The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-09-20

THE SEMI-V
HISTORY OF ran STAR
3OUT2
The unsatisfactory termination d
the Star route trials, which hava
been occupying public attention and
accounts Of the proceedings Of which
have burdened the wires for several
, weeks past, has directed anew the
attention Of people to the subject
matter upoa which these cases were
founded. It hes also proven what
has teen repeatedly charged BY the
Democratic press Of the country,
that the prime leaders, in oil rings
which have been formed under .
Republican Administration, escape
punishment. We have in the histo-
~ Of this Star route business evi-
dence Of this fact. It b known by
well4ntofmed men that these Star
routes have been worked, by = few
men high In o6icial position, for the
purpose OF individual gain, and that
they have been seconded in their
designs b admitted by al.
1t b hardly necessary to state that
contracts for carrying the mails are
let out every four years, and that
their Lettings have been and still are
at the disposal Of Republican Of.
ncials. Where the CONTRACTOR made
their money was In manipulating
contracts made for carrying mails In
sperse]y settled portions Of The west
aud southwest. This was dose by
the expediting or increasing the ser
vice from weekly to . tyi-weekly or
daily service, and ~ this expediting
was discretionary with the Postmas-
ter General, he has been considered
the party responsible for the abuses
which have grown out Of the prac-
tiee. but the name Of General
Reyes, who was Postmaster General
under Hayes administration, has
seldom been mentioned In connec-
ton with the trial. Brady, his
Second Assistant, is the person who
controlled the lettings, and who was
one Of the principal defendants In
the recent farce.
The way the business was con-
Quoted was about a. follows: Routes
would be let to parties upon which
to carry mails once q week. Upon
some Of them not more than half
dozen letters would lie carried 1t .
time, but this cut NO figure with |
those who wished to make money |
out Of the route. An application,
i,,stigated by the contractor, would |
be made to expedite the route from
. weekly to . seini-wcekly, or tIi-
weekly, or daily. OF course the
expense would Ike increased
in something like geometrical rates.
Mr.. Brady, who. It seems, was dis
posed to be accommodating, gcner.
ally granted these applications and
allowed the extra amount for the
extra service. At one session dur
ing Hayes' administration, when the
expenditures for postal service had
greatly exceeded the appropriations
made for 1t, q Democratic House Of
Representatives asked him for an ex-
PLANTATION. In reply the House was
told It was none Of its business. An
effort was then made 10 investigate
the matter, but with every DEPART
'nent Of the Government In the
hands Of the Republicans, and each
showing hostility toward the move
and throwing every obstacle in it's
way the House Committee was
forced to abandon 1t. Had the ef.
IOrts which were then made been
honestly seconded by the party then
IN power, millions Of dollars would
be saved to the country aud tile dis
graceful farce which has been going
IN at Washington would have been
svertctl. ;
The Star routes are located In eight
States and seven Territories. For :
he four years term ending June, +,
S78, the mails were carried on tie
star routes in these States and Terri.
cries for =, 81, oO per annum. The !
xpediting process raised this sum to {
:, ~ ,OW In 1879. In 1SSO this latter !
mount was increased to s, 81.
'ince the breaking up Of the ring the
nails are now carried on these
Outes under the contracts let last
uly for s., olS,O 900. The parties who a
re supposed to be implicated In the
ing are Brady, ex-senator Dorsey, y
nd his brother, Miner, Reerlell, a
'aile, and several others of lesser 3
ote. According to the figures :
hove given they got away with at I
asst two and q half millions Of DOL
NJ. To convict these parties the
government has spent over $4,000,
'hich amount will be more than {
oubled by the new trials that will =
undoubtedly be commenced as soon "
: p.ssible. The end Is not yet, and ..
re party that boastfully speaks Of its h
lofty aims and heroic endeavors" =,
Ill lind the people disposed to hold
responsible for the raids which y
Ms ring has made upon the public :;
reasury. n
We are IN receipt Of No. l, volume y
Of the Orcg0M Short Line Record, t.
ablished at HALEY, Idaho. The o.
ccord Is . quarto, neatly printed, III
ID says It us designed to supply re- =,
able information concerning the +,
vt empire Of the Northwest, trsv- II
sed BY the Oregon Short Line, and II
"a "a =