The weekly clarion., 1881-05-26
THE STAR SERVICE ROBBERY
REVELATIONS AND CoxMENTs
Memphis Avalanche (Ind.) I
Violation of the Ia

P -
Violation OF the Law.
SECTION 1858 of the Revised Statute
provide that U'e
whenever it becomes necessary to chang,
the terms of an existing contract for carry
, ing the mail, notice thereof shall be giver
ana proceedings had thereon, the same as al
the letting of the original contracts.
There was no advertising for offers to per
Iorm the expedited service on the Mem phis
star rlver routes, any more than there was
for the SO Star land routes, where the nav
was increased. 'sThe whole matter" as the
New York Tribune expresses it was a
9ulet stroke OF business arranged between
Brady and the old contractors, of which the
public knew nothing. As for the statute
BRADY never troubled himself about such a
trlflng obstacle. Did he not have his friends
IN Congress and daily newspaper to back
him up? Why bother about the law?
Ought to be Indicted.
| Philadelphia Ledger, Gnd.)
! Ii tenth part of what is published about
General Brady's late administration of the
Second Assistant Postmaster Generals office
IS true, the law officers of the Government
ought to be taking steps towards his indict-
ment for malteasance.
EnOrmity of the Changed Contracts.
Washington Cor. New York Herald.J
But this is not all The changed contracts
increasing the pay of the contractors. often
from $4,000 or $4,000 to $60, 900 or $40. 900
per annum, at Brady's sweet will, were not
temporary IN their nature. They were made
not only TO cover the time until advertise
ment and competition, as the law directs
could enable the department to make new
contracts. On the contrary, the increase,
enormous it is shown to be- was made for
four years or for the whole of the original
contract When, for instance, Mr. John d.
Miner, Mr.. Dorsey's friend, got his original
contract of $3.50 raised by Brady to S70,-
600 per annum that was not for that year
only, but TOR the whole remainder of this
contract, at least three years, and Brady
bound the government to pay heavy pen
atty if it should dare to put an end to Mi
ners fat job. Yet the law expressly pro-
hibited Mr.. Brady from "involving the |
government in any contract for the future |
payment of money in excess of the appro- |
pration."
Brady confessed to the Congressional Com |
mittee that he took the contractors word |
for what the extra service should be paid |
The law prohibited him from making con- |
tracts without public notice and competi- |
ton, and prohibited him from making CON
tracts even after notice and competition in |
excess of the appropriation. These laws are |
plainly necessa ry to prevent systematic and |
prohigate waste and corruption.
A SPECIMEN CASE.
Brady cooly violated them, and with
what result can be shown by single case,
and very small one at that, which was de
veloped in last years inquiry. One Rerdell
testified under oath that J. w. Dorsey own
ed the contract on Star route No. 104; that
5. w. Dorsey, the ex-Senator-J. w. Dor |
sey's brother-bought it of him, made Rer-
dell sub-contractor of the route, and Rerdell
again sub-let it to one Jennings, who fur
nished the horses and wagons and did the
work, J. w. Dorsey, 5. w Dorsey and Rer
He'll being apparently only middle men.
The original contract, made according to
law, was for $4,000, but it was soon "raised" |
IN the lawless way of Brady, to the
handsome sum of $52, 900 per annum Rer
He'll was then asked what he and Dorsey
paid Jennings, who did the actual work,
and who was the only man responsible and |
having capital invested in the contract.
He replied that Jennings received of this
,um S28 900 per annum.
4 Gigantic and Premeditated Robbery.
Special to the Democrat.
WASHINGTON, May IA prominent
official at the Postoffice department, speak
ng of the Star route frauds, said to-day that
here was absolutely no question that the
whole thing was gigantic and premeditated
-obbery, participated in by high govern
nent officials. He thought the government |
vas just at the beginning of the disclosures.
Not BIackmaiI, but Grand Larceny.
Cincinnati Commercial.
Mr.. Brady talks about blackmail. That
5 too thin. Take this fact:
J. r. Miner has contracts in the Indian
Territory, Dakota, Colorado, and New Mex
co-eight of them in all. The routes ag-
,regate S32 miles, and the original rate was
s10,371 for the whole service Every one
vas increased, and the rate of increase of
he lowest was nearly fve-fold; and the gross
um now paid is S135, ,65S year, or almost
welve times as much as the accepted bids
T. NJ. Peck had contracts in six States and
Territories, the increase on which carried
lis annual compensation up from $50, 1898 to
1885, ,741.
No matter who recommended this sort
f thing, the meaning is public robbery.
tIr. James has uncovered a rascality that
will exceed in dimensions the old Whisky :
Ring. There have been millions stolen
10 doubt about it.
The Penitentiary. a