Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-04-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From irregular Correspondent. I


concert is not wholly over yet. Enough
has been developed. however, to cause
! the retirement of Second Assistant Post
master General Brady, and to make
others in the contract division shake in
their boots. The star route mail service
has been prolific source of agitation for
some time. When Mr.. Brady came before
the last Congress with big deficiency
bill for this service, things looked very
suspicious, and something of a stir was
made. The House Postoffice Committee
instituted an investigation and for weeks
the public prints were full of the matter.
People capable of putting two and two
together, learned enough at that time to
satisfy them that there was large sized
African in the woodpile somewhere, but
Congress took no further action on the
subject. The lobby was well CREASED, and
it was admitted that Brady had exceeded
his authority in thus creating large de.
| ficiency, but they said no wrong had been
done. One reason of this mild treatment
at the hands of Congress was that many
congressman had been so well provided
with additional postal facilities in their
districts, and otherwise 'conciliated,"
that they were not in a position to render
Judgment.
When the new administration came in,
an investigation was set on foot which is
said to have developed some ugly facts.
Specific information bearing on the sub.
ject is for the present carefully withheld
by the postoffice officials, but 1t is ad-
mitted that the records show that on the
1st of January, 1880, the pay for carry
ing the mails on less than 100 out of more
than 5000 star routes had been increased
from about $500, 900 at the time of letting
to $500, 900 by orders for additional trips
and for shortened time. A considerable
part Of this increased service. according
to the evidence accumulated, was either
not performed, the irregularities being
carefully planned, it is supposed, for the
purpose Of transferring money from the
treasury to the pockets of favored con-
tractors and their confederates. The IT.
regularities seem to have been confined
chiefly to routes west of the Mississippi
river. and to those in the Territories.
Nearly half of the six millions appro-
priated for the star service was appro-
priated among the favorite contractors
of 50 routes. Under this arrangement
the ring divided about $2,000000
though the share of each is only known
to the parties to the steal Brady owns a
majority of the National Republican re.
Gently reorganized with George Gorham
as editor, and Hallet Kilbourh business
manager 1t has been stated that Buell.,
now owner OF the Washington Capital
also got his silence for lobby services
while an officer OF the Senate. If this is
true, it may account for his tendencies
towards the Republican party of late. 1t
is reported that some cases will be pre-.
sented to the Granu Jury as soon as the
evidence is completed. Brady left for
New York Immediately after his resigna-
ton.
The condition of affairs with reference
to the Offices of the Senate is leading to
some unpleasant personal relations, not
only on the floor of the Senate, but out
side of the chamber. Several times with
in the last month have scenes occurred on
the floor of that body wich have been far
from digpified or hightoned. Epithets and
aspersions have been banded about and
passed between senators which would
scarcely be considered the thing, evensin
barrooms. The bitterness and the ami
mosities thus engendered are spreading
to places of public resort, and may invade
private circles if Cancellation and discre-
tions do not intervene. So intense has
the feeling become that personal friends
in both parties now avoid discussion of
theMahone-Republican.repudiation the alli-
ance. Even Republicans are devided in
opinion as to the right and wrong, as well
as to the policy of this alliance. Among
those who feel most keenly and resent
most strongly this futile dalliance" with
| hal,0no aitbnr ha ortn nf tha re
or the executive, are the Straight Repub-
licans of Virginia. Congressman Jorgen-
sen who represented about the only Re-
publican district in the State has been
active in opposition to the bargain with
Malone and in consequence, German,
who edits the Republican, and who ex-
poets to be Secretary of the Senate by
Malone vote, has bitterly denounced
Jorgensen. The two had highly excit-
ing scene in the sanctum of the RepubH-
can one night this week. Gorham re.
fused to print a card of Jorgensen's state
ing his position and giving reasons why
the 0,G00 Republicans of Virginia should
not surrender to Mabones handful of
repudiators, whereupon Jorgensen gave
his opinion of Gorham in language most
expressive and emphatic. and so it goes.
Meanwhile there is great anxiety at
the White House and in Republican
circles generally, over the unconfirmed
appointments. The situation is really
damaging to the party as well as distress
ing to certain ambitious individuals and
ways and means to secure few executive
sessions without any apparent surrender
are being discussed. One way that has
been suggested is for some senator who
has a partly Independent constituency,
like Miller of California, to join the Dem
ocrats in voting to go into session for
combinations. His colleagues would ap-
pear to be indignant while really glad in
their hearts. 1t is not impossible that
some such plan may be arranged very
soon. The Democrats feel very bitter
4. against Senator Fry for his yenomous
and untruthful speech, which is believed
to have been inspired by the administra.
tion. Some of them feel very much like
retaliation by voting with Conkling
eighteen Democratic senators are already
committed that way. But this would be
a great mistake, it seems to me, alto.
gether the situation is very much mixed
One thing is certain, it begins to look as
though neither Gorham or Riddleburger
would ever be PERMITTED to become Of
ficers of the Senate, and the former talks
in his newspaper about the country being
in greater peril than at any time since
1861.
Garfield's daily horseback rides have
made him feel better, and he looks SO
we'll that he has been sitting for three OF