The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-16
He Had His Liberal and Parsimonious
Days, and the Routes Felt the Influ-
ence of His Varying Moods.
The Statements of Contractors 40
cepted as Basis for Action.
The Routes Were Expedited at the Request
of Congressman, and Petitions We're
Not Always Closely Scrutinized.
BRADY'S TESTIMONY.


w fAShANNlONj nhaiNAA IL. AilO OllihliAdl
Court room was well filled this morning
when General Brady resumed his testimony
in the star-route trial. Referring to the
testimony already given in regard to the
Redding- -Alluras route, the witness said he
had no means OF knowing of the mail being
carried in shorter time than the expedited
schedule before the order for expedition was
however, the witness said, because the con-
tractor could not have been forced to carry
it on short schedule without extra COM
pensation. With regard to the Mineral
Park-Pioche route, witness said they had
been very desirous of running a daily mail
to connect with the Southern Pacific 1t
would have been a good thing if the route
had been properly worked, but it
was not, and the witness cut
it down to weekly service. Representations
were made that great damages had been done
to the contractors and upon renewed
promises to render good service it was re-
stored to triweekly service, but the witness
refused to restore the daily service.
Touching the question of one month extra
pay, the witness said it was universal rule
to allow that compensation to a contractor
when service was discontinued. The law also
required it.
New Offices were established by the First
Assistant Postmaster-genera usually after
consultation with the Second Assistant re-
garding the cost of the service In some in
stances, however, the order was made by the
First Assistant without consulting the Sec
ond Assistant, who was therefore bound
described the origin of the mail
bill system, and said be did not
write to postmaster ordering him to dis
continue their use, nor did he believe any
such letter was ever sent from the depart
ment. He never knew the chief of the in
spection division, Mr.. Lake, to omit to re-
port to him any delinquency on the part of
contractors. Lake had microscopic vision
in these matters. He was the father of the
present inspection system, and had been ac-
cused of undue severity the contractors
often seeking to have him removed
Mr.. Wilson then renewed his question of
yesterday regarding collusion or combina-
ton with the defendants to defraud the
government, which the witness denied in
the most positive terms.
This concluded the direct examination
and Mr.. Bliss began
THE CRosS-EXAMINATIoN.
Mr.. Bliss asked how much salary the wit
ness received in his position as inspector of
internal revenue.
Objection was made, and Mr.. Bliss ex-
planned that he wanted to show that the wit
ness had gone into the postal service in only
moderate circumstances.
The court refused to allow the inquiry.
The witness then told how cases of increase
and expedition were made up during his ad-
ministrat:on. A statement of revenue was
not always shown If the request ap-
peared reasonable, he signed his name to
the order.
"Do you mean to say that you did not con-
slider the revenue?" inquired Mr.. Bliss.
The witness said that it depended alto
gether upon circumstances. When they
were building up service in the
South and restoring the bro ken
down service, after the war small
attention was paid to revenue. 1t was not
considered in every case. In 1877 the appro-
priations were divided up between the rail
way, star and steamboat service. This was
was only achieved after persistent efforts,
and was regarded as victory for the star
and steamboat service over the railroad.
Mr.. Bliss referred to the witness statement
that he had not always an available appro-
priation to carry out his plans.
The witness said that was the case in the
fiscal years 1879 and $780,
Mr.. Bliss asked why the witness had not
increased the service from Kearney TO Kent
to six trips, instead of expediting at greater
cost
The witness referred to the official papers,
and said the petitions requested expedition
as we'll as increase. 1t was frequently the
case that people were more anxious to have
fast than frequent mail.
He did not now remember
the case in question, and did not
know whether he had considered the saving
that would have been effected by increasing
instead of expediting the route When
asked if he had considered the revenues, the
witness replied that that was poor criterion
OF the value of service. 1t only showed the
sales of stamps, and not the amount of mail
passing over the route. Senator Saunders
and Representative Valentine wanted the
service badly, and that was the reason for
granting it. He could not tell what weight
had been attached to the petitions.
Mr.. Bliss inquired why expedition or in
crease had not been allowed in every case
BRADy's LIBERAL DAYS.
The witness answered that possibly the
representatives or senators were not suf-
ficiently in earnest Then, again, they had
not the means to grant all requests.
Mr.. Bliss-You distributed the plums?
The witness further explained that on