The daily gazette., 1881-04-28
EDITION
Washington.
RAsCALITY OF THE STAR ROUTE
CONTRACTS EXPOSED.
How the Last Congress was Bull
dOZed.

scoundIel. Mr.. Brady's organ here
asks, in return, this morning, elias
Dorsey got back from Indiana ?" 1t
is all very sad, and uncommonly mys-
terious.
Meantime Mr.. Brady's interesting
letter to the Herald this morning would
have been a good deal more interesting
If he had not omitted certain facts in
his case, as, for instance, section 81
679 Of the Revised Statutes commands
that
No department of the government
shall expend, in any one fiscal year
any sum in excess of appropriations
made by Congress for that fiscal year,
or involve the government in any con-
tract for the future payment of money
in excess of such appropriations.
APPROPRIATION AND DEFICIENCY.
Congress had appropriated precisely
the sum asked for by Mr.. Brady, for
the star route service. At the begin
ming of the next session Brady caused
the Postmaster General to ask for
so, 900, 600 more, to meet a deficiency.
Having got So, 900, 900 six months be-
fore, he now asked for another $2, 000,-
600 TO cover a deficiency. 1t was a
plain confession that he had violated
the above statute. Brady was sum
moned before committee to give an
account of himself. There he was in
solent to the last degree. He boasted
that he had spent In few months al
most all of the money appropriated for
whole year, and when asked how he
| justified this he replied that he de-
penned on Congress to justify him and
to give him money, but If it did not he
would stop the whole star route SER
vice summarily when the money was
all spent, which it would be in month.
On the same principle a Secretary OF
State might waste the whole Consular
aspiration and insolently declare to
Congress that unless it gave him more
money he would at once recall all our
Consuls and thus put stop to our for
eifin commerce.
81 have squandered all the money you
gave me-" Brady said in substance to
Congress, "but you will have to give me
all ask in addition or will close the
post Office in one-quartef Of the country"
ACTION OF CONGRESS.
Congress did what the public interest
compelled 1t to do. 1t said substantially
"Brady has robbed us, but we cannot de
prive a great region entirely of posta
communication because of Brady's mis-
conduct. We will give the money needed
to continue the postal service, but ",
will try to bring Braly to juStlce." Tia
was undoubtedly the only sensible an.
the only possible course for Congress
But that did not justify Brady; it con.
demned him rather.
1t must be remembered that republican
as we'll as democratic members of Con
gress and of the committee vigorously
condemned Brady's course as in viola
ton of law ard dishonest. Genera
Hawley, of Connecticut, was one of the
severest and bitterest in condemnation
of Brady. Congress, however, is power
LESS to bring to justice evil doers. Thai
belongs TO the Executive.
EXECUTIVE SUPPORT OF BRADY.
Mr.. Hayes was appealed TO, tut h
"did not think Brady was such bat
man." and 1t was in vain that republican
as well as democratic Con gressman ap
pealed 10 Mr.. Hayes for justice on Brad,
and the star route jobbers. Brady wa
not called to account by his superior; b
was not asked to resign; he was not eyel
reprimanded or told to change his cours
by Mr.. Hayes He was encouraged an
patted on the back in the face of th
developments made by the inquiry, whIcl
showed that he had not only violated
the law above quoted, bat others, ant
systematically. II Mr.. Hayes bad no
protected the star route jobbing it woult
have been exposed aud reformed and th,
jobbers brought to justice last year.
PROVISIONS OF LAW.
Section 3,968 Of the Revised Statute
commands that
Whenever it becomes necessary {
change the terms of an existing cor
. tract for carrying the mail notice there
of shall be given and proceedings ha
thereon the same as at the letting of th
original contracts.
And section 3,94l requires origins
, contracts to be made only after put
, lie notice by advertising for six week
and by letting to the lowest bidder afte
such advertisement.
Now, in the first place the fncreas
ordered by Brady on his favored sta
, | routes was in most cases within fey
months and In some within few week
!, after the original letting by public com
petition. There are cases where tn
contractor, being the lowest bidder too
! a losing contract 20 the defeat of..hones
, | competitors, clearly with the confidenc
I that he would presently be made Who'll
by a speedy and large increase, and Bra
| dy himself confessed to the Congresior
al Committee that the only evidenc
upon which he liked the often enormoL
| increase was the affidavit of the col
tractor the additional service was wort
0 the money. There was no advertise
3 ment, no public notice, no competition
3 no examination even. Brady substantia a
j. ly said to his favorite contractor, $40
! | much do you want?" He opened til
+ lid of the Treasury box, and told Il
3 contractor to put In his fist and grab q
: he wanted, or all he thought it safe
take.
; ENoRMITY OF TIE CHANGED ool
TRACTS.
But this is not all. The changed col
. tracts increasing the pay of the col
= tractors, often from $1,000 or 5000
Q $50 600 or SO, 900 per annum, at Brady
e sW eet will were not temporary in the
Q nature.
Q THE WORLDS FAIR Project stl
hangs fire. So far the transportatio
lines have subscribed but $450,0O0 oil
of the 100000 expected from then
= - a..