Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-30
Star Route Revelations.

PhttddeLphl0 Evening NeHS, (hep.)
Now that the ice is broken the facts as
to the star route operations are rapidly
coming to light. These show a condi-
tion of affairs which will necessitate ex-
plicit proof of innocence on the part of
persons high in authority or their retire
ment from the public service. While no
person should be accused without ex.
plicit evidence, the names of members,
Senators and ex Senators and others be-
gin to be unpleasantly associated with
this affair. Nearly So, 6,000,00 were alb
sorbed last year, of which one half went
to ninety-three routes and the remainder
was distributed over 8, ,132 routes. 1t was
in the few routes that the wrong
was done. These were scat
tered among sixteen States and
Territories, West and South,
and represented a system OF swindling
that was shrewd and successful. Routes
which aggregated $727,11 were in
creased to So, 802, ,214. A single indivld-
ual or firm would have contracts in half
a dozen States or Territories. Thus j.
B. Price had routes in Louisiana, Texas,
Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
His advances over original contracts ag-
gregated $125 526. ]. w. Dorsey, a
brother of ex-senator Dorsey, had con-
tracts in Dakota, Colorado, Arizona and
Oregon, which aggregated over original
contracts $120. 788. These are samples
of over thirty names that are given. The
singular feature of the affair is that most
of these contractors are dummies, repre-
senting other parties, who do not
appear at all. Hence the names given
only touch the surface of this business.
1t palpably includes persons of large in
f1uence, who have been working this
placer very industriously for at least four
years past. These facts show the neces-
sity of pushing the investigation now be-
gun till the whole of this scheme is
brought to light and the guilty party
punished; if that can possibly be done
There will be much difficult work in
procuring evidence. An increase in the
service and compensation, on given mail
routes, is not prima facie evidence of
fraud. But in many of the instances
given the indications point strongly in
that direction.
But whatever may come of the effort
to bring to light the guilty parties,
complete and carefully guarded law
should be framed that will put an end to
such evils hereafter. The shameful feat
ure of the present scandal is the fact that
Congress was firm in its favor to the star
route system. But exposure will, of
course, prepare the way for remedying
defects in the law. 1t is essential to the
well-being of the Republican party that
this be done with strong hand. We
cannot afford to allow such scandals to
be possible. There are two features,
at least, in the law which, once
remedied, will put an end to all further
trouble. The power to extend contracts
should be sharply limited and defined,
and straw bidding should be ended. A
party found guilty of making straw bids
should be refused the privilege of bio
ding at all. 1t may be said the law is
already sufficiently rigid were properly
enforced. This view accepted and Mr..
Brady is put in very difficult position.
1t is asserted that many of the specific
provisions of the law regulating ad.
vances in compensation were either
ignored or perjury was committed
in securing the advance. These
things, if true, ought to be capable of
proof. If proven, the responsible par
ties should be rigidly dealt with. At all
events, the administration can do moth
ing less than go directly forward in the
line it has marked out. Wrong cannot
be tolerated or CLOSED over The star
route business is evidently vast swindle.
At least it has in it the possibility of
great wrongs, and the sooner it is cut
down, root and branch, the better. Such
are the facts as to this business. We
fear other and worse facts await the
light.