The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1881-05-10
ne SOUTH kEATUCKIaR.
4. ADVERTISING RATE.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsuIsaros. ArnIl. 7tR 1881.

WAsHrSGTos, ArRrL, 7th 1881.
So great has been the pressure for
exc 'utive sessions oi the Senate, 10
confrm some Of the important nomi-
nations, that evidences Of a break
have gathered during tho last few
days. 1t is plain that a majority Of
the Republican Senators desire to
give way. They are tired of the con.
test and well satisfied that it is not
doing them any good before the coun-
try, but the question is how to change
front without yielding 10 the Demo-
Gratis. Over tliis problem they lave
lately been caucusing twice day,
and finally a committee OF seven was
appointed todevise way out of the
dilemma. III tits finally decided to
permit executive sessions for confiIln;
ing the more urgent nominations over
which there is no special contest.
there will then be great difficulty II
continuing the Malone Riddleberger
struggle. The bottom would fall out
of 1t in a hurry and the hot weather,
such as we have had this week, for in-
stance, woul,l soon cause an adjourn
meut. Senator Conkling, who op-
poses going into executive session,
played II pretty sharp on the Admin
istration Senators by pretending lobe
ready to take up the Robertson fight
and warning them that thsyi must
take the responsibility ofshis deleat.
This rather disconnected tho Pfesii
dents friends who were working lpr
executive sessions. Cenkling intima.
ted that he had counted noses and
knew where he stood. But ont Of all
this division in the camp will fiuafly
come a small. Democratic victory. 1t
will be new sensation to witness a
Republican back-down, but 1t is coma
ing. Our side has. here in Congress,
generally done the barking-down,
Il ough the Democratic position Eas
often been as strong as IT. Is in this
contest. Perhaps we fight better
wheu We are in the minority. z. H"
The "star route" scandal is still the
sensation here, and from all that cal,
be learned concerning future develop
mcnts it promises to bo second only 10
tho whisky ring exposures . Of eight
years ago. Brady and tlecontractora
SO for implicated only meet the accn-
sations against them with bold gen.
eral deniaIs. The whisky ring scanps
did the same; SO, also, did Tweed III
his time. But there is ample evil
dence that what has been charged il
not all falsehood and slunlcr. Ono
laughable feature Of Brady's gdefensc
is his attempt to make Samuel u.
Tilden responsible forhis. downfall.
1t has been admitted that Mr.. Tlldcn
Charley Ross aud that.very likely, he
wrote the Morey letter, all Of which
was pretty bad. but hero is still an
other, crime for him to ,expinte. Brad's
Washington newspaper, edited BY
George G. Malone Gorham, says thar
the ex-assistant Postmaster.Gcneral
was instrumental in causing tho pub
lication Of certain cipher dispatches
and that this ''star route scandal has
been invented by Tilden for revenge.
In the language Of the street, this is
"rather gauzy."
The method by which so much
plumber has been secured is such that
actual fraud Is diiircult to- prove
though It may be very apparent. II
consists in raising the compensations
after contracts are let, upon tho
gronnd Of increased or "expedited"
service. For instance. A. and B are
competitors for contract worth about
$l0,000, over reuto requiring three
trips week. A. is an honest bidder
and files his estimate in good faith.
B is a jobber, and by an nnderstandl
ing with the authorities in charge OF
the letting, makes his bid below tho
actual cost Of performing the service.
He gets the job and straightway sets
about getting signatures along the
route petitioning Tor daily trips, and
expedited service; In accordance
with this petition. his compensation
is increased to $4,000 or perhaps
100000, This sort Of thing being
done on about 93 routesi makes a
good thing for not only the contrac-
tors but for their confederatcs in The
Department with whom they, are snp'
posed to divide In most oi these
cases the, increase in compensation is
nearly all profit, as the extra expense
is but slight. Yet IL Is alldonc with
in the letter ot7'the law and theiire-
COIub Ul l1t CDutINtt Uliflt uIb III fDJI~'