Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-01
CAPITAL NOTES.
The Star Route Pr0se Observation-Disclosures
ofSsveral Important vyitnesses-No Ac-
ton on the River and Harbor Bill Yet
An Investigation Necessary - General
NeWe. O.
Star Routes,

News.
| Star Routes.
WASHINGTON, July 31.-Ex- Senator Mitch
ell, of Oregon, appeared as witness for the
| defense in the star route trial to-day. He
| testified he had frequent conversations with
Brady concerning the extension of the mail
service in Oregon. In mauy instances he had
presented petitions to Brady and had endorsed
and urged them on. He would do the same
thing again under similar circumstances.
He never recommended an increase of expedi-
constituents. The signers of the
petitions were highly respectable citizens.
u pom the cross examination witness said the
expense OF the increase never entered into his
mind when he recommended it. He only took
do with contractors.
Representative Valentine, OF Nebraska,
testified he had called almost daily for some
time upon Brady in connection with an in
crease of mail facilities in his section. He
understood his people wanted fast and fire.
quent mails. He did not always obtain the
increase sought for, being met with the
objection that the receipts were too small
Secretary Teller was the next witness.
While In the senate he had very frequently call
ed upon Gen. Brady in connection with the
mail service in his state. He had a general
theory as to the duty OF the government in
which western mail routes were concerned.
lie had often expressed the belief both in
the senate and to Gen. Brady, in his judgment
every town and mining town in the west
should have mail facilities equal to the towns
in New York. There was no more reason for
expecting such service to be self-sustaining
than for the expectation that the army and
navy should be self-sustainipg. His own
business with the department had almost ID
" iat1 10 hoo,
had been usually successful in securing such
improvements as he desired. His people had
pressed him to secure these increases
and he believed he was only doing his duty in
trying to obtain them. Mining camps in his
state frequently grow into large towns in a
few months. He had represented to the Sec
ond assistant postmaster general that good
| and frequent mail service would tend to settle
the Indian question.
After calling without success for RepreSen-
tatives Page and BelfOrd, the defense called
DIR. ID. Ill. Peterson, OF Louisiana.
He was mail contractor and knew the wit.
ness, Walsh. He had heard portion of his
testimony and read the remainder Witness
was asked if he had ever given postal drafts to
Walsh, but the question was objected to by the
prosecution. In the argument which followed
Ingersoll said itilmight come to light that
Peterson had paid Walsh as his attorney but
that Gen. Brady knew nothing of the trans
action. Ii they could prove Peterson had
never paid the money as testified by Walsh it
would certainly destroy the foundation Of that
story, and tend to discredit the entire con-
versatiOn. A long argument followed upon
this point, which was interrupted by the
usual recess.
After recess Bliss took up the argument
and said If the evidence was admitted the gov
eminent would have to produce documentary
evidence which would show the disposition of
had rafi tnta uvt csctap with hn clio
which he assumed Peterson would tell.
The long Investigation which would follow
would drag in another gentlamen whose name
had already been mentioned in this case, but
whom be desired to leave out of it altogether.
1t would compel the government to supple
ment Walsn'o testimony by evidence which
would show that his, not Peterson's, was the
correct statement. He. therefore, believed
it best to exclude the testimony. The
court said it seemed to him that the evil
dence was not admissible. The evidence
to be given by Peterson did rot seem TO con-
tradict anything said by Walsh. His state
ment might be true SO far as he was concerned
and yet Walsh's story of what Brady said
might be true. Brady might have been lying
when he told Walsh of Peterson. A man who
would seize notes OF commit highway robbery
would not hesitate about lying. If all men
would tell the truth perhaps this testimony
could be received.
MCSWeeny-But WhaI would lawyers do IN
such state of society.
The court said if this testimony was received
it would open up subject that might be gone
into indefinitely. 1t was question of truth
between Brady and Walsh and Brady was
competent witness.
Wilson then noted exception in which it is
stated the offer of defense to prove the
drafts were alluded to by the witness, Walsh,
were given to Walsh by Peterson in return
for services rendered as attorney, and that
Brady had no connection, directly or Indirect
ly, with the transaction.
The form OF execution was objected TO by
the court who said the defense had the privi-
lege of proving by the witness, If they could
that Brady was not concerned in the transac.
ton.
Witness was then asked if he had ever paid
Brady any money for expedition. This ques-
tion was objected to and sustained because
PetersOnS route was not included in the IN
dictment. After another unsuccessful effort
to put the question in another form witness
was directed to stand aside.
John l.. French, chief clerk in the OIL ce Of
the second assistant postmaster general, testi-
fed it was usual circumstance for persons
to combine for the purpose of bidding for con-
tracts and this was practice well known to
the department and it was usual for parties 10
bid over their own names and not
in the name of combination.
Witness then detailed the practices
of the contract Office, saying the old contract
was used as guide in preparing advertise
ments for new service. New routes were
usually started with slow schedule and in
creased as seemed necessary. Witness said it
was a frequent occurrence to change the SER
vice under contract after It's execution and
before the beginning of the service under it.
1t was au invariable custom to allow the con-
tractor a months extra pay even il the order
for the service had been revoked before the
date had arrived for putting on the service.
Witness believed the second assistant postmas-
ter general was called upon to sign his name
about 500 or 600 times every day. After
describing at length the business of the con.
tract office the conclusion of the witness res-
timony was postponed until tomorrow. Al
journed.