Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-21

asked about the outside routes, when Will |
son gave notice if the prosecution went |
outside of the Indictment and took up |
other routes he would feel called upon to |
go into the matter at length.
The court replied that rules of law could |
not be relaxed merely to save time, and |
that had long ago ceased to be subject |
for consideration.
The inquiry turned upon the congressional
investigation and witness reiterated many
answers given during its progress.
Bliss asked if the witness knew what
member of congress interested himself in
Mineral Park, Phoebe route.
81 do"
Question-Who?
Answer must decline to say.
Bliss again put the question.
Witness said he had no objection to
naming the persons who initiatedthe move
ment, but he had objections to naming per-
sons who had concerned themselves IN the
subsequent orders. The Nevada senator
and representatives and the Utah delegate
had interested themselves in the route,
among others Senator Jones.
Bliss remarked that the papers did not
show an Endorsement of any persons
named.
Witness was asked to explain his reasons
for cutting down the service on the Miner
al Park, Phoebe route and restoring 1t
within a short time. He said the service
had been reduced because il was not prop
erly executed. Afterwards it was repre-
scented to him that injustice had been done
the contractors.
Bliss inquired who had represented that
the reduction was injustice to the contrac
tors.
Hesitatingly the witness answered, "the
contractors themselves, believe" That
phase of the question was also presented
with great stress by Senator Plumb, of
Kansas, who said he was q friend of the
contractors, and knew injustice had
been done them. Witness was
with the sub-contractor who de-
| layed the trips at Colorado
river and that if service was restored the
contractor would make it good service.
Bliss called his attention to the fact that
the reason given in the endorsement upon
the jacket for restoring service
did not mention the con-
tractors, but referred only to
the importance of the route as a connect
ing link in the railway system. 'Was that
reason true?" he asked of the witness,
who responded in the affirmative, that
that ''Was one reason but not the greater
one.'
Bliss, abruptly-What had Senator
Plumb, Kansas senator, to do with the
Arizona route?
Witness-He could probably answer that
question more satisfactorily than l could.
Various questions of a technical nature
were put to the witness regarding different
routes, such as his reasons for expediting
a route to certain number of hours.
Many of his reasons he failed to recall,
but looking at his papers he would give
such explanations of circumstances as in
his mind justified orders, where service had
been discontinued, and months extra pay
allowed to the contractor. although mail
had never been carried to the sta
ton. Witness denied any knowl-
edge of such fact. He said
even if circumstances were as stated, the
contractor would have been justified in re-
fusing to carry the mail on account of a
misstatement of distance. In speaking of
affidavit upon the Observation-Disclosures
route, witness said he had not examined
into it far enough TO see that it required
every man mentioned to travel forty hours
In every twenty four.
He was asked why he had not increased
the compensation of contractors on the
Vermillion-Sioux Falls route, as in the
case of the Tongue river route.
He answered he was not aware of the
distance in the first case which was wrong
ly advertised.
Bliss produced distance circular show
, ing the error, but the witness declared hs
| had never seen it before.
, "Did you ever see any papers In the de-
partm ent you did not want to?' querie6
Bliss, sharply.
''Yes, but there were so many, and upor
such various subjects that / cannot remem
Der them. He added in this case it wa:
the duty of the clerk to have discovered
i and called attention to the circular.
Bliss showed that the order itself made
, tire error apparent, but witness said French
had made the order, and his endorsement
do this, Brady" had probably been writ
l ten after description of the distance.
Bliss inquired why Prescott, of the Santf
Fe route, had been expedited under Walsh:
t contract.
4 Witness recollection was that the ser
9 vice had been expedited originally under
Mcdonald, and cut down when the latte
failed, and restored under Walsh. AS show
ing his reason for making the order, wit
: ness read from papers the recommends
tions of prominent persons looking to al
0 increase of service.
D Bliss-You suspended service on May 8
4 didn't you!
Answer was not in the department q
. that date.
Qusstion-Did you not suspend servic'
J in March,
Answer-My impression is 1 declared
Walsh to be a failing contractor, but die
not suspend the service. Frequently ha'
: conversations with Walsh, sometimes al
d General Sheridan's house, Walsh's loung
: ing place, but never by appointment
a Sheridan was there usually, not always
: Witness frequently went in and made him
self at home, although Sheridan was alb
sent. He never had any money transac
g tions with Walsh, who was always express
ing his willingness to loan money, bat ha(
asked Walsh TO loan him some stosk. Wit
ness acknowledged that the letter produced