The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-04-12
PRESS KILOGRAMS.

WASHINGTON, April 9.-In the star
route trial, John r. Miner, defendant.
was called. He testified that he had
lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the
last year previous to that in which
he had lived in Sandusky, Ohio,
where he had been associated with
S. w. Dorsey in business enterprises.
In 1877 witness met Peck. They con-
Guided to take fly at the mail con-
tract business. Witness told how he
had met Boone, John Dorsey and
other contractors, and of the difficult
ties experienced in securing bonds
men, his statements agreeing with
other evidence already given for de-
Tense. Witness said Kansas, Ne
braSka and Dakota roads were di-
vided between John Dorsey and
Boone. The remainder were assigned
Miner, Peck & Co. The Oregon
routes were Sub-let to contractor
who failed. Witness came on to
Washington and tried to get rid of
the contract. He tried to give them
as holy gift to several persons. Vale
among others. Vale declined at first,
but consented to see Brady and try to
get extension of time allowed, for
putting on service. lie succeeded in
getting an extension till August 16.
Witness then did what he could to
put on service by the appointed time,
but it was work of great difficulty
and witness through Vale applied to
Brady for another formal extension,
but the request was refused. Vale
went home leaving an offer for wit
ness consideration, to take up service
for Miner, Peck & Co., if they should
be declared failing contractors, there
by protecting them from loss and Sc
curing 60 days extension. Thee was a
little ''finessing" in that, witness adj
mitted. The offer was accepted, and
drafts on routes were given Vale,
who returned to Washington in the
fall of 1878. Witness saw Brady
twice before Indictment was returned.
Up IN the first occasion he went to Sc
cure extension of time for putting on
service. "He bluffed me nearly out
of my boots" said witness, "lnd did
not go near him until the spring of
1881, when | went to see him about a
theater box" Witness denied in
positive terms that he or any of the
defendants, to his knowledge, had
ever cOnspired to defraud the govern
ment.
Senator Dorsey was member of
the railroad committee, and in the
course of his inspection Of the North
ern Pacific railroad, had been i'm
pressed with glowing notions of the
possibilities of eastern Oregon, and
thought bids upon The route in that
country had been worked too high.
One was reduced $1,000 by his sugges-
ton, and the contractors lost more
than that sum for their reliance upon
his judgment. Witness had written
in every figure in the bidding book.
Specific denials were made of nearly
everything of importance included
in Rerdell's testimony affect
ing witness. Rerdell had not
been promised that his route, the
White River and Rawlins, would be
increased. Anything he did in con-
nection with that route was onFhis
own responsibility. Witness said he
and Rerdell had quarrelled on the
avenue one day in the spring of 1879,
and witness told Rerdell il he ever
spoke to him again he would "Mash
his nose all over his face" Had moth
ny W uO WIN MN dlOCI budJs IA
tended examination was based on
the handwriting of different papers
in evidence, witness continuing to
contradict Rerdell upon every point.
Without concluding examination of
witness the court adjourned.
POSTAL GENERAL ORDER.
The following general order was
issued to-day:
PoSToFFICE DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, ID. G., April 8, 1888.
Ordered, that order No. 463, of JAN
uary II, 1888, is hereby revoked. Sec
ton 81 of the postal laws and regu-
lations of 1879, is amended so as to
read as follows: Postal cards and
prepaid letters to be forwarded If re-
quested." Prepaid letters shall be
forwarded from one postoffice to an
other at the request of party adj
dressed without additional charge for
postage. All letters upon which one
full rate postage has been prepaid,
and all postal cards shall be forward
ed from the Office from which they
are addressed, to any other Office at
the request of the person addressed
or person whose card may be on the