Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-03-30
The Post Office Investigation.

MIR. BOOSE'S BUSINESS HABITS, ETC.
The House committee on post offices and
post roads, met at the p. O., building to day.
Mr.. Morse, agent of the Adams express COM
pany, testified that package weighing five
pounds, was sent from Mr.. Hadlev. post
master at Little Rock, to Senator Dorsey. on
January 23d. Mr.. S. p. ChldS, assistant post
master of the Senate, who gave receipt for the
package, testified that he had no doubt that
ne mad received and delivered the package.
NO one but Senator Dorsey could receive the
package PSkg except through the order of the Sena.
Notary public Boone, was then recalled.
He testified that the fact that he had whipped
= foot inch contractor, had something to do
with his dismissal from his former position as
ehlei pay clerk in the Sixth auditors office,
he was not partner with Peck and Miner in
bidding, but only with Dorsey He had bid in
the recent letting for over 400routes, aggregat.
ing nearly 5000 His only wealth is his ability
IN getting up bids and in gathering informal
ilon on whlcn to base the amount Of bids. and
IN u return they provided bondsmen for him.
men. The name of Wiltshire was obtained by
Miner Mr. Peck was in this city in NOvem
The committee were at times rather sevara
on MI. Boone, but he seemed to bear up under
IT. 1t appears that Mr.. Boone signed bonds.
Whlle the names OF the witnesses to his sigma
ture were not added till afterwards, and rep.
resented men with whom he was unacGuaint.
ed. proposals were made out and certified
and the dates We're added afterwards and
other conditions changed. Parties to such
affidavitS could not be held to answer for ner.
jury. Representative Cannon was esneciaiIv
cauStic in regard to the lax business habits Of
MIR; Boone. He asked the witness If. with
such practices in view. he regarded him
sell as equally honest now as when
under government employ. And Mr.. Boone
replied that he did. Other members of The
committee betrayed considerable CURIOSITY in
regard to Mr. Boone's life and doines in Ter
nessee, from which state (aS he testifedI he
was driven away as a carpet Dagger. having
sunk or abandoned a quarter of 4 miIlion n
dollars. He also testified that when he came
to the state from Ohio few wears before he
was worth only about $4,000 IrrepuIa ritiaS
IN the proposals We're clearly deyeIOped which
in the opinion OF some of the members of tha
committee, would make the bids invalid and
should be communicated to the Postmaster
Mr.. Boone contended that they were ordipa
ry practices among contractors etc: that the
condemnation of these proposals would do
away Win a large proportion Of those accent.
ed In the recent letting; and that the same
StrlctneSS should not be required i'm respect In
this preliminary bond, providing it was in tbe ,e
correct legal form, as in ordinary affidayitS
since another bond must be PREPARED and ae
cepted by the department which would make
all secure.
During his examination Mr.. Boone declined
10 furnish articles of co partnership without
legal consultation, and to answer how much
salary ne received from the mail contract
company of Dorsey, Peck 4 Miner.
MI McDiarmid, of Little Rock Ark, testi
Hed 70 signing large number OF mail bonds
70 0pbgs senator Dorsey,