Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-20
STAR ROUTE STEALS.
Further Developments in the Investiga-
tI0n Of the PostOflce Swindle,

Further Developments In the 1nvestiga-
tion OF the PostOffice Swindle.
NEW YORK, June ia Washington cor
respondent of the Times says: The collec-
tions and classifcations OF evidence upon
which to base prosecutions of dishonest star
route contractors and their confederates in Of
flee, has been continued quietly but vigorous
ly during the last week. The force employed
is small but excellent progress has been made.
Evidence is coming in from all parts of the
country and the investigators have had
their attention directed every day to
hitherto unknown cases of fraud.
At the same time the postmaster general and
Second Assistant Elmer have continued the ap-
plication of common sense methods and bust
ness principles to the existing fraudulent star
service and incomes of the ring, and the favO-
rites are continually becoming beautifully less.
The reports made by honest special agents in
relation to the crooked service are now COM
ing III every day, and much useless and fraud
ulent service has been marked for discontinue
ance. Action upon these cases is not taken
until after an exhaustive examination and con-
sideration of both sides. The department pro-
poses to be sure it is right before it goes ahead
At the same time the methods which have
prevailed in the department, allotment of cler-
ical work, location and divisions, and many
other details, have been closely examined by
the commission, whose purport it is to intro
duce proper business methods, and reorganize
the working force in the most efficient manner
which the circumstances will allow. The re-
suits of the labors of the investigators, exam
liners of fraudulent and useless service, and
inspectors OF internal economy of the depart
ment, cannot fail to be OF the utmost import
ance to the people of the nation.
The correspondent tells the story of another
Salisbury route, in which he says the records
show that in this case, as IN many others,
Salisbury's were not troubled by the little
fOrmality of advertising each route once every
four years, and letting it under competition.
In 1878 Gilmer & Salisbury were carrying
the mails on the route from Franklin to Hele-
ma, Idaho, and their annual pay was 1900,
or more than SIS per mile for one trip each
week, distance $50 miles, and seven
trips per week. In the list of bidders appear
several persons who represented the Sails
bury combination, but who did not appear to
qualify. Sanderson, of the Boston combina-
ton, offered to do the work for $l35,000,
Salisbury offered to take it for $4,000, but
Sanderson's man Huntly could do it for $685.
600, and Salisbury's man, White and
others, could do it all the way down from
$59,570 to $4,000. This Was certainly re-
markable movement.
jackson was given contract for term of
four years from July /, 1874. His principal
probably continued their work on the route
the result of advertising from $47 800 per an
mum to only $4,000. At the end of four
months they awaited themselves of the
old plan. jackson was allowed to
fail, and was declared failing
contractor, because, as was said,
he failed December ii, 1874, but before that
time Gilmer & Salisbury had got in one and
one-half months service at S67 800.
The department went up the list of bidders
and could find no one who would stand by his
bid until D. T. Parker was reached. His bid
had been S64 800, and the route was handed
over to him at that price. Although it had or
lginally been let at $4,000, Parker was the
highest of the bidders controlled by Salisbury,
and his address was in care OF Gilmer q
Salisbury. For the last few years the ParkeIs
have run cont ination of their own. Parker or
Salisbury had the route at $64, 500 until July
/, 1878, the end of the term. JacksOn's pay
being 100000, Parler's must have been at
least $22,500.
Then for some reason the route was not
advertised for the term of 1S7S-'S2 until three
months after the proper time, so that the new
contractor could not begin work till October
1, 1878, instead of July 1, 1878. This left a
gap of three months, which was filed by en-
ploying Gilmer & Salisbury for that time at
the old pay of S64,500.
We have now reached the beginning of the
current contract term of 1S7S-S2. The result
of the advertisement is given in the books as
follows:
Route ~, 122, Franklin to Helena, Idaho, a
distance of 415 miles, service seven trips per
week, time schedule seventy five hours in sum-
mer and $50 hours in winter, or five and one
half miles and two and three-fourths miles
per hour; 200 hours for third class. There
were eleven bidders. Of these O. J. Salisbury
bid $4,000; s. S. Huntley, $4,000; c. W.
Bennett, S47 1900; VIM. Griffith, 543,S00; H.
NJ. Norton, $7S,SS0; V. w. Parker, S3S,7S0;
W. G. Wilson, S3S,000; Jos. E. Vanse, $751;
600; K. Fl. Williams, S3S, 900; Z. J. Travis,
$4,000.
Griffith (Kerns) was the only one who made
any sort of offer. He wrote he would take
the route at $43, 500 if Brady would give him
time for the necessary preparations, and he
would begin service soon as practicable owing
to probable prosecution of second parties.
The contract with present service, he adj
ded, may require more than the ordinary
length of time.
1t is unnecessary to say Griffith did not get
the route. There was gap of $40, 800 between
the Barlow and Salisbury bids, and Brady.ap-
apparently did not feel like jumping it, and
accepted Salisbury's offer.