San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-09-08
sCos HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8. 1881

this service maintained 10 its fullest
extent, and not destroyed by reason
Of any corruption alleged against the
officials Of the postal department.
In these articles these two Texai
papers present a clear issue. They
boldly state and defond the star route
swindle. They defend congressman
Upson for his part in the wretched
business, and,as II to provoke public
discussion OF this matter, thoy attack
congressman Reagan for his exposure
and denunciation Of these frauds dur
ing the 46th congress-
Are these papers the friends Of
Judge Upsonf II SO he may well cry
out "saYe. mo from my friends.
Surely these papers can not be well
advised of the real facts in relation To
this monstrous outrage. If they are.
however, then it may be safely said
of them "Whom the Gods would des'
troy they first make mad
How far they may succeed in mir.
leading the people Of their immediate
vicinity on this subject we cannot
know. But it is at least wonderful,
in the light Of the revelations made
in congress n year ago on this subject
and now being so fully discussed by
the leading newspapers the country,
that the should commit themselves To
tho defense of frauds 80 gross, 80
enormous and 80 utterly indefensible
They may not thank us for the sug'
gestion, but if they are wise they
will hold up in this matter until con
gress and the courts get through
with it, and protect themselves and
friends from too great prominence in
connection with it.
Our space will not permit full an'
swer to the particles referred to now,
and we have not to be compelled to
recur to this subject again until its
authoritative and legal investigation
has been had. It is shown by the
letter Of the Washington correspond.
ent of the New York Herald OF April
Oath ult., that there are in al the
u. s. and Territories nine thousand
two hundred and twenty-five star
mail routes. tits also shown that but
ninety three OF these were increased
or affected by the star route swindle'
Leaving nine thousand, and one hun
tlred and thirty.two Of the star routes
untouched by this controversy. The
original contract price for carrying
the mails on these 90 routes in the
hands of the star route ring was
1927, ,1l9. For real or pretended in
crease of trips, expediting, that is in
creasing the speed on these 93routes,
the pay of tho contractors was in
creased to the sum of $2,8O2,2lb.
Showing that the pay on these 80 pet
routes was increased by the sum OF
50, ,575,O95 per annum. Let it be re-
membered that these contracts cover
four years. While these 93 routes
get $2,8O2,2 214 all Of the others 9,132
routes get $3,O97, 1856 for tho service
on them. Nearly one half OF the
7, 100000 appropriated go on these
% pet routes. Multiply the amount
of this annual increase by the num-
Der Of years it was allowed for, and
you reach the aggregate OF the frauds,
the short time between the
letting and the increase OF
pay. Now when it seen that only
93 mail routes are involved in this ex-
posure what becomes Of the grossly
false charge that those who OK
posed and denounced these frauds
were trying to "destroy the star ser
vice" were "striking at the life OF the
star SERVICE" as these papers say;
when in fact 9,132 star routes were
in no way to be affected; and only
these 80 pet routes, which are getting
more than $4,000, 900 a year above
The original price at which they were
et out are alone to be effected.
Again what does the Express mean
" hen it says "Senator Maxey and
Congressman Upson did oppose des-
troying the principal mail service in
nearly the whole Of Texas and the
yreat Westi' It can only mean that
hose who exposed and denounced
,hese star route frauds were by 80
loing endangering "nearly the whole,
tar route mail service sin Texas and
he great West We have already
ihown the very small portion OF the
star routes affected. Now let us see
specifically the number Of star routes
which are effected in Texas and whole
Il the southwest.
OF all the star routes in Texas only
line are affected. Two let to +. c,
Armstrong, one TO @. b. Price, one
o G. Balm, one 10 H. Tisdale. 2 to
:. G. TAYLOR, one TO @. T. Chidister
nd one to Chas. Andrews. The
,riginal contract price for the carrying
4 the mails on these nine Texas
Outes was sl72,19l, this was in
reased by the order Of Gen; Brady,
without competition or the allowance
4 bids for the service by others to
400. .035: being a Gear increase OF
sl5s,s4l See what becomes Of the
aIse charges that the denouncers oil
he frauds were trying 70 destroy
ieuly the whole service OF Tex1s!
low, were tie Express and Evening
light advised Of these fsctss IL not
nd Il they were misled BY Others TO
aslse snch statements a. they have,
M t,sey DO Their readers the Jnstce
D make them known now
ea1 that