Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-25
Trssday EvsHins, Get IS, 1851
JUDGE KEY AND HIS FRIEND
TTEER.

JUDGE KEY AND MS FRIEND
TTEER-
Judge Key, ex-P Postmaster General,
has bsen interviewed in Nashville in
regard to the recent publication in
reference TO the Assistant Postmaster
General, and the result appears at
length in yesterdays American. He
talked with reluctance at first, but IS
he warmed up. become quite out
spoken. He said he owed much to
Judge Tyner, and probably
owed it as = duty to
gyusr and himself, and the public
to make a statement. He said com
plants Lad been made Of the sdmin-
iItratisa Of the postal service On the
Pacific coast, aud in the summer Of.
1879 be sent Judge Fyner TO make a
erefuliaspsetion Of that entrersgion.
Judgs Tyner spent two or three
months in bis investigations aud re.
turned 10 Washington about the first
Of autumn 1879. He prepared a
written report. in which be dissp-
proved the action Of the Second AS
istaht Postmaster General lie ex-
pedidng the ssrTics on several routes.
General Brady, as fsr as known,
had 30 knowledge of the investigation
at the time. and Judge Key concluded
that to file the report would be an
imputstion upon Brsdy's honesty and
raise a row. Tyner declared be
thought Brady was honest and Judge
Key then suggested to him to with
hold the report and have a free talk
with Brady and show him bis report
if he saw fit. General Tyner agreed
to this. Judge Key set about quietly
making a personal examination of the
files and discovered in every in
stance where the service had
been expedited that it was
sustained By documentary evidences
and generally inSorsed by Delegates or
members Of Congress he found also
that Major Eaton, a special agent Of
the contract bureau, had been sent
by General Brady 10 Inspect the most
Of these routes, and had reported in
favor OF increase and expedition. On
q side was Judge Tyner's strong
and decided Judgment; on the other
the documentary evidence and Special
Agent EatOn's opinion. Congress was
not in session. snd Judge Key con.
cluded the best thing he could DO
would be TO wait until it met again.
when be could see the members from
the Pacific cost and hear what they
had to say. Meantime he prepared
areport to Congressin and asked for a
deficiency appropriation for the star
route service. which after thorough
investigation Congress granted.
Judge Key concludes his history Of
the affair IS follows.
Il becsme sleshed that General
Brady's action in the premises had
been hSaest aud was justified By the
evidences 90 which be acted, Al opiu-
ion / have seen nothing 70 change.
But, il | be zist.ksB in this, surely
am not mistakes IS b the great ioius.
tee done 10 General Tyner By tic at
tempt to remove him on the grounds
stated By the public press. Bu'. over
and above all this, Congress made an
appropriation for the service a. Brady
had expedited it; and, a. executive
officers, Eo we're controlled By It's ae
ton. 1t would hsys been imperti-
nent and inexcussble in me TO have
down 10 the face Of Congress, aud to
have claimed more wisdom and hon.
esty than that body possessed
SO it appears that Postmaster Cen
eral hey was aware that TyDers tell
ing report was in a pigeon hole, while
Congress, in the face Of great diff.
culties and opposition, YVES trying TO
make an investigation. When Con.
gress finally passed the Star Route
appropriation he felt easy. He may
ezculFate Tyner to some oxten' but
his own statement does not place him
in a favorable ligbtbefore the country.
He was a party to, if not the principal,
in the suppression Of a most imp rtant
document, which, if produced at the
right time, would have defeated the
excessive Star Route appropriation,
which wa, barely, but boldly, lobbied
through Congress.