Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-31


Secretary Teller. R epr esentative Val.
entins, Ex-senator John HI. Mitchell
and Other Witnesses Examined.
When the Criminal Court met this morning
Judge Key, formerly Postmaster General sat with
Judge Wyle, but before the business OF the day
was commenced he descended from the bench and
took seat with the lawyers and witnesses within
the bar. Ex-senator Mitchell, OF oregon, soon
afterwards arrived and took seat with the law
yerS for the defence.
When Mr.. Mcrrick arrived, few minutes after
10 O'Clock, Judge Wylie observed that he under
stood that the prosecution had closed, with the
exception OF one witness Mr.. Merrick assented
to this
| EX-SENATOR MITCHELL, OF OREGON, ON THR STAND
few minutes later, Mr.. Wilson having arranged
lot Of papers, ex-senator John II. Mitchell, OF
Oregon, was called to the stand as the first wit
| ness for the defence. His direct examination was
conducted by Mr.. Ingersoll. The witness said
that while In the Senate he took especial inter-
est in the mail service In his state, and frequently
called upon Second Assistant Postmaster General
Brady. The witness was asked If he had repre-
Sented the needs OF the people OF his state TO
Brady.
DIRECTING TO HEARsAy TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Bliss objected to the witness stating such
conversation.
Mr.. Ingersoll said that whereas it was charged
that these routes were expedited in pursuance or
conspiracy, the fact was that members or Con-
gress had repeatedly asked and urged the expedi-
| tfon. They proposed to show also by members of
Congress that the expedition was necessary.
Ny. Merricll said the court had refused to allow
the prosecution to show by witnesses their opin-
fused the prosecution to go outside OF the record,
and he submitted that the defence could not 60
outside or the record, especially to conversations
This conyerS ttion was something outside OF the
duties OF Senator as prescribed by the law. lie
referred also TO the fact that witnesses introduced
by Cle prosecution had formed an opinion OF the
needs OF the route, influenced only by the material
interests Of the country and not by political ad-
vantageS.
THE TESTIMONY ADMITTED.
Judge Wyle said he considered the testimony
| competent, and would admit it.
The witness said he had, in a great many cases,
| urged, or joined In urging, action by Mr.. Brady.
The witness said he would do the same again
under the same circumstances: The witness iden-
Jted letter he wrote to Brady urging increase or
service on tlfe route from Eugene City and Bridge
Creek. He had never recommended Increase or
mail service unless requested to do so by goodly
| number Of the people. He recommended the In
crease because he thought the interests OF the peo
pie would be served thereby. The Eugene City and
Bridge Creek connected the two divisions OF the
state A great portion OF the mail going from Ore
gon to California went through Ro :eLurg The
witness was examined at some length &c show that
the Eugene City route (NO. A, ,l40 WAS tn shortest
route by which mail connections coaid he made be-
tween different portions or the Stat. The witness
had no especial recollection OF spcakia; TO Brady
about the route from Canyon CITY to Fort NJ ID ~
mott and from The Dalles to Baker City. He iden-
on the routes named. He identified names OF petit
TONERS as those of men whom he considered reput-
able and reliable men. He named number OF
them who were members OF the state legislature
ALL DEMOCRATS.
''These," said the witness, holding up petition.
''are all democrats in this petition"
"They need no further recommendation" sail
Mr.. McSweeny.
"But they are all excellent men; will say
''There are exceptions to all rules" said Mr.. In
gersoll.
April, 1879, after leaving the Senate, earnestly
commencing the increase OF service route
4.140. The witness said that Congress made a
grant OF land, which was given by the legislature
Of the state to a company to build the willamette
| road across the Cascade mountains from western
to eastern oregon, and over portion OF this road
ran route A, 40
MR. MITCHELL WAS CRoss-ExAMINED
by Mr.. Bliss. The witness said he had never in
| vestigated the amount Of the mail matter that
passed over the Eugene City route: he had never
| been over the route. Witness did not know
over the length OF the route. He did not know how
| the petitions were gotten up; they did not come
| know how much extra expense the proposed In
crease would involve; he did not think OF the
psc and da not the would
considered that, but looked out for his own inter-
ests.
Mr.. Wilson, upon direct examination, had the
witness read Jetter he wrote November 16, 1873,
urging increase OF service in order to supply Camp
Harvey and others In that vicinity.
The witness said that during his services in the
Senate he had frequently called at the Post Omce
department. and urged no particular policy OF his
nicated to him by letters and petitions
Upon re-croSS-examinatiOn the witness said in
reference to petitions that were shown him
that he did not know whether the figures that had
been written over erasures were in the petitions
when he endorsed them or not
REPRESENTATIVE VALENTINE AS A WITNESS.
Hon. Edward X. Valentine, member of Congress
from Nebraska, was next called to the stand He
said he had called upon Mr.. Brady almost every
day after he came to Congress for three or four
MONTHS to urge increase OF mail service In his
state.
Mr.. Bliss called attention to the fact that there
was but one route in Nebraska effected by the in
dictment The witness Sail he had received, as
he entered Congress, a large number OF petitions
and letters asking for increased service, In Obedi-
ence to which he called at the Post Ofice depart
nent In some Instances Mr.. Brady met him with
q statement OF the revenues OF route and SuG-
gestion that the department could not afford to
grant the proposed increase. Witness set forth
the needs Of the country, and urged that the rev.
witness identified his Endorsement on letter rec
Ommending an increase on the route from Kearney
TO Loup City.
SECRETARY TELLER ON THE STAND.
Hon. Henry NJ. Teller, Secretary of the Interior,
was then called to the stand. He testified that he
was Senator from Colorado in 1878. While Sena-
tor, in the years 1878 and 1S9 he frequently called
upon Mr. Brady In reference to the increase and
expedition OF routes. Witness had the theory that
the government owed it to the people of the west
to give them mail service. He thought the people
who went out to settle new country had a right
to good mail service. He never inquired about the
COST for he did not think that ought to be cOnsid
cred. Witness urged various reasons why the
routes should be expedited. In that country
whenever mining camp was established Off from
line OF the railroad, the people would begin to
cfamOr for mail facilities. Witness urged also that
he thought the Indian question would be settled
by increasing the mail rOutes as that would bring
people, and the more people who settled there the
less trouble they would have with the Indians
The routes from SilvertOn to Durango, from Oio
Caliente to Durango had been taken up with rail-
roads.
THE COURT DECLINED
to admit further testimony On this point.
Mr. Ingersoll said he wanted to show that while
there was talk about the smaller cost OF the star
service now than formerly, as matter of fact the
more expensive routes had been supplanted
by railroad lines
On cross-examination by Mr.. Bliss, Mr. Teller
said that ne thought that the expedition of routes
had considerable to do with the settlement OF the
Indian question, because the quicker the mail
reached u certain place the more desirable that
place became as residence.
Mr. IngersOn called for Representative Page, of
California, and Representative BelfOrd of Colo
vn n m f1nnM l<w,ar