Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-15

cause they were endorsed by members of
congress who he believed represented the
popular sentiment. Thereforehe attached
to them more Importance than to the re-
ports of the special agents and inspectors.
He could not have known of any change in
the petitions after their preparation.
Witness described the method pursued
by him in calculating the allowance for
expedition. He saw no better rule then
and knew of no better rule now. Colora-
do was booming and wanted all the service
it could get, and deserved more than it
got. The representatives were there every
day. II generally had matinee every
day in my Office" said the witness, mem
bers of congress and others coming around
to urge an increase and expedition.
Teller and Belford were especially persist
ent.
"We thought we were doing good thing
for the country" said General Brady. "We
thought so then and think so now."
Witness vigorously denied he ever re-
ceived any compensation for increasing
the service. His only interest was the ex-
tension of his Office in doing good thing
for the country. He had tried to counter
act what was known as the ''Jewellian
policy" of spending all the money ap-
propriated for inland transportation on
railroad towns, which policy gave the
money to vast monopolies. He
believed the star route service entitled to
q share, and it became of especial interest
to him. Witness had had conversation
with Postmaster General Key on the sub
ject of expedition and increase. When
Key assumed charge somebody wanted an
Office and vigorous fight was made on
Brady, charges of extravaganza being
made. Judge Key investigated and told
witness that he had done right. Thereaf-
ter, when witness was in doubt about a
route, he went to Judge Key, and the latter
was more liberal than himself. 1t was one
of the judges hobbies to run a mail to
every county seat, and they did 1t. They
doubled up the service in the Southern and
Middle states.
The witness was not allowed to give the
postmaster generals reason for directing
this increase, for the court said it might
then become question of correctness of
reasoning.
At the request of Wilson, the witness
described the meth ID in the department of
making fines and deductions. He said
that ordinarily it was a matter of form
eral for the entire work done by the in
spection of division, and he would
not be likely to know of
particular case, unless his atten-
tion was called to it. Speaking of
remissions, he said as a rule, they took ex-
actly the same routine, and he knew moth
ing of them until they were presented for
signature. During an absence of the
postmaster general, he made a sweeping
remission of fines of all the contractors in
the yellow fever district, and with the ex-
ception of that period he never failed to
impose fines. he never received any
money, nor combined with any of the de-
fendants to defraud the government of
the United States until they began to be
prosecuted together. Witness did not like
Senator Dorsey much. They were neither
friendly or unfriendly. Since that time
he had como to know and like him.
Speaking of the Vermillon, Sioux Falls
route, the witness said that Delegate Kid
der was very desirous of having daily
mail there. The contractors were losing
money on the service, and objected that
! they would lose more under the daily
schedule, therefore the route was expedited
to compensate the contractors. That was
one of the principles they worked under at
that time. Subsequently Judge Kidder re-
tired from congress, and his successor, Ben
nett, requested the witness to increase
another route and discontinue the Vermil-
,On route, and witness declined to discon-
tinue the service granted at Judge Kidder's
request, but promised to do what he could
for the other route.
Witness believed that General Miles was
the first person to urge the establishment
of the Tongue river route. The matter OF
expedition on that route was seriously con-
sidered by Judge hey himself. 1t was evi.
dent the contractors could not put on the
service at the sum at which the
route was let Three times a week
service would not have benefited
them, for star route should run day and
night to be good one. The contractors
had probably taken the service in a blind
leap, taking the route at so much a mile
and as the country was unknown and they
had no data upon which to base their calcu.
lations, their bid was too low to pay them
The necessity for the service was apparent
and the only way to get it was to expedite
the route. Twenty-Five dollars a mile was
only far rate of pay for such service.
At this point the court adjourned