Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-10
Post Office ''Straw Bid'' Investigation.
THE MAInRIrX Epap,


Post Office ''Straw Bid'' Investigation.
THE MAJORITY REPORT.
The majority report of the Congressional
House COMMITTEES on Post Offices and Post
Roads points out the alleged abuses In the
postal service, especially relating to the
straw bid" con tract system, which, 1t says,
had Its beginning several years back, but
seems TO have reached Its development
under Postmaster General Creswell, and has
continued since with less force under his
successors" By the various corrupt and
the report says, the government lost annu.
ally millions OF money and the guilty par
ties In office and out Of office have generally
gone free. In regard TO the administration
Of Mr.. Cresweli the majority say that the
very defense Introduced In his behalf makes
such concessions as to put the official con-
affecting either his Integrity or compete lcy
as q public officer, ana subject him To the
censCre OF the House. In regard to Post
master General Jewell they say that he
manifested disposition TO break up the
"straw bid" system and to economics, but
still allowed contracts 10 expire by linn ia
tion that mad been declared fraudulent; that
ne discovered the ring inside the depar tment
out made no use OF the discovery except TO
release all the guilty clerks from punish.
ment for the purpose ostensioly of using them
convicted, and such lack of official CONNIE.
tence and vigilance subject him justly 10
cecsure nd critic 5m.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
Tne minority dissent from the -onclusi ions
OF the majority that Postmaster General
Creswell either violated the law or was ex-
travagant IN his expenditures or negligent
In The supervision OF the affairs OF the de-
partment, or failed TO expose or prosecute
violations OF law during his administration
On the contrary, they are satisfied that mis-
administration was marked by q labOrious
and faithful discharge OF his duties, by due
economy In expenditures, aud by notable
vigilance In the exposure aud prosecution of
violations OF The law. Mr.. Ores well inaugu-
rated the opposition to straw bids, wlicn,
after six years, has just eliminated in their
NAL overthrow: The victory has not been
gained by single effort, Dut by repeated at
tenpts, resulting In successes from time to
time more or less signal. That his admins
tIatlon was not extravagant was couclu-
sively establish Il by the facts that during
the whole time he was in office he always
kept within the limit of his appropriations,
and when he retired from the department he
LETT on hand balance, after settlement OF
all liabilities TO June 80, 1874, OF 81 1884 O67 81
and this after covering into the Treasury
unexpended balances for the years 1870, 1871,
and 1872, amounting TO a .376 ,556Ol. The
minority say the censure proposed by the
majority upon the administration OF Mr..
Creswell is wholly without Justification by
the records or files Of the dep artment Moth
Ing short OF the most embittered PARTISAN
ship, totally blind TO all sense OF Justice
toward political opponent, can prompt
DAMAGE TO THE TENNESSEE COTTON
CRoP.-The Memphis (Tenn.) Cotton Ex-
change crop report for July says there Is no
doubt that during the past nine days very
great damage has been done to the crop by
continuous rains. Excessiv We growth, second
growth OF sprouts, shedding OF forms, rust
AND rot have all been superinduced to q
serious extent by the yet continuing humid
weather In that section, and which, should
1t last any considerable time longer, must
prove very disastrous. The corn crop is re-
ported In hsttering condition, with prospect
or plen1tude OF provisions, and Continued
Improvement In the morale OF labor.
How A. t. STEWART MADE MILLION
Just previous to the death OF Mr.. A. L. y ew-
art, Mr.. Dale, of Dale Silk Manufacturing
Company, advised Mr.. Stewart to invest in
raw SILK, as the crop was likely to fail.
| ThereupOn A. L. Stewart & Co. invested
| 81 600 600 in raw silk, buying at about IS %
per pound. Mr.. Dale was right; the crop
| JAILED, and &c day raw silk is worth $3.50 per
pound, and If A. 7. Stewart & Co were TO
sell out to- day they would realize q million
by the operation-tN. Y. S,n.
Mr.. TILDENs LITERARY BUREAU is at
30 Liberty street. A little army of ready
pairing campaign documents and other DO
litical literature for the rest of the country.
There would seem TO be no lack OF funds for
campaign advances. The documents al
ready prepared are voluminous enough to
neatly MI one of the great Adams Express
carts--lN. r. cor. Phitd Record.
AN ALLEGED LIBsL ON Col. BLOOD
| In the Washington Place police court, this
morning, Joseph Treat, q "physician and
scientist" at No. Is Bond street, was ar
raigned befort Justice Smith on q charge of
publishing libellous pamphlet against Vic
| toria @. Woodruff, the wife OF Col. Blood
and Tennie c. Clafiin. He denied the CHI aree
OF intended libel, but was held for trial In
default Of 81 ,5O0-tN. Y. Express, 9Th.
MISS LAURA G. REDEEM, better known
under her literary pse udonym of "Aowsrd
Glyndon," was married yesterday to Geo.
w. Soaring, ESQ.,, . lawyer of New York city,
whose home IL In Cayuga county. The cere-
mony took place at the house OF Mr.. and
Mrs Lloyd Haigh, old and intimate friends
of the bride, at Mystic, Conn.
BECAUSE Of the reduction In letter car
riers salaries an immense petition OF 30 600
citizens OF New York was presented to Post
master james, OF that city yesterday, pray
ing for their relief. Mr.. James will probably
bear the petition to Washington In person.
81 About three per cent OF the Indian
population are now in arms against the
Government.
~Lydia Sherman, the Derby murderess
OF three husbands, now io the state Prison,