Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-04-09
POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT
ROBBERIES.
now 1T HAS BEEN DONE.

ernment is so useful to tho millions as
the Postofiice-patronized by all-yet
1t is always bankrupt. However, since
the Democrats have obtained control
of Congress, and taken an inside view
of how things are done, some light is
being thrown on the thefts committed
by Department rings.
In the last days Of the late Congress,
Mr.. Money, of Tennessee, in a speech
in the House, made some interesting
and suggestive disclosures concerning
the manner in which the mail route
lettings are made by the postofiice de-
partment. Everybody knows that the
administration Of this department for
many years has enjoyed q reputation
for corruption in which It has only
been rivalled by the Interior Depart
ment. Its evil repute eliminated when
Postmaster General Cresswel was in
charge, and when the hepractice ofstraw-
bidding was at its height. Under that
system irresponsible dummies bid low
prices in the interest of the favored
parties who put in their offers at high
rates, and who finally secured the con-
tracts under the manipulation of the
department and through the failure Of
the dummies TO meet ito requirements.
By various devices and with many
twis.ings this general plan Of opera
tions was so conducted as TO he nearly
uniformly successful in putting the
contracts in the hands Of those who
had offered to do the work at the high
cat prices; and it lis not to be supposed,
and never has been imagined that the
officials of the Postoflice Department
did not profit largely by the profitable
issue of these base combinations with
the contractors.
This plan of milking the department
was SO thoroughly exposed after the
Cresswell administration that it seems
to have been given up for another that
is just as profitable, quite as efficacious,
and a good deal more ingenious. Mr..
Money makes the first exposure of it
that we have observed. The adver-
tisements of the lettings state certain
number Of trips TO be performed in a
specified time over each route. But
the department has the power to
change the terms of the contract, by
increasing the number Of trips, or de-
creasing the time in which they are to
be made, or by doing both.
1t is not difficult TO see how it can
change an apparently onerous con
tract into very profitable one in this
way, since Of course increased service
requires increased payment. The law
says that when the speed is expedited
the increased pay shall be in the origi-
nal pay as the increase of stock need
cd to do the work is to the stock need
cd TO do il under the original contract.
And when the number Of trips are in
creased the law provides that the pay
may be increased in proportion TO the
increased trips. These provisions are
sufficient to protect tho contractor and
the government if they are fairly car
ried out; but no one needs TO be told
that dishonest or careless admins
tration of tho postoffice department
can result in great injustice to the gov
ernment in making these charges Of
contract; and when we find that on ex-
animation of many Of them which have
been made, shows that the contractors
have been uDduly profted at the cost
of the government, we have right TO
conclude that there has been collusion
between the contractors and the post
office officials, and TO suspect that the
department is as much den Of thieves
now as it has ever been. t1 l0
Mr.. Money mentions in detail two
cases out of many that he has detected,
one being in long and costly route in
Texas and Arizona, and one, little
thing just across the border in Mary
land. The first is from Fort Worth
Texas, TO Yuma, Arizona, to run from
July LIST, 1878, for four years, 1860
miles, seven times o week time, soy
enteen days; compensation, Sl3i, ,00O
per annum. A month after It com.
. menccd, on August 8, 1873, "Brady,'
A ant posfmaster General indorsed
, on Il an order decreasing tbe time tc
, thirteen davs and giving the contract.
or sl65 900 additional nav per annum
He says in his certificate that this
additional comnensation il less than
what is warranted bv the law but who
) will believe that IL costs more thar
: twice ne mucb 10 carry the mails / .5(C
} niles IN thirteen davs az il did 10 car
rv them that distance in seventeen
, davs9 II was slow time even at the
, tas,est rate only Amounting 10 n sreed
r of Eve miles an hour. The prey,ou,
, history Of Tho ront, sbows tbe denart.
ment's guiltv manipulatiop Of II A
+ mart of a. from Mesilla to San Diego
+ was lot IN 1870 for sl24 900 served
| twice a, wee,s The speed was increas
3 ed and the sorvioo raised f;rst to thre,
0 times and next 10 seven times a week
. and the nrice increased 10 s21e .460
In 1874 II was acain let the trims be
inc reduced in The advertisement o
I. the routo from seven 10 three n week
!, Tho contract was taken Al s55 600
J. sbortlv afterwards the trims were ono,
! moro Increased 10 seven a week III,
! time expedited and The price raised e
1 s233 333 Then came the letting O
. last year, when the number Of trips re
! mained UNCHANGED. but the time wa
increased only 10 be decreased apai,
r after a month had gone by.
q IL ia not possible to acquit the dc