Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-23
FRAUDS OF THE STAR ROUTE SERVICE
Investigations which May Increase
the Inmates Of the Pcnitentiarys

wash. Special N. Y. Herald Today
Postmaster General James inquiry into the
star route corruption. which has been carried
On with equal vigor and secrecy, promises
presently TO develop some surprising rascal
ties In high places. and may In the end, II pow
erful political influences do not prevail TO pre-
vent It, send several prominent politicians to
the penitentiary. There is already sufficient
evidence In hand to show that the star route
lobby was not without congressman, as part or
securities and raised contracts appears TO have
been carried on with brazen ef1rontery which
shows that the men engaged In it-some OF
| them men OF political infiuence-and other
ONCE holders, here and elsewhere, had not the
least fear OF interference from any quarter.
THE PRESIDENT DETERMINED
The President probably remembers the impu-
dent resistance TO investigation In the House
winter Oef0Te last when the star route lobby
| gathered here to support Second Assistant Post
master General Brady and to defeat the inquiry
by the House. The President is bent upon
thorough exposure OF the whole mass OF cor
ruption, and has given orders that the investi-
cation now proceeding shall be searching. and
that wrongdoers shall be brought to punish
fiuence The result promises TO be as asIonish-
ing 10 lis details as the exposure OF the whisky
ring by Secretary Br1stow, and fortunately the
present Attorney General is not the kind OF a
man to Issue an order 1ntimidaCng witnesses
and shielding rosues.
Brady Is friends say to-day that he has covered
himself against effective attack py having care
fully kept copies OF all the recommendations for
increased service and Increased pay on star
routes made by congressman and other public
lunctonarleS. It Is TO be hoped that this Is true
and that he Will be pushed hard enough to In
duce him to make these copies OF written and
oral recommendations public. Having such
papers In his possession no doubt gave him the
power he had over members OF the last House
OF Representatives which enabled him to openly
oully The committee OF inquiry. Mr. Hayes and
his postmaster General absolutely refused 10
take the least notice OF the proved irregulari-
Ties OF the star route business They threw the
whole inquiry upon Congress, knowing, as they
must nave known, that q congressional fnvee-
ugat1on Is sure TO cover up rather than expose
pears to be determined TO pursue a more honor
able and effective course, and II the Executive
Is In earnest, there Is at last some hope OF
bringing to daylight the star route lobberies
and with them, perhaps. the Congressman and
other public officers on whose Influence the
jobbers depended
how CONTRACTS WERE INCREASED.
The reckless way ia which the star route CON-
tracts were increased" Is shown In an Official
return, from which the following 1gures are
taken: One route contracted originally for in
an increase OF $4,000 per annum on 81, 600
contract. Another was Increased from SlAOO0
to $500, GOO; another from 81. 900 to s70,0OO an
to $32, 600; another from $1,000 to s72. 600; an
other nom $4,000 to sos, 600; another from
$40, GOO to $9O, ,000 and 30 on to the end OF long
CA0PtCts ~ iiluoG Ot ItIQcuDcT6d Uu8t OOQ-
gress had given for the star route service
IS SOC, 600, which was the whole sum asked for
In the estimates. but at the next session the
sum OF 81, 100000 was demanded OF Congress to
cover such increased prices paid TO contractors
over and above the amounts they had coz
trected for. But this branch Of the subject Is
probably the least muddy OF all The Post
Omce detectives have got evidence Of syste-
matte straw bids and straw securities. and
when the evidence already In hand is brought
before tie proper courts It viii be discovered
that In some cases public officers here and else-
where have been concerned In violations OF law
which are expressly made penitentiary Of
fences.
THE RESIGNATION OF AssnrAHr ATTORNEY 0RS.
KRAL FRK8MAN-N0 CONNECTION WITH rHR
STAR ROUTB SCANDAL
The resignation OF Mr.. A. A. Freeman as
assistant attorney general In the Poef Ofriee
department. was placed In the hands Of PoSfs
master General James very soon after he an
tered upon his du,iee As matter Of facf fne
once OF Judge Freeman had nothing TO fio Win
the star route business except to ADVISE a0sinsr
the extravagant plan adopted, which. IL n said.
ne olo &C all times. The resignation was ten
oefeo 90 ae 70 leave the Postmaster Gcneral
nee ana unembaHaaeed In the selection Of q
successor. His record ls good and the rlos or
Lne department show that he was opposed 10
me eucroachments OF the mail contrScsonl