National Republican., 1883-03-15
BRADY TAKES THE STAND
And Gives tho Jury a Sketch Of His Career as
. Government Officer.
He also Says WaIsh's Statements are
Lies Out Of Whole Cloth.
His Acquaintance With and Confidence in Vaile-Hi
Relations With Other Defendants.
Ills Efforts TO Counteract tho "Jewellian
Policy"

In the star route trial yesterday, aitc1 the
examination of William II. Turner, which
developed little of interest or Importance to
the case, although it provoked long wrangle
between the lawyers which consumed the
whole forenoon, Gen. Thomas j. Brady was
called to the stand. He testified that in July,
1876, he was appointed second assistant post
master general and retired in April, 1881.
Had assumed Immediately the discharge of
his official duties. During the fall of 1876
was at tho Office only about half OF the
time. First met Walsh at New Orleans
in 1s75-'76 Witness was then in his
official capacity as supervising inspector
of internal revenue. Next met Walsh IN 1870
Never had any conversation with Walsh sucn
as sworn TO by him at any time or place IN
the world, or anything resembling it. Wit
ness never held any promissory notes or car
ried them away as described by walsh.
"Walsh's statement Isl lie made out oil whole
CLOTH" said the witness, with scarcely, q
word of truth in il from beginning to end"
Never told Walsh anything about fines and
deductions, or anything from which it could
be deduced. Had had conversation with
James, such as testified to by that witness, in
relation to the Rawlins-Whito river route,
but the date was q month later than that
given by James.
The witness read a letter from Postmaster
General James in this connection, dated April
9, 1881, in which James directs him to refrain
from further action in regard to route No.
81 500 until he has further investigated the
circumstances James had never given him
any order to revoke one of his orders
His first recollection of Rerdell was very in
distinct. He very seldom came into witness
office. Could not say how often he saw him.
Rerdel knew he did not like him and came
around very little. His whole statement
about the books was lie made out OF
whole CLOTH Rerdcll never told him
of any books TO to be shown the
committee, nor did witness know OF the
existence of any such books. Mr.. Wilson re-
ferred to Rerdells statement of the meeting
at Chamberlins. Witness said he met Dor
sew at his request at Wllard's hotel. Wit
ness had been chairman of the Indiana state
committee, and was supposed to know some
thing of the state, therefore he had been
called upon to advise Dorsey. They repaired
to Chnmberlin's and Bosler came in; a few
glasses of wine were drank and witness lett.
The conversation was entirely on political
subjects, and star routes and mail matters
were not mentioned. Witness had no knowl-
edge of the tabulated statement spoken of by
Rerdell with the ~. j. B. 80 per cent" col
umn.
NJ. Wilson here offered to prove that Brady
had originated the system of filing subcon-
tracts for the protection of the subcontractors.
conspire with the contractors, but the court
excluded il because of irrelevancy.
Witness said that the advertisement of No
vember, 1877, had been prepared by the route
book clerks. Witness was so new in the of
flee that he gave few instructions to the
clerks. Witness was not allowed to state
whether or not there was any arrangement
between himself and the defendants in regard
to that advertisement.
Had known Vaile for years he was one OF
the Oldest and best contractors in the service
oil the department; met Miner at the letting
in 1878. Never saw John Dorsey before the
first trial began. Had known Stephen Dor
sey for some years. Had an indistinct rocol-
lection of Indian deprcdatons' upon some of
the routes; the Indians and road agents were
continually interfering with the service.
Before Vnile connected himself with the
other defendants in the mail business they
had failed to put service upon some OF their
routes. Did not now remember how he in
formed them that very little additional time
would be allowed; might have told Turner to
give them very little time, If they din't do
il (put on service) by the contract time,
bust them" That was his usual course.
When he heard that Vale had come into the
Miner combination he granted further time
because he knew Vaile's trustworthiness and
felt sure that he would be put on the service
Had no personal conference with Vale on the
subject, and did not remember how he was
first made aware of the fact that Vaile had
assumed the service. Witness knew nothing
of the manner of preparing affdavits filed in
the office. Never heard OF any changes being
made in ITEM or of their being filled out in
blank until the first trial. The petitions were
considered mainly because they were indorsed
by members of congress whom he believed rep
resented the popular sentiment. Therefore
he attached to them more Importance thar
TO the repSts of special agents and inspect
ors. Could not have known of any changes
in petitions after their preparation. Tht
witness described the method pursued by hin
in calculating the allowance for expedition
He saw no better rule then, and knew M
better rule now. Colorado was booming
and wanted all of the service it could get
and deserved moro than it got. The repre-
sentatives were there every day. "lgenerall,
had matinee in my office every day" sai'
the witness, "members of congress and other
coming around to urge increase and cXpedi
tion. MrTeller and MrBelford We're especial.
persistent. 1--WE thought we were doinga goot
thing for the country" said Gen. Brady
"We thought SO then and think SO now.
Witness very vigorously denied that h
had ever received any compensation
for increasing the service, His only interes
was in the extension of his office, in doing
good thing for the country. He had tried {
counteract what was known as the Jewell
ian policy" of spending all the mor,ay apprO
priatod Tor inland transportation on railwa
towns, which policy gave the money to vas
mouopolies. He believed that the star rOut
service was entitled to share, and il becam
of especial interest to him. Witness had ha
conversations with Postmaster General Ike
Oh the subject OF expedition and increas,
When Key assumed charge somebody wante
Office and vigorous fight was made o
Brady, charges OF extravaganza bein
made. Judge Key investigated, an
told witness that he had done right,
Thereafter when witness was in doubt of
route he went to Judge Key, and the latte
was more liberal than himself
1t was one Of the judges hobbies to run
mail to every county seat and they did il
they doubled up tho service in the sOuther
and middle states The witness was II,
allowed TO give the postmaster general
reason for directing this increase, for I'll
court said that it might then become que
ton of the correctness of the reasoning. 4
the request of Mr.. Wilson, the witness d.
scrbed the method pursued in the depar
ment in making fines and deductions. II
said that ordinarily it was q matt,
of form with the second assis
ant postmaster general, for the entii
work WAS done by the inspection division, m
no would not be likely to know of n purti
ular case unless his attention was called to
Speaking of remissiOns he said that as u ru
they took exactly the same routine and
knew nothing of them until they were pr
scnted for signature. During an absence
the postmaster general he made a sweepil
remission of fines Of all contractors in the "
low fever district, and with the exception
that period he never failed to impose fine
L V.ass l,iN N,.l,