Morning journal and courier., 1882-06-16
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

Tae Star Route TriaIs-Further Evil
 dence for the Prosecution-Dif1cul
 Ina Making Up the Tariff Commission
 Other Happenings.
 WASHINGTON, June 15.-In the Star route cases to day J. F. H. Blois, paying clerk in the second assistant Postmaster Generals office, identified certain warrants for service in the Kearney-Kent route paid to Miner on Vailes account. M. M. Nicholson. topo grapher of the Postofice department, testi- fled as to the correctness of maps of the St. Charles -Greenhorn route and also the Rear ney- Kent route. The witness had been re- quested by Inspector Woodward to furnish these maps, and the one in question had been prepared in part upon information fur nished by the sub.contractor French, and witness was not willing to state positively that it was correct. The defence then asked the court to direct Mir. Nicholson to make correct map of the route, and after they had explained the necessity for such map, it was agreed that the department should fur nish it. MT. Bliss then offered in evidence letter from William Ingersoll the postmaster at Pueblo, to the second assistant Postmaster General, dated December 15, 1877, wherein he notifies the latter officer that the distances on the route from St. Charles to Greenhorn had been wrongly advertised. After struggle the letter was admitted. The advertisement places the distance between St. Charles and Greenhorn at thirty five miles, and the postmaster in his letter states that it is that distance from Pueblo Ca way station) to St. Charles, and adds that he does not see how the mails can reach St. Charles without passing through Pueblo An allowance for twelve additional miles was afterward allowed the contractor on this route. Another letter from the same postmaster endorsed by Charles Adams a special agent of the Postofice de pertinent, asserts that St. Charles is only a water-tank, and informs the second assistant Postmaster General that all of the mail pouches are made up at Pueblo. The special agents endorsement calls attention to the in- correct advertisement of the distance, and advises a change so as to make Pueblo the terminal station. He adds that by sharp practice advantage has been taken of the mistake so as to add several hundred dollars to the contractors pay. A number of peti- tions and letters were presented by MT. Bliss, all asking for increased service and faster schedule. In instances the re- quest for faster schedule had been written 1n different ink from the body of the petition. Some of these papers were transmitted to the department by Senator Chaffee. Many of the petitions referring to this route are ln nearly identical language and this IS also true of those introduced in connection With the route from Kearney to Kent. The pres ent Secretary of the Interior had forwarded some of these papers to the department. Mir. Merrick handed them to tbe jury as they were read, requesting them to look over in sertions. Then followed the affidavit of Miner, wherein he says the number of men necessary to carry the mails on the existing schedule is one man and one animal, and upon the schedule as expedited to seven hours Is two men and four animals Brady's order for expedition and increase on the route was | read, also an order to include Agate In the | route, allowing pay for three additional miles $365 90) to the contractor. Upon the rep resentations contained in another batch of let ters Agate was discontinued in January, 1881, | just one month from the date it was place on the route, and one months compensation ($3O) was allowed the contractor. These | letters state that the service never was per l formed and describe the route as lmpracti- cable. With the conclusion of the examlna- tion of the ex postmaster of Agate court ad- | journed till tomorrow.
 Sergeant Mason's counsel have prepared l review of the case to lay before the President
 with view to have the sentence revised The House Committee on Foreign Affairs to day repor ed bill for an appropriation of
 $50, ,OOO to make an exhibition at the fish ex- hibition in London in 1883.
 Rear Admiral Nichols of the European squadron, telegraphs the Secretary of the Navy that he sailed to-day with the entire | squadron for Alexandria, Egypt, to remain | until the troubles over.
 l There was another protracted meeting of the Cabinet to-day, the session lasting three | hours and a half The members are reticent,
 but it is understood that no name in place of A. A. Low has been yet selected. Several
 declinations have been received since that of | Low. The President and Cabinet are much | vexed over the matter A successor to Phelps has been agreed upon and he has ac- | cepted.
 The President sent in the following nom-
 nations to the Senate o-day: Postmasters
 Lorenzo w. Joy at Northampton, George N.'
 Brigham at Rockville, Ct., Charles l.. Olm-
 sted at Norwalk, Ct., and Theodore J. Das-
 kam at Stamford, Ct.
 The Ways and Means committee met this
 morning to consider the question of final ad- iournment. The general impression seemed
 delay in the Senate and intimation from
 the Senators that the upper house would not
 be ready to adjourn by that time the con-
 mittee postponed decision.
 As Senator Hale returns from
 Maine Senator Pendleton will call up the
 resolution in relation to assessments levied
 on government employees. MT Pendleton has
 received circulars and letters by the hundred
 from gove nment clerks urging him to press
 the resolution. Mir Hale intends to defend
 the Congressional committee from any charge
 of levying assessments, and to insist that
 voluntary contributions are all that are