Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-10
DORSEY.
Report that Proceedings Have Been
Commenced Against Him.
Quite a Revelation of Star Route lob
berry Promised.

PORTLAND, OREGON, May 10. - Dis
patches from Denver, published yester-
day, give information that legal proceed
ings have been commenced there against
Senator Dorsey, of Arkansaw, now secre-
tary of the national republican committee,
for services rendered to obtain an increase
in the mail service, and get additional pay
therefor, on "star routes" in Oregon. The
announcement attracts much attention
here, more so from the fact that it was
stated that the papers on which the suit
had been instituted ut Denver had been
received ut Denver from q well-known
attorney at Portland and that claimant
was well-known politician here in Ore
gonian street. The history of it freely
identified ex-senator Dorsey with the
star route robbery. The claimant in the
suit is Frank d, Wilcox, who, though
| formerly connected with politics in Ar
kansaw, has not appeared prominently in
politics here. He went to Arkansaw from
| Illinois in 1869, and became acquainted
with Dorsey there. He was secretary of
the state republican committee Of Arkan-
saw, though he never held an Office and
bore no prominent part in the election
of Dorsey to the senate Desiring to get
out of politics he left Arkansaw and came
to Oregon in 1871 When Dorsey began to
operate star routes in Oregon, he remem.
bered that Wilcox had come to this state
and as his relations with him had been of
the most intimate kind he fixed upon
Wilcox as the man to help him TO work
up to higher figures on the mail routes in
which he had become interested. Dorsey
first telegraphed to parties in Portland to
learn if Wilcox was there. Having ascer-
tanned that he was, he wrote him, stating
what service he wanted performed and di-
rected him to 60 to Eugene City, giving
instructions at the same time how to get
up petitions, have them signed, and make
sub-contracts for carrying the mails. The
petitions were to be forwarded to Wash
ington to be used in getting the service
and pay increased. For the service re-
duired Wilcox was to receive five dollars
a day and expenses. Before starting for
Eugene City he had the following tele-
gram:
"WAsHINGToN, d. c., April 26, 1872
| +. r. Wilcox All my other letters are
written to Eugene City; have telegraphed
money; inquire at telegraph office go i'm
mediately." IS. w. DORSEY"
The money being received for expenses
Wilcox went to Eugene City where he
received Dorsey's other letters directing
him how to proceed.
The route Dorsey first wished to oper-
ate on was out from Eugene City across
the Cascade mountains to Mitchell, in
eastern Oregon, by way Of Pinevale. The
route is almost wholly unnecessary,
as it passes through a nearly uninhab-
tied country and small centers Of
population on the east of the Cascade
range are supplied by other routes Dor
sey drew up in his own hand and for
warded to Wilcox the following form of
petition, on which signatures were to he
obtained, which was forwarded to Post
master General Key;
"The undersigned citizens Of Bridge
Greek, Oregon, beg to earnestly recom-
mend to your favorable consideration an
incIeas of mail service between Eugene
City and this place to daily line, and
ask that speed be greatly increased. This
route supplies large and rapidly increas-
ing population, and is the sole means Of
conveying intelligence to great portion
of southern Oregon. We believe the pub
lie interest will be greatly subserved by
an early increase of this service, and we
earnestly recommend It"
To this Dorsey added the following
words Of instruction to Wilcox:"O course
you want the wording, as we'll as the
handwriting Of each person to be as diff.
ferent as possible"
Dorsey next proceeded to instruct VIII.
COX how to sublet n route, as the follow
Ing telegram shows.
TWAsaIYGToN, April %, ls79.-To f.
r. Wilcox, Eugene City, Make contract
for Bridge Creek route for o speed of four
nnu half miles an hour; three trips a
week no sub contract to be filed, but pay
ment to be guaranteed guaranteed by me
personally. Make the same contract on
| Looking Glass route S. w. Dorsey"
ThR folloying was the next telegram
received by WflG01:
"WAsHiEGTos, April Is, 1S7a.-To F.
r. Wilcox Make no compromises with
sub-eontractors; must be an absolutely
new contract, with the amount specially
stated Telegraph fully upon the closing
Of contract. 5. w. DORSEY
n Fearing that Wilcox would not fully
undevtand, Dorsey. at later hour of the
same day, teiographed as follows
"WAsHINGToN, ID. C., April %, 1879
TO L. Il Wilcox.-A new contract be-
eonas necessary because the old firm has
been dissolved, and the business passes
into new hands. Must have new con-
tract, or no pay The contract on Bridge
! Greek route. for three, six and seven
times, on schedule four miles an hour
also same on Looking Glass route. Tele
; graph me fully be ore closing any con.
b trart Deal with rpsponsiblo man