The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-11-11
WILL THEY he cosvIcTEDr

The most important suit In which the
United States has been involved for some
time Is that against the Starroute manipula-
tors for alleged swindling under their con-
tracts. The allegations against the con-
tractors are, In the language of contem-
porary, "that the contracts were originally
let at very low aud slow rate to admit OF
extensive expedition and increase; that the
time was lessened and the pay raised sys-
tematically In direct fraud upon the Treas
ury; that in this work there were all the
elments of unlawful combinations as de-
fined by the postal statutes; that the SER
vice was in many cases inordinateiy paid
for, and In some was never performed at all;
that expensive stage routes were maintained
for periods varying from few weeks to nine
months after railway service was opened;
tina. the mails, the transportation OF which
by stage was being paid for by The Govern
eminent, were in fact sent by rail by the
contractors; that on a number OF the
routes the only benefit was had, at high
cost amounting to robbery, by few way
Offices, while no service whatever was rem
dered 10 the terminal offices; that steam
boat lines were paid extravagantly for work
done, or capable of being done, better and
cheaper by rail; that temporary service was
employed where contract service was posi-
BILE, and that the Star route contractors were
favored by means of straw bids and other
corrupt devices In the Contract Office"
There are 9,227 of these routes in the
country. OF these there were 93 In which
it was charged the principal part of this
swindling had been done. On these 93 the
pay was raised between the lettings In 1873
from ST27,1I9 TO S2,502 ,213, absorbing over
one-half of the entire appropriation for Star
route service. On the advent Of the Garfield
Administration, Postmaster James and At
torney- General MacV eagh declared the en-
ormity of the crime that was being perpe-
trated against the Government, and from The
dispatches it was inferred the penitentiaries
would soon be headquarters for the gang
that had Systematically and scandaionsiy
robbed the Government. The country had
been led to believe the crimes perpetrated
were so heinous, the facts so indisputable,
the law SO stringent, the officers aud attor-
neys SO Jealous and able that escape was inn
possible. Rather than expose the result to
peril, President Arthur has insisted upon
James and MacVeagh remaining in the Cab
met TO nobly complete the work they had so
nobly begun. And they have remained,
That the Government might be ably repre-
sented, Brewster, of Philadelphia, Bliss, oi
New York, and Cook, of Washington, have
been retained to assist District Attorney
Corkhill.
The case opened in Washington last Thurs
day In argument Of the motion by plaintiffs
to set aside the criminal information that
had been filed against the Star route people
| instead of an indictment by the Grand Jury
| The defense contended strongly that the
prosecution had made fatal error in this
| respect, but we notice the court has held that
| the method is admissible. The cases vii
probably come up on their merits in the rea
future. We predict a serious disappoiht-
ment to the country. The swindle has been
perpetrated; the millions have been COB
bled; the ring has fattened as stated aud de
Glazed But they will not langnish II
prison end they will not disgorge. ''Th'
pest government the world ever saw" vii
be found holding the bag when the snlp'
| hunt is over. All the bombast will termi
nate In failure to punish anybody, and tn
sum total of the appreciable results will b
that few mail routes "out West with III
members of Congress to support them vii
be discontinued or cut down, and the rape o
Columbia's strong box will proceed as be
| fore