The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-04

nothing In the story that General Garfield wrote
letter calling for assessment Of the Star Route
cDntractors. They say, however, that there Is
this foundation for the story: They say thst
Brady aid write 10 Garfield, suggesting such
thing and that the President saw that If he
answered the letter favoraoly the answer would
be held over hin alter his election so ne maue no
Attorney General Nhcveagh submitted some of
the result of his researches In the Star Route In
yestigatiOn records to-day TO the Cabinet meeting.
The Attorney General believes that in these rec
ords are good grounds for Indictment and prose
cution OF the men VINO are guilty Oh tne Sriini Ma
MaeVeagh has not yet concluded his examina-
tion. His opinion to-day created some discussion
in the Cabinet but no conclusion was reached.
A Washington special of the 3Oth says:
General Brady is out in another card, which is
printed in to-day's Tribune, and has attracted
much attention here. 1t is a general defense OF
the management of the Contract Office. He says:
"As soon rs Garfield was inaugurated became
aware OF the pressure upon him for the position
held. and in order to relieve him from embarrass-
ment caused him TO know that AT any time 1t
would accommodate him my resignation could be
had. There were no charges against me OF any
nature of which then knew, and when II was
suggested TO me by the Postmaster General that
the time had arrived when could accommodate
the President, | promptly made good my assur-
ance. IL the Postmaster General had intimated
70 me that my was asked Tor IN c3nse
ten. should have demanded a clear bill before
complying with IT, As II was | supposed was
smoothing the pain OF the President In making
much desired vacancy, and therefore did not hes
itate moment"
He adds that he has since learned that the Pres
ident did not ask for his resignation, but that IL
was the work of the Postmaster General. OF Key
he says:
Judge Key viii not thank you for your defense
OF him, that he was aimable, well meaning and
honest, but a mere fgure-head. Judge Key in
formed himself thoroughly concerning all mat
tiers for which he was required to take respon-
sibility."
He cites several instances of expedited routes to
show the necessity for it.
The Tribune editorially riddles his defense. II
says:
general Brady must address himself lsquarely
TO the charges against him. THIS he does not al
tempt 10 do in his letter. He goes off on unim-
pOrtant side issues and seeks TO distract attention
from the serious accusations concerning his man
agement of the Star Route business. Ii is Of
small consequence to the public to know how he
left the Department or how many Congressman
recommended the expediting of this or that
route, or what Judge Key said or did IN certain
case. What concerns the public so tar as General
Brady Is concerned, Is not that he has retired.
been retired to private life, but to hear from him
an explanation, II he has any TO make, OF his
conduct In enormously increasing the pay OF the
contractors on ninety three Western routes,
Immediately after letting the contracts at
the frequency and speed of the service required
on these routes before advertising them for bids.
He had every facility for knowing this before
making the contracts. II there public de-
mand for increased service IL would have been
felt at the Department when n new letting was to
be made for a period of years. Why. then, did
he advertise the routes as weekly routes, aud let
them as such, and then, few days or few
weeks later, make them daily routes? IL we can
stretch the possibilities to cover the supposition
that he was honestly mistaken, and became con-
WINGED that the daily routes were required, why
did he not advertise for bids for the increased
service the law commanded him to do?
These are the points 70 which he would do
well 20 address himself ii ne has any genuine
apology to make"