The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1881-05-06
REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS CAUGHT STEALING
$24, 900 A YEAR.

| @Sf,OoO n t6hh.
Washington, April 21-A case that Illus
trates the boldness OF the fraud systenmti>
cally practiced during the past four years in
the management of the star postal route is
furnished by the route known as No. 10, 10i,
aud running from Mineral Park, Arizona,
to Phoebe, Nevada, distance of 232 miles
This route was let on July l, 1878, to Mi
ner, Peck Il Go. at 81 900 per annum for a
weekly service. In August or September,
1873, the route was sub-lct by the coutrac-
tors to Isaac Jennings, OF St. Thomas,
Lincoln County, Nevada. at 81 200 per an
nun, or 81 500 more than the contract
price. SNon after receiving the sub contract
Jennings was requested to get up a petition
for triwcekly service, but refused to do SO
on the ground that the proposed increase
,was~wholl w unnecessary. Notwithstanding
his refusal, however, TO make a movcnicnt
TO secure increased service, he was surprised
to receive from Washington a sub CONTRACT
calling for tr,wcckly trips, and raising the
pay to $4,000 per annum. This is cx-
plaiued by the fact that in April, 1879, the
original contractors, through their influcncc
with the postoifcc department, secured an
increase to tri-wcckly service, and had the
pay raised to So 300 per annum. Thus it
will be noticed that Jennings, who was per-
forming the service, received of this increase
ouly $4,000, leaving $1,000 to be divided
among the principals.
In July, 1879, or about three months af-
| ter the first increase was made, the service
was still further increased without any suli
citation from Jennings, and without his
knowledge, to seven trips per week, and the
| yearly pay was raised at the same time 10
$50, 900 When this last increase was made
Jennings was ordered to put on daily SER
vice, at the rate Of $4,000 per annum,
TINS leaving S24 900 per annum to bc di-
vidcd among the principals. Bcfo:c the
route was increased to daily service the con
tract was transferred from Miner, Peck Il
Co to j. w. Dorsey When the change
was made Jennings was not Informed Of the
fact that the department, in addition to di-
rccting increased trips, had also expedited
the service.
About three months after the transfer to
Dorsey Jennings was informed by NJ. G.
Ricdcl that the schedule time had been
shortened to sixty hours. Rcdsl was the
clerk and agent of Dorsey, and in order the
more cffcctually to carry out the fraudulent
tract with Riedel at the full contract price
named above and filed this agreement at the
department. After making the nominal
contract with Ricdcll, Dorsey made an actual
contract with Jennings for both tri weekly
and daily service, specifying that he should
be paid S12 600 for the triweckly and S2S,-
600 for the daily service, which was $500
per annum below the sum fixed by the de-
partmcnt for the tri>wcckly service, and
S24 900 below that fixed for the daily SER
vice. Jennings acted in perfect good faith,
| and was ignorant uf the Transactions between
Dorsey and his clerk
The agreement made between Dorsey and
Jennings was forwarded by the latter to Rep
rcscntativc Daggctt, Of Nevada, with the
request that it be filed with the post
office department. Nr Daggett, immc.
diately upon receipt Of the agreement, left
it with J. l.. French, chief clerk Of the con-
tract office, requesting him to place it on
file. For the service of the first quarter
under the tr.wcckly contract Jennings re-
ccivcd his full pay according to the terms of
his contract. At the expiration of the next
quarter, however, he not only failed to re.
ccivc the pay due, but he received notice
/
imposed for failure to perform service, aud
that nscad Of the government owing him
| $1,000, ne was debtor to the Government
by reason Of the fines imposed in the sum
OF 500. These fines it seems, were I'M
posed because Of Jennings failure to per-
form the service on the expedited schedule,
of which he had no notice until informed
by lticdcll, as above explained. Not com
pretending this method Of doing business,
and being startled by the large pccunary
loss which threatened him, Jennings at once
proceeded to Washington. Before leaving
the West he obtained number of signa>
lures to protest against the frequency and
expedition OF the service ordered by the
department. There was no necessity what
ever Tor this Increase, as the route was
! through n wilderness, and the uumbcr of
letters carried over it. at any time did not
average three per week.
Arriving at Washington, Ricdcll asccr-
taincd that Jennings intended to file this
protest with the department, and, in order
to prevent such damaging testimony being
made part of the public records he gave
Jennings 5000 not to place the protest on
file. In the meantime, however, Ricdell re-
ccivcd from the Government full pay, less
the penalties, all Of which were charged to
Jennings. For the two following quarters
Jennings was paid only $500 his principal
claiming that the balance was consumed by
fines. Jennings having been thus exhaust.
cd, the route was sold by the owners to
Salisbury, Gilmore e Co. Jennings remain
ed in Washington with the expectation
that he would obtain justice from the postal
authorities, not supposing, Of course, that
the very persons from whom he expected
protection and redress were parties to the
practices by whci, he had been dcirauicG
lie had no rights whatever which the post.
office were bound to respect, for the reason