The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-10-18
AN OBSTRUCTI0NIST
TO STAR ROUTE PROSECUTIONS,
First Assistant Postmaster General Asked to Step
Down and Out- Supposed to be In sympathy
With Brady and Othsr-The Causes
Which Led to Ills Retirement,

WASHINGTON, October 1.-THE most
significant act Of President Arthur's ad-
ministration is the request for the Fint
Assistant Postmaster Generals resignation.
From the beginning OF GarieId's admins
tratiOn to the end OF July Postmaster
James had cxerted all his influence to OBJ
tain the dismissal OF TyneE Up to July
LIST 1t had been unsuccessful. On that day
he told near friend that until Tyner was
removed there would be little hope OF sue
cess in the Star Route prosecutions. In his
efforts remove Tyner, the Postmaster
Genenl had the warm support OF Attor-
ncy General MacNeagh, but had to combat
the luke warmness OF all the other Cabinet
officers, in addition to the pronounced OPP
position Of Secretary Blaine. II Is sate to
say that upon this question the Cabinet Of
President Garfield was very near being
wrecked.
On the day before the shooting OF tho
President Mr. James was encouraged 10
believe that Tyncr would bc removed, and
decided to be one OF the excursion party
which was to leave the Baltimore 4 Polo
muc depot OH Saturday, July 2, mainly for
the purpose Of cnsuring it by his presence
and influence. GuitC0u's shot prevented
any action, and II is still doubtful which OF
the influences would have proved victori-
ous. Certain It is, that II Mr.. James had
returned from that trip still lmnpured, as
hn IAnlinNnI hincnlf ~ l,n INV fNunnNtl
ence as his first assistant, no would have
resigned, and with him would have gone
the Attorney General, As soon ~ II was
jeCt to Mr., Arthur, in conformity with tho
Presidents request thAt he should
remain ut east 10 finish the III
vcstigatiOn Of the Star route business
This Inns always been made II sine qua no'I;
he would not stay il Tyncr did, Ar
thur WIS naturally disinClined to net, Tho
political effect was deemed Of great i'm
pOrtance, TynGr il strong in Indiana, md
has welded the entire patronage Of the
POstOilCe Department since 1876. lie has
hosts Of friends in every State and territory,
and his hold on the Senators and RO. ~.
sentNtivGs for past fAvOrs, and for those Gx-
peCted, is not exceeded by any person in
the Government service. Nevertheless Ar
thur decided, but not until he had thor
oughly investigated the facts. In this, Of
course, he employed the support his keen
friend, General Bliss, who was directed to
enquire thoroughly into all grounds Of slis-
piCiOn against TynGr aS an obstruction.
About two yearsagO or less, Tyner went
West on an inspecting tour lilo took quito
q purity with him, and travelled all through /.
the West as far Hs the PaCltlC Coast, and
northwest to the British border, inspecting
postolIlces, and especially the Star Route
service and its working, After his return
he wrote Il voluminous report attacking
the Western Star Route service, Nnd con
demning 1t in severe terms. lie wrote this
report himself and in 1t entered into de-
tails, pointing out extravaganza, favOritism
and fraud in .thG service, This report,
however, though writ en- OstGnsibly for tho
purpose Of exposing the rottenncss OF tho
Star Route system, III then conducted
never saw the light OF day Tyner kept II
locked up in his safe. But after President
Garfield was inaugumted the. report IN
some manner got into Postmaster General
James hands. This determined Mr..
James to insist upon Tynors removal. Not
long after Tyner's return from his Western
tour OF inspection lie was left in charge Of
the pOstOlIiCc Department by the absence
Of the PostmNster.Ge General, but hc took no
steps towards rCmedying tho evils he had
discovered in the Star route service. Gen.
james concluded at once that Tyner was
not the man he wanted for First-ASsisLanL
in making Yar upon the Star route ring,
and James efforts to have Tyner removed
produced an ill-icCling between the two,
Attorney. General MaCVGAgli was shown
Tyners report, and he promptly seconded
Gen. James efforts to procure Tyners re-
mOval The PostOiCe Department author
tiles maintain that Tyner'H Hsympathies were
and are with Brady and others Of the So
called Star route ring, but they admit that
nothing has ever been discovered 10 impli-
cate Tyner legally so far az lis benefits or
profits were concerned. They intimate
that Tyncr wrote report and held IL over
the heads Of Brady and others Of the ring,
and then compelled them TO do whatever
he wanted
This report was shown to President
Arthur and the request for TynCrs i'm
mediate removal based upon IT, II put
Tyner before the President in light Of
having discovered extensive evils In every
department over which he presided and
of having remained silent 50 far as the
public knew about these evils. Tyner's re-
port is very comprehensive, and pointed
ont the extravaganza and favorltlsm In
some Of the very Star routes that have be-
come prominent in the accusation Of the
Postmaster General against Brady and
Others. President Arthur at OnCe called
for the resignation Of Tyner. This action
Of the President in response 10 the request
Of James makes IL certain that he will re-
main at the head Of the PostoillCp Depart
mcnt until the conclusion Of the Star route
prosecutions. Tint hO will only remain
until then is pretty evident from the fact Of
his acceptance Of the Presidency Of the
tncnIn Rant nj Nn,v Vnrk