Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-03-16
FROM WASHINGTON.
rHR srAR ROUTE.
Brady on the Stand Agaln-A10re Abo1,
Expedited and Increased Routes.

had no means OF knowing the mail being car
ried in q shorter time than the expedited
schedule. Before the order for the expedition
was made it would have made no difference
because the contractor could be forced to
carry on q short schedule without extra COM
pensation.
Touching the question of the months extra
pay the witness said il was the universal rule
to allow that compensation to the contractor
when the service was discontinued. The Law
also required it. The new offices were estab-
lished by the first assistant postmaster gen.
eral, usually after consultation with the
second assistant regarding the cost of the
service. In some instances the order was
made by the first assistant without consulting
the second. who was therefore bound to put
on the service. The witness described the
origin Of the mail bill system, and said he did
not write TO the postmaster ordering him to
discontinue its use, nor did he believe any
such letter was ever sent from the depart
ment.
He never knew the chief of the inspection
division. Mr.. Lake, to omit the report to him
any delinquency on the part of contractors.
Mr.. Lake had microscopic, vision in these
matters. He was the father OF the present
inspection system, and had been accused of
undue severity.
The witness denied positively any collu-
sion or combination with the defendants to
defraud the government.
This concluded the direct examination, and
Bliss began the cross-examination.
The witness gave an outline of his personal
history. He told how cases of increase and
expedition were made up during his admin
istration. A statement of revenue was not
always shown by the dockets. If the request
appeared reasonable. he signed his name to
the order.
"Do you mean to say you did not consider
the revenue?" inquired Bliss.
The witness said that it depended altogeth-
er upon circumstances. When they were
building up the service in the south, small
attention was paid to revenue. In 1877, the
appropriations were divided up between the
railway star and steamboat service. This
was only achieved after persistent efforts,
and was regarded as victory for the star
and steamboat service over railroads.
Bliss asked why the witness had not in
creased the service from Kearney to Kent to
six trips instead of expediting at greater
cost. The witness referred to the official
papers, and said that the petitions requested
expedition, as well as increase. 1t was fire.
quently the case that people were more anx-
iOus to have a fast than a frequent mail Did
not now remember the case in this division,
anu ulu HOT HOW KNOW WnSln lie nau con-
sidered the saving that would have been eff
fected by increasing instead of expeditlng
the route.
When asked if he had considered the reve-
nues, the witness replied that that was a poor
criterion of value of service. 1t only showed
the sale of stamps, and not the amount of
mail passing over the route. Senators Saun-
ders and Representative Valentine wanted
the service badly, and that was the reason
for granting it. Bliss inquired why the ex-
petition or increase had not been allowed in
every case.
The witness answered that possibly Sena-
tons or Representatives were not sufficiently
in earnest, then again they had not the
means to grant all requests. Senator Teller
had asked for the expedition on White River
route because a fast tri-weekly service was
much better than a slow service seven times
week.
Bliss reminded him that Senator Teller
had not asked for expedition to IS hours.
The witness presumed that when a route
was expedited the object was to get faster
time. at looks little in that case as if l
had done pleased about it, just as / had
a right to do under the law without reference
to Senator or petitions said the witness.
Bliss produced letter in this connection
asking a five days schedule and inquired
why the As hour schedule had been allowed.
The ~itness answered that he had no
means of knowing whether the days spoken
of meant II or "a hours. Inquiry into the
schedule upon this route was pushed to
some length.
In connection with Garland of the PARROT
city route, Bliss called the witness attention
to the postmaster's letters protesting that the
proposed fifty hour schedule was impossible.
.,l 81. 80, l.. Al.
impossible in that direction; witness did not
always seek to verify the statements made in
the petitions and their endorsements when
they came to him from responsible persons
he presumed that they spoke the truth
Mr.. Bliss inquired if witness remembered
the orders connected with the Dallas Baker
city route.
Witness answered that he had an inaistinct
recollection of such orders. He had made
orders of some kind in connection with over
10000 star routes.
Mr.. Bliss asked why the expedition had
been ordered on this route, instead of in
creased trips.
Witness answered that it seemed ridiculous
to think that slow service was better than
three trips per week, especially if people
wanted it that way.
Mr. Bliss asked how he knew people
wanted it.
Witness said that he had accepted the rep
reservations of members of Congress as to
the needs of the people.
Mr.. Bliss-Were they always expressions
of their own, unbiased Judgment?
Answer-Certainly | could not assume
anything else.
Witness was asked if he had sought to
drive bargains for the government.
He said he had. He had expedited almost
all the routes at less than pro rata.
Biiss-Then you assert that Is or 10 routes
were expedited at less than pro rata?
Answer do. The affidavit signed
by John Dorsey, was shown in the case
where he was not sub contractor. Witness
did not remember taking any steps to ascer-
tain if Dorsey was sub-contractor. The
docket did not show that. 1t appeared to be
regular and the case had been made up BY
Turner, the careful corresponding clerk
The jacket should have shown that fact if
Dorsey was not sub-contractor. 1t would
have been a mistake on the part of the clerk.
The witness would not assume that she man
was a scOundrel because he was contractor.
He assumed that they were honorable men.
Question-Then you assumed that their
statements were true because they were con-
tractors?
Answer assumed that their statements
were true so far as they knew. At the same
time l used my own rule as guide.