New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-05
certainly safe to say that he viii not take a
single Rtep in that direction.
TIE OLD EXCUsES.

THE OLD EXCUSES.
The history of one ring is tho history OF
another. Making due allowances for diversity
in their fields of operation, their methods are
the same. When their rascalitcs are exposed
there is always the same fiutter of injured IN
nOcence. and the explanations and defences only
repeat the explanations and defenccs of the
rings that went before. The conspirators OF
the Star Routes are going through the same
motions that began when the lightning struck
the thieves of the Tammany and Canal Rings
for example. We hear on all sides proteSta-
tions that the alterations in the postal
contracts. which resulted in cxtravagant IN
creases of compensation, were regularly ana
lawfully made that whole delegations OF
Congressman asked for them; that State Legs
latures passed resolutions, and the inhabitants
Of the localities interested signed petitions, beg
eing for them; that the P0stmaster-G eneral
himself approved of them, etc, etc.
Not all of this is true, but it would make little
difference if it were true II is not the fact that
tbese increases were made in accordance with
the law. As THE TRIBUNE has already shown
the statute which provides that when it be-
comes necessary to change the terms of mail
advertising. bidding, etc.--shall BE- had az at the
original letting, has been steadily ignored. An
other statute, which prohibits any expenditure
by a Department in excess OF its appropriations
or any contract for such an expenditure, mas
been disregarded with equal consistency. but
in many ways the star Route conspirators have
succeeded in giving these violations OF law
semi-onicial character and an appearance Of
urgency. which is now evidently 20 be the man
ground of their defence. In the same manner
the members of pretty much all the rings have
labored to put the seal of official action upon
every crime. Thc~eNposurc of the Canal Idhs
being comparatively recent, few newspaper
readers in this State have had time to forget
how carefully its members had fortified them
selves with bills and resolutions and orIeTs OF
Boards. When there was a fraudulent increase
of nay to be accounted for, the members OF the
ring would at once produce law when hau
authorized it, or had been construed to authorize
it. or resolution of the Canal Board which hau
opened the way for il, or the certificate oil oia'e
officials in charge of the work. The people,
however left il for the courts to determine
whether this was good technical defence anu
looked through these official shams 10 the prac-
teal questions bchind-Who pushed the DhI
tbroucb tbe Legislature who induced the
Board to make the order 3-wh0 secured the
appoiutmcnt of the officials that certified to the
dishonest work 7 When II was found that me
same hand pulled all Of these wires. the moral
verdict against tho ring was complete. Legal
verdicts, unhappily are seldom to be had for
the very reasons We have cited. There Is no
sucn sticklcr for regularity and the letter OF the
law "a the Government embezzler and the
shrewder members Of the class cover mp every
dav. if they can. the tracks of the day before.
II was much in the same fashion with the
Tweed Ring. and we venture to say that 1t VIII
be found to be the Same with the knot Of star
Route consprntors at Washington. When they
declare that a certain change of contract result
ing in fraudulent increase of pay, was de-
mandcd by the Congressional delegations Of
half dozen States and Territories the public
will AJAX who induced them to make the de
mand. When they are told that several Legs
latures reinforced the request they will ask
what influences were at work upon these
bodies. And when they are told that the Post
master General himself did this, that or the
other. they will be apt 10 believe that the same
silent power which caused the Congressman and
the legislators 10 speak AS with one voice,
moved the hand Of the Tostmaster-Gencral
without allowing him 10 be conscious Of the
fact. When there has been unmistakable fraud
to the profit of somebody, it is easy to estimate
the yalue Of official actions and utteranccs in
lis behalf.
Fortunately for the country, the Star Route
conspiracy WAS a short-livcd affair and de
serves comparison with these other famous
rings only for the similarity of It's methods, and
not for its influence upon politics or the length
of It's sway. Under such President as General
Garfield, and such a Postmastcr-Gcneral ~ Mr.
James. there will soon be nothing left of it but
it, memory.