Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-12-29
CAPITAL NOTES.
lame. and Bliss on the star Route
cases. More Treasury Investigation
.Commjttee General

Notes
STAR ROtrrE CAsEs-THE WORK OF JAMES
AND BLISS.
.WAsHISGroS, Dec. 24.-On the 18th
inst. Postmaster General James wrote
to Colonel George Bliss, of counsel in
the star route cases, saying that an ex-
animation of the records of the post
Office department convinced him (the
Postma,ter GeneraD "that money has
been paid out of the funds of the gov
eminent under circumstances which
bring such payments within section
1867 of the revised statutes in q num-
Der Of instances. The evidence which
seems to me sufficient to maintain suits
by the United States to recover such
money is on file in this department.
Copies of much of it are already IN
YOUR hands. In compliance with law,
| hereby request that unless you shall
differ from me as to the weight of the
evidence, you willycause suits to be IN
stituted in the name of the United
States for the recovery of said moneys
Illegally paid, from the parties who re-
ceived the same.
On the following day Colonel Bliss re-
piled to the Postmaster General, saying
that when he ,irst became connected
with the star-route cases he called the
attention Of the Attorney General to
the propriety Of commencing several
suits, and the Attorney General agreed
with him, but matters have been de-
layed in consequence of the unexpected
labor found necessary in the prepare
ton of the criminal suits. He is un-
willing that the impression should go
forth that civil proceedings would be
substituted for the criminal. If frauds,
such as he believes have been COM
mitted in these cases, cannot be pun
ished by convictions in criminal courts,
it is more important to show this fact,
so that legislation may be had to
CURE THE DEFECTS IN THE LAWS
than it is to recover moneys-large as
the amount is so wrongfully taken from
the treasury. He does not believe,
however that our criminal laws are
so defective as to make it possible that
the parties who are to be prosecuted
under the star-route indictments can
escape conviction when the evidence in
the hands of the government is submit
ted to justice.
Under this conviction, he has tempo
rarily put aside the consideration Of
the question Of bringing civil suits, and
devoted himself to the criminal cases,
the evidence in which has been reached
by almost incredible labors and eXer-
tons. The witnesses are scattered over
thousands of miles; hardly enc OF them
is nearer than 1900 miles from this
city, and many Of them are twice that
distance. These witnesses have been
sought ont by inspectors of the postof-
flee department, with an energy, fideli-
ty and perseverance rarely combined
in either public or private life. This
evidence, amounting to thousands OF
pages, thus accumulated, together with
the great volume in the records of the
postoflice department and treasury de-
partment has all been examined, alb
stracted, and arranged by Inspector
Woodward and counsel, omissions IN
the chain of testimony have been hunt
ed up and supplied, etc, all at an ex-
pense of labor immensely greater than
he had anticipated when he took the
employment.
THE TREASURY INVESTIGATIoN-TIlE STA
TIONERY DIVISION.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-Sturtevar:,
who has charge of the stationery divi-
sion Of the Treasury, was before the
contingent fund investigating commit
tee to-day. 1t is understood he was ex-
amned in regard to the allegation that
the Sherman Literary Bureau, main
tanned here last summer and fall to a.-
vance Secretary Shorman's candidacy
for the Presidency, was furnished with
all stationery it used by the Treasury,
and that charges were made upon the
contingent fund to cover this stationery.
The story, as it leaked out, was that the
contigent fund at one time furnished
$500 to pay for stationery for the Sher-
man bureau, and that the amount was
never refunded.
Piney has claimed all along that the
representations made to him were that
Secretary Sherman was authority for
those upon the contingent fund for sta
tionery, and that he believed that he
was obeying the orders of bis superior.
htlldiNl Dutl illdil lldS SstlNi All1i II tilN
stationery was taken from the Trea-
sury for the literary bureau it was
without his knowledge and consent
The testimony taken by the committee
now investigating the subject shows
that the stationery was supplied to the
bureau from. the Treasury, and that
the contingent fund was charged up
with articles to cover ii. Just who was
responsible for this, perhaps, has not
yet been developed.
COMMITTEE AUTHORIZATIONS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24--The appro.
priauons committee is one that will got
pinch the pennies rs closely us Ran
dall's committee did. The chairman
is Mr.. Hiscock, Notwithstanding the
earnest fight made against him by stall
warts because he was a half-breed, and
10y western men because they claimed
that the west should bear the purse
Robson is second on this committee
as he is on the naval committee, anc
he has besides the Craftsmanship of the