The Portland daily press., 1881-04-23
STAR ROUTE FRAUDS.
A Scheme for the Absorption of
100000.
THE CASE IN THE HANDS OF THE At
TORNEY GENERA

WASHINGTON, April 21.-The suddenly ten
dered resignation of Second Assistant Post
master General Brady has created great deal
of talk and considerable of sensation. Ever
since Postmaster General James entered upon
the discharge of his duties, the air has been
thick with rumors which could not however,
be verified. to the effect that Gen. Brady's re-
moval was lforegone conclusion, and all the
stories which were circulated impugning his
honesty at the time the Star route service was
investigated by the Blackburn committee have
been revived 1t has been represented, mean
time, that the relations between Messrs. Brady
and James were of the most cordial character,
and many persons standing near the former
have secuted the idea that any case against
General Brady could be made out. 1t would
appear that there has been much more behind
the rumors than was acknowledged at the
Post Office Department, or than was suspected
by those interested on the other side, and it is
thought the developments in the near future
will naturally lead up to other important
changes in the personnel of the Office of the
Second Assistant Postmaster General, such
changes, it is understood, having become i'm
perative by the dereliction and uufathfulness
on the part of the present incumbents. The spe-
cific information bearing on the Star route scam
dial is carefully withheld by the post office ofc-
lals, but it is admitted the records show that
on the LIST Of January. 1880, the pay for carry
ing the mails on less than 100 out of more than
5000 Star routes, had been increased from
about 100000 at the time of letting to 80 $780,
OOO,, by orders for additional trips and short
ened time. A considerable part of this in
creased service, according to the evidence ac-
cumulated, was either not perfol med at all, or
very imperfectly performed, the irregularities
being carefully planned, it is supposed, for the
purpose of transferring money from the Treas
ury to the pockets of favored contractors and
their confederates. The Irregularities seem to
have been confined chiefly to routes west of
the Mississippi river, and to those in the terri
forinc flor fop6arino hiS
day, General Brady left for New York.
WASHINGTON, April 22-The irregular
and fraudulent transactions which have been
uncovered in the contracts of the Post Office
Department by the investigation of Postmaster
General James, are the principal topics of dis
cussion to-day, especially in executive depart
ments here. Large number of inquiries are
made of those who are supposed to be acquaint-
ed with the facts as to the number of persons
and who they are that will be affected in their
official capacities. A member of the Hayes
cabinet, in conversation on the subject this
morning, expressed great surprise when he was
told that the corruption extended over the en-
tire period of the previous administration.
While the gentleman expressed his faith in
the honesty and integrity of the immediate
predecessor of Postmaster General James he
said that If cabinet statements were true they
clearly indicated that those officials have been
sadly ignorant of the details and operations of
the various bureaus under their charge. The
case against Brady and friends has been pre-
scented lin its incomplete shape to President
Garfield and instructions at once given to COM
pete the evidence and lay the whole subject
including the accumulated mass of documents,
affidavits and various descriptions of incrimi-
mating memorandum before Attorney General
MacVeagh for such action as may hereafter be
. determined upon. Meantime very little infor-
nation of an official character can be obtained,
but it is intimated that installments will be
furnished for publication as rapidly as it seems
judicious to those having the investigation in
hand The statement that Judge Tyner was
implicated in the frauds is said to have no
foundation and if he is replaced at all, which
does not at present seem likely. it will not be
on account OF any connection with the Brady
that while Judge Tyner was cognizant of the
a disposition to expose them both he and Gen.
Key were overruled by Gen. Brady whose
power in the post Office seems in view OF recent
developments to have been almost absolutely
supreme. Brady was appointed Second As
sistant Postmaster General July "a, 1876, TO
succeed Tyner, who twelve days before had
been promoted to be Postmaster General.
When Hayes administration came into power
in the following March Brady was retained,
holding office until his resignation on Wednes-
day.
A Card from Gen. Brady.
The following has been received here:
New YORK, April o.
Geo. C. Gorhans, Republican Office, Washngton
You will please say for me that all charges, direct
or indirect, affecting my int gritty public ofc-
ial are absolutely and unqualifedly false.
(Signe0 THos. X. BRADY.