Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-05-22
A Large-Sized "Nigger.' -

There is something radically wrong about
the manner in which the mail contracts in
this section of the state have been let. It is
our ca andid opinion that the contracts have
not been awarded to the lowest bidders. Does
it seem reasonable to suppose that non resi-
dent, who has not the slightest idea of what
the topography of the country is, would give
a good and sufficient bond to carry the mail
over q route at a lower figure than any of
three local bid lers, all of when know every
foot cf the ground that has to be traversed
In this and the adjoining counties non-resi-
dent contractors have secured all the con:
tracts. We were shown tho circular letter of
the "Pioneer Mail Contracting Co.," Wash
ington, D. C,-no place of business was given
written to the postmaster at this place,
stating that that company had been awarded
the contract of carrying the mail between here
and Elk River and that they wished to sub
let to some responsible party, it being under
stood that the sub-contractor could recei We his
pay through the post Office department. To
illustrate: A, a straw con tractor residing in
Washington, puts in bid of say 81 1000 to
carry the mail between Princeton and Elk
River, B, resident of Elk River, puts in a
$500 bid, but because Of the "insufficlency of
the bond," or on some other pretext, BIS bid
is rejected and AS accepted. A then sub lets
to B for $500, B does all the work and receives
his $500 from the post Office department., A,
lounges around Washington, also receives
$500 from the department for doing nothing,
Suppose that these bogus contractors are
really the lowest bidders--something which
we do not believe-is: not the practice of let
ting mail contracts to parties for the purpose
of speculation all wrong; and this thing of
1o4t: e ~
postal authorities is rather small business,
anyhow. Why is it that the Washington
cormorants were successful in all their bids /?
Congressional investigations are the order Of
the day and if an investigation into the man
mar Of letting mail contracts was had, a large
sized "nigger" might be unearthed.-From the
Princeton Union.
The Princeton Union, though red
hot Republican paper, seems to have
discovered "a large sized niger" down
at Washington. We don't entertain
the least doubt of the existence of said
uigger, and the beauty Of the matter is
that these Washington fellows will rob
members Of their own political party
when they get an opportunity. About
Nov. lst, 1877, G.. W. Gilbert, of Lit
tie Falls, one of the oldest and staunch>
est Republicans in this county, took
a sub~eontract &c. B. Bliss & Co.,
one of those fraudulent mail contract.
ing companies, to carry the mail once
week from Little Falls to Rich Prai>
rie and back, a round trip of thirty
miles. He agreed to do this work at
the exceedingly low rate of s99 year.
Bliss and Co. tried to cheat Mr.. Gill
bert out Of couple of dollars on the
first payment, and did not pay in full
until notified that the contract would
be brought to close unless full pay
ment was made: After the end of
the second quarter in 1873, Bliss &
Co. wrote to Mr.. Gilbert that their
firm was financially embarrassed and
could not then pay what was due for
carrying the mail the past quarter,
and that they hoped he would be easy
on them "during their darkest hour" "
Mr.. Gilbert never heard from G. B.
IL J.
Bliss 4. 60, again, and he lost the
meager pay thatshe should have had
for his work that quarter. Upon ap-
plying to the postofice department for
instructions, he was Informed that G.
B: Bliss & Co. had drawn all dues up
to the beginning Of the third qnarter,
and that after chat date Mr.. Gilbert
would be paid by the government. It
is very apparent thatthe said "niggar'
has been about the postoAice departs
ment for at least several years. We
do not know whether Postmaster Gen.
eral hey Is directly responsible. tor
the frauds that are perpetrated u let>
ting mail contracts or not, but it is
certain that he was APPOINTED to that
ofice only on condition of his running
the old corrupt machinery Of the post
Office department. just as:it was, with.
out making any attempt to purify it.
Nothing can be justly said in defense
of man who viii: a accept an Office or
such conditions, and. he has been en-
phatically repudiated BY the Demo-
cratic press and party, and has entirel,
ceased to Cooperate or be identified