Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-16

WraDging Between Counsel
WASHINGTON. March 15.-The criminal
court was well filled this forenoon when
General Brady resumed his testimony in
the star route trial.
Referring to the testimony already Civ
en- in regard to the Redding Alturas route,
witness was knowing to the mail being
carried on shorter time than the expe-
dited schedule, before the order for expe-
dition was made, which would have made
no difference however, witness said, be-
cause the contractor could not have been
forced to carry it on short
schedule without extra compen-
sation. With regard to the Mineral
Park Phoebe route, witness said
they had been very desirous of running
daily route to connect with the Southern
Pacific. It would have been good thing
if the route had been properly marked out,
but it was not, and witness cut it down to
weekly service. Representations were
made that great damage has been done to
contractors and upon renewed promises to
render good service, it was restored to tri-
weekly service, but the witness refused to
restore the daily service. Touching the
question of "a months extra pay, witness
said it was a universal rule to allow that
compensation to contractors when the SER
vice was discontinued. The law also
required it.
New Offices were established by the first
assistant postmaster general usually after
consultation with the second assistant re-
garding the cost of service. In some in
stances, however, the order was made by
the first assistant without consulting the
second assistant, who was therefore bound
to put on the service.
Witness described the origin of the mail
bill system, and said he did not write to
the postmaster ordering him to discontinue
their use. Nor did he believe any such let
ter was ever sent from the department.. He
never knew the chief of the inspectors
division, Mr.. Lake, to omit to
report to him any delinquency
on the ipart of the contractors.
Lake had microscopic vision in these
matters. He was the father of the pres
ent inspection system, and had been &C
cused of undue severity and the contrac-
tors were often seeking to lave him re-
moved.
Wilson then renewed his question of
yesterday regarding the collusion combi-
nation with the defendants to defraud the
government which the witness denied in
the most positive terms. This ended the
direct examination and Bliss began the
rCss-examination.
Bliss asked how much salary witness re-
ceiVed in his position as inspector of inter
nal revenue.
Objection was made, and Bliss explained
that he wanted to show witness went into
The postal service in only moderate circum-
stances.
The court refused to allow the inquiry.
Witness then told how cases of increase
and expediting were made up during his
administration. 4 statement of revenue
was not always shown by jackets. If the
request was reasonable he signed his name
to the order.
Do you mean to say you did not con-
slider the revenue? inquired Bliss.
The witness said that it depended al
together upon circumstances. When they
were building up the service in the South
and restoring the broken down
service of the war, small
attention was paid to the revenue. It was
not considered in every case. In 1877
the appropriations were divided up be-
tween the star and steamboat service. This
was only achieved after persistent efforts
and was regarded as a victory for the star
and steamboat service.
Bliss referred to the witness statement
that he had not always available oppor-
tunity to carry out his plans.
Witness said that was the case in the
fiscal years 1880.
ol-ol IL L.
creased the service from Kearney to Kent
to six trips instead of expediting at a
greater cost.
Witness referred to the official paper and
said the petition requested expedition as
we'll as increase. 1t was frequently the
case that the people were more anxious to
have fast, than a frequent mail. He did
not now remember the case in question
and did not know whether he had consid-
cred the saving that would have been eff
fected by increasing instead of expediting
a route.
Bliss asked if he had considered the rev.
enue.
Witness replied that was poor criteri-
on of value of service. It only showed the
sale of stamps and not the amount of mail
passing over the routes. Senator Saun-
ders and Representative Valentine wanted
service badly and that was the reason for
granting it. He could not tell what weight
had been attached to the petitions.
Bliss inquired why the expedition or in
crease had not been allowed in every case.
Witness answered that possibly the SEN
ators or representatives were not sufficient
ly in earnest, and then, again, they had
not the means to grant all request.
Bliss-You distributed the plums.
Witness further complained that on some
days he was more iberally inclined than
en- others, when he was not in an increas-
ing mood.
Bliss-That was an imperative mood,
| was it not?
I was imperative in many things. Sen
ator Teller and others had asked for in
crease and expedition on the White river
| and Rawlins route. They asked
for expedition because the fast tri-
weekly service was much better than
service seven times week, and anybody
can see that without a microscope, said
witness.
Bliss reminded him that Senator Teller
had not asked for al expedition to forty
! five hours.
Witness presumed that when the route
4 avnaditad he nhiaof 70 ,ak = Ia