The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1881-05-21
Tus STORY Of POST ROUTE.

f'fas.ington Core pondence N. Y. Times.l
A case that illustrates the boldness of
tho fraud systematically practiced during
tho past four years in the management
of the star postal routes is furnished by
the route known as No. 40, l04, and run
ming from Mineral Park, Arizona, to
Phoebe, New, a distance of 232 miles.
This route was let on July lst, 1878 to
Miner, Peck & Co., at 50, 900 per annum
for weekly service. In August or Sep
tember 1878, the route was sub-let by
the contractors to Isaac Jennings, of st.
Thomas, Lincoln county, New, at 49,
700 per annum, or 81, 800 more than the
contract price. Soon after receiving the
sub-contract Jennings was requested to
get up a petition for tri-weekly service,
but refused to do so on the ground that
the proposed increase was wholly UNI
necessary. Notwithstanding his refusal,
however, to make movement to secure
increased service, he was surprised to
receive from Washington sub-contract
calling for the tri-weekly trips. and
raising the pay to $4,000 per annum.
This is explained by the fact that in
April, 1879, the original contractors,
through their influence with the Post
office Department, secured an increase of
tli-weekly service and had the pay raised
to S22, 300 per annum. Thus it will be
noticed that Jennings, who was perform
ing the service, received of this increase
only $40, 900, leaving 50, 700 to be divided
among the principals.
In July, 1879, Or about three months
after the first increase was made, the
service was still further increased with
out any solicitation from Jennings, and
without his knowledge, to seven trips
per week, and the yearly pay was raised
at the same time to $4,000. When this
last increase was made, Jennings was
ordered to put on daily service, at the
rate of $4,000 per annum, thus leaving
S24, 900 per annum to be divided among
the principals. Before the route was in.
creased to daily service the contract was
transferred from Miner, Peck Co. to J..
w. Dorsey. When the change was
made Jennings was not informed Of the
fact that the department, in addition to
directing increased trips, had also ex.
psdiated the service.
About three months after the transfer
to Dorsey, Jennings was informed by NJ.
G. Riedell that the schedule time had
been shortened to sixty hours. Riedell
was the clerk and agent of Dorsey, and
IN order the more effectually to carry
out the fraudulent purpose of the ring,
Dorsey made contract with Riedell,
at the full contract price as named and
filed this agreement at the department.
After making the nominal contract with
Riedell, Dorsey made an actual contract
with Jennings for both tri-weekly and
daily service, specifying that he should
be paid $4,000 for the tri-weekly and
$4,000 for the daily service, which was
80, per annum below the sum fixed
by the department for the tri-weekly
service and $4,000 below that fixed TO,
the daily service Jennings acted in per.
feet good faith, and was ignorant of the
transaction between Dorsey and his clerk
The agreement made between Dorsey
and Jennings was forwarded by the lat
ter to Representative Daggett, of Nc
vada, with the request that it he flee
with the Postoffice Department. Mr.
Daggett, immediately upon receipt of tn
agreement, left it with j. L. French
Chief Clerk Of the Contract Office, re
questipg him to place it on file. For tn
service of the first quarter under the tri
weekly contract Jennings received hi
full pay according to the terms of hi
contract. At the expiration Of the mex
quarter, however, he not only failed t
receive the pay due, but he receive
notice from the department that fine
had been imposed for failure to perforr
service, and that instead of the Govern
ment owing him $1,000, he was debtc
to the Government by reason of the fine
imposed in the sum of 500. These fine.
it seems, were imposed because of Jor
nings' failure to perform the service O