In the department
on whose auth Dtity he made II.
The cominittee makes slow progress, and
chiefly because Mr. Cannon of Illinois, one Of
tie Republican members OF 1t, acts In the ca
pactty Of an attorney for the defence rather
thar In judicial capacity Cannonis man Of
Of his own Importance. lie plays the part Of a
pettifogsing attorney and puts on all the airs
in the conduct Of a small case In Po-
lice Justices court. Alth ugh the committed Is
PROVIDED with q stenOgroDlcr. VINO reports the
testimony verbatim, Mr.. Cannon, in his anxiety
u serve his employers, takes such voluminous
notes that the witness Is OBLIGED to speak but a
few words at a time, and often has to repeat
them two or three times to enable Cannon to
get them down. ! he Chairman Of the committee
Is so anxious to conduct the Investigation In
manner that Will not afford the minority any
ground for complaint that he suffers his delay
and annoyance to continue. lie should put his
foot down firmly and expedite tho investi-
cation rs much as possible. II the com
mttee works six hours day and makes
no greater progress than II has during the last
two days II will take 1t until this time next year
TO travel over onc-half the ground that 1t ought
to 70 over
Cannons attempt to cross-examine Holbrook
to-day resulted disastrousy to the examiner
aud to his clients. THO witness 1, man Of
much greater ability naturally than Cannon, and
postal laws, ana tho rulings, decisions aad prac
tee OF tho department. Hence, whenever tho
lawyer attempted to use him up he invariably
got wounl-up himself.
Tho testimony Of Holhrook establishes con-
ciusiyely two things: FIRST, that under Cres-
wells al dministra.ionP Peters practically bad a
MONOPOLY Of all the good mail routes In Louis
unh, anu that he We protected in all his steal
in-s by the dernrtmeut; second, that altho ough
Iostmaster-General Jewell made loud profess
stons Of his determination 80 reform the service,
he bad not tho courage TO stand up against the
influence Peterson brought To bear on him.
W mere this influence came ltOm ducs not Gle aTly
appc.r Yet, but u viii be shown by and hv. The
power whirh projected the Postal Ring. ike
that which stood behind the WAiskty R.ng. was
entrcnchCd Ia she White House. he conncc-
tions will yet be tfac d between BAbcock and
the chiefs Of TINS SiraW-biu Ring that ha, so
long ruled things IN the Post Once Department.
II the committee only knew hUw to press the
trYestgatlOn, and went abolt their work with
judgment and zeal, tho Developments they
would make would astouhd the whole country.