New-York tribune., 1876-08-10
TIE MINORITY REPORT.
AN ENTIRE DISSENT FROM THE CONCLUSIONS OF TIKI
MAJORITY.

MAJORITY.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-The minority OF the
House Committee on PostOices and Post Roads mas
prepared report Of which the following are the cohcln
sions The undersigned dissent most decidedly from 'he
conclusions OF the majority Of the Committee that fo7F
master-General CresweI either violated the law OF was
extravagant in his expenditures negligent in the
supervision of the affairs of the department. or fad
to expose or prosecute violations OF law during
his administration. on the contrary Vh'y
arc satisfied that his adminstfation was
marked by a labOrious and faithful discharge Oh MS
duties by due economy in expenditures ana Dy hola
be vigilance III the exposure and prosecution of Noi-
ton of law; Mr. Creswcl inauguraod the opposition 70
straw bids which after six years has Just eliminated I'D
their fn overthrow. The victory has not been saheh
by a single effort alone. but by repeated attempts IT,
sul,ug in success from time To time, more or less s's
That his administration was not eNtrtva@at IA coh'I"
sivcly established by the fact that during the whole
time he in office no always hept "''''"
the limits of bis appropriation.
The ur.nclpa witnesses upon which the aupcrstructuIe
of the Investigation was reared who Lad been
in the employment OF the roStOnce Department ana
who had been discharged FOR mcOmTetcncy hd'd' Ve-
nality, OF improper practices III icl'fcnce !"
the charges against PostmasterGcn Jewell.
in his connection with the prosecution of Hind'
The minority say that the Witnesses who received I'M
,rrnity wore only deferred by their own confessions
which were made with the understanding tlla5 th'y
were to be used witn,S by the Government ana
that the PosmastcTGcncral cannot be condemned Tor
bis course; ard furthermore that the evidence SHOWS
that his administration Of the ro,i-Ohco Department
has been thorough ygaut efficient anu honest IN even
respect
The minority .ay that nothing could be more UNJUST
than the attrmpt 20 cast IN mpuaton upon Po,tm1S-
tcrGcncral Crcswel III connection with Nhit - epI'i
a. the straw bids" system; they shy tb"t a'
long ago as 1870 Mr. Crcswcn sa" thc danger
to which tho department would be rNl"''a
from the vicious system Of straw hiddlht'
and asked ~ Congress such legislation "a would have
ouinulciri, dstTugrd The minority tdou as li' tc
r.l. hat contracts Illegally let to Mt 'cfI'h
inr steamboat -c!yicc and he not being owner o. Ht
f -canhnlt. as she majority aIlcL". the law hI,h
an, such con- rlrpr to he The proof shows y 80 'lT
Peterson was an owner steamboats, and held 81 ''ht
u1wer uf attorney Tor owners Of "'h"r h"ai-.
Nr Peterson wa- never awarded "a contract 'N''li
under ;ha first and second provisions oi ihc 10" tI''
quoted which the maiJriy f.il ~ mention =" =. ~
non That Nj. Peterson 'iri'ud 81 ~ ''cH '" y
ar.cth"r gouuics. proof shows t!t' u ri@'i We
absolutely unkuoyl 30 Mr.. trc,Vcl prior :" h- ''in'
fllu .ur service il l~Gt. In relation fu o.. 'iaL'
JrrSH-u ana GllDs \. smith violated Nr"i' y. --| ~
I,.t ta. IN relation 20 surrey bond. Ig - ." HHt
flc minority show hat tie law not "Irr4 u 81
Arril 1872 and moreover tnlt Smith "as d tnd' im'
fts NH