The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-03-24

1t is often asked, what difference
is there between, a t'straw bidder"
and "star router.n We answer that
there Is no difference in principle.
Both are deliberate robbers of govern
ment funds. For many years It has
been tho custom for leading mail
contractors to have st hand Il con-
venieut tool in the character OF
rascal TO act rs straw bidder. His
straw bed agent Is usually Il sharp
man, one that knows no law except
to break Ii. Ho puts in his bid ae-
eording TO his contract with the prin-
eipal bidder, but never intends TO
perfect 1t. The contractors proper
put in their bids we'll up aud for all
the government can stand. To pre-
vent under bidders from taking the
contract the straw bidder steps in
and secures tho contract. Now the
manipulation comes In. Tho straw
bidder gives u small bond like all
other bidders to take The contract Ii
1t Is awarded to him. But when the
matter is clear belweoa himself and
the highest bidder the straw bidder
negiects to perfect the contract and
refuses to take 1t, pays his forfeil
and throws tho contract into the
hands of his friend and receives his
Ave, ten or fifteen thousand dollars, as
the ease may be, for his rascality, and
gets out OF the way. Tho highest
bidder now takes ihe contract. Straw
bid thieves are the most persistent
raiders on the public funds in an in
direct way that the government Is
cursed with. Though they are cheep
there is not an honest Impulse in the
whole business. This black-mailing
scheme worked Sd we'll that these
leeches on the puplic treasury con-
ceived the Star Route plan TO rob the
government in q more thorough man.
ner. We have the plan. For In
stance, il contract was let for week
iy mail, at the proper time thereafter
petition; would be framed aud pre-
seated To the department officers pur-
porting to come from residents on the
particular route asking for tri-veek-
ly or daily mail over the same route.
This proposition Was considered by
the proper officers, who might have
been in the interest Of the applicant
or not enough in the interest oi his
employer, and the contract was re-
duced at once to q tri-weekly or
daily route. The price fer carrying
the mail was fixed accordingly. If
the weekly route was carried for five
thousand dollars per year, tie trl-
weekly would be raised usually TO
three times that sum; IL 4 daily route
was established the increase would
be in the same proportion. Routes
were raised in this way all over the
country. Some few Of them were
meritorious, but millions OF dollars
haxsa haa., faI-o. from, ,ia 4 .rr.a-
suIy in this way on routes that should
never be other than weekly routes.
In all these cases the straw bidder
and star route schcmers have claimed
law enough to protect them, it il so
with all dishonest contractors, but It
Is plain to be seen that it was well
organized plan to rob the government.
There is no difference bciween the
straw bid thief aad the star route
criminal and the government is rec
reant to its duty II It does not pun
ish b0th alike. Like Guileau they
should have their basts taken that
future generations may see the de-
lectable mugs OF these execre9ence
which our country is removing from
its body, and which began with it
in small way, but which has grown
now so large that it takes the whole
power of the government to arrest
their progress. These men are con-
stantIy locking out for Office or con.
| tracts.