National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-28
GENERAL BRADY,s LETTER.
The Case Against the star Routes !"
Briefly Stafcd-The ScandaI-MOngers.

The Case Against the - Star Routes
Briefly stafcd-The Scandal-MOngers-
The following letter from General
Thomas ]. Brady appeared in the New York Herald
of yesterday:
To the Editor of the Herald:
The eminently fair spirit in which you treat IN
this mornings issue the so-called star service
scandal" prompts me to address you thls Orlel
communication. Up to this time have satisfied
myself with general denial of the charges made
by class of newspaper correspondents who either
do not care TO know the facts, or, knowing them,
deliberately misrepresent them. In saying TINS L
do not overlook the fact that great many news
papers, misled by the statements OF these mall
cious correspondents, have been led to censure me
and the Post Office Department in severe terms
As You say, but side of the question mas been
heard" and am sure you will give me credit 1or
candor when again state that thorough mvest-
CATION of every phase of the matter cannot De lh-
tiated one moment too soon for me. The case
against the
STAR ROUTES,
broadly stated, amounts to this that upon certain
ninety three of them there have been extraordl-
nary increases ordered. This number, as small as
it may be in comparison with the whole NUMBER,
includes all the great national routes 1eW
newspaper correspondents, who strike the Key
note for many others, cannot conceive how this
sion and fraud. These charges have been made
before, were made necessarily during the winter
of 1879 and 1850, when Congress was i'll session.
Witnesses were sHbpenaed in large numbers III
consequence thereof, and an investigation had by
the House Appropriations Committee, which must
be conceded by all to have been thorough, as it
surely was far-reaching.
YET IT Is NOTORIOUS
that while the Committee unanimously recon-
mended large increase over the appropriation
for the previous year. Congress granted the full
amount estimated for by the Department, ana
thereby not only justified the increase on these
ninety three routes, but continued them perma-
nenty on that basis 1t is also fact that Congress
at its last session appropriated not only sufficient
amount to conduct the service as thus increased,
but gave 100000 for further increases during the
next fiscal year. And it is more notorious fact
that during the past four years the entire postal
service has grown with a wonderful growth. This.
is not confined to the star service alone, but covers
and includes railway, steamboat, and mall-mes-
senger service. In all of these there has been a
steady and in many cases phenomenal growth.
The country as a whole to-day enjoys better mail
facilities by half than it did four years ago
WHAT THE DEPARTMENT DID
in such an augmentation of postal facilities could
not be done for-nothing, and Congress, which
could have terminated it simply by failing to ap-
prove of it, after thoroughly examining into all
the charges that brought forward day as late
discoveries, said that it was good-that it was nee
essary and wise. What the Department did in all
these respects it did in obedience to the demands
of the country, expressed through its Represent
atiyes. Nothing was done on my own volition.
Nothing was done darkly or in a corner and yet
am responsible for all that was done while at the
head of the contract bureau. l am proud of the
fact that l was in position to respond to the
wants of the country in its recent and still cOntnu
ing wonderful era of prosperity. No man who
comes after me, whatever his pretensions may be,
dare set his face against the liberal policy inaugu
rated by Judge Key. 1t was and is the true policy
is indorsed by the people, and any attempt to
change it will bring discontinue and contempt
upon those who hazard the experiment.
ALL THIS TALK ABOUT RINGS
and corruption comes from disgraced contractors
and would be blackmailers. Incessant Overtures
were made by these press brigands to contractors
who were supposed by them to be in the enjoy
ment of fat contracts and large profits TO properly
mould public sentiment, and these propositions
being rejected in many instances were followed
by threats that if they were denied participation
therein a contrary sentiment would be created. 1
have in all classes where they came to my
knowledge set my face as a flint against such
propositions, and would have been energetic in
WiplnS out any poFtlon OF the star mai service
that rested upon so base foundation to popular
support or commendatiOn. Nothing was done,
as have said above, that was not done at the re-
quest of members of Congress who were supposed
to know the needs and requirements of their con-
stituents and nothing was persisted in that failed
to receive the approval of majority of both
Houses For while
THE PUBLIC MIND
may be confounded by the clamor of the persons
alluded 70, and they may even succeed in bringing
national names into contumely and disgrace but
only for time. 1t is not probable that in the dis
bursement of so many millions of dollars per an
mum for the support of service so widely dis
tributed and SO difficult ofthOrough investigation
as the star mail service of this country no mis-
takes would be made, no money wasted, even un-
der the wisest administration, but that there has
been single case of corrupt collusiOn between
contractors and the Department most emphatic
ally deny, and challenge the whole body of de-
famers 10 prove to the contrary.
THOMAS ]. BRADY.
New YORK CITY, April &c, 1881.