Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-25
The Magic of Brady,s Figures.

There seems to be considerable trouble In the
Criminal Court in cOmprehending what pro rata
means In connection with expedting mail routes
and the geOmetrfc progression by which contrac-
tors pay Swelled under the rules of arithmetic as
applied by Brady. The purport OF the law, as TO
compensation, when route Is expedited, Is
plainly only TO compensate the contractor for the
additional stock and carriers he is Obliged to en-
ploy and not to increase his profits pro rata II
man employs three horses and men at the begin
ming. all additional compensation WILL il the law
Is carried out, be 'prO rated" with that original
compensation. The known elements Of the pro-
portion then are the original number OF men and
horses, the original compensation and the addi-
tional number OF men and animals: the unknown
quantity representing the amount OF pay which
can be allowed under the Limitations OF the law
The fraud Is that the contractors 'pro rate" with
the pay after it has been Increased, as q basis a
practice which may be'defended under the doc
trine OF cGredt eptOT but not under rules equity
Inc number OF men and horses required origin
ally Is four, and the number required under the
expedited schedule six The sum in proportion
then TO be solved can be stated as follow5 AS 4
Is to so is s1C0 TO y. y will be found to be $3.50
and the additional amount to be allowed for ex-
petition is but $50, matter hOo 1nafy times the
Number Of trips may De Increased, for the conDe1,-
sdfion for such increase OF trips is prOrided for by
separate ana special talr The sum then to be
paid for the service, after it has been expedited
and increased, would be three times 500 plus $50
squalls $3.50. The amount under the Brady rule
would be three times $50, or $50. The Brady
rule was not TO ''prO rate with the original number
N horses and original pay, but he so applied the
arithmetic, as TO include In his combination all
The additional pay allowed for additional trips.
u the expedition Were ordered first 81 nd then
additional trips, Brady wrongfully multiplied the
compensation allowed merely for extra horses and
men by the number of trips added. as though that
number or extra horses and men would be required
IN every trip.
An example, in which the orders were not very
complicated, is afforded by the route from Pueblo
70 Rosita-one OF the routes that forms the basis
Of the present trial The original contract called
for one trip week fifteen hours schedule and
provided a compensation OF 1888. The contractor
made affidavit that this service required eight
men and animals An order was made to increase
the number OF trips 10 seven week and to reduce
the schedule to ten hours. The contractor made
afhdavit that the expedited schedule would require
twenty-four men and animals. As is to "a SO is
SSo6 to 1,164 This sum OF S1,16i ne multiplied by
], and allowed the contractor the product, which
Was Sis The amount that should be allowed Is
shown by the following calculation: As S is to a.
30 1888 Is to Sligo The additional amount to be
allowed for expedition then is s776. For the in
creased trips the contractor should receive pro
vatd, or : Y 1888, which equals s27l6 The total
amount due him then, after expedition and in
crease, is S2,116, plus S776, or $, 492.