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

| The inquiry into the schedule upon this
route was pushed to some length. Wit
ness said he did not know that an expe-
dited schedule would result in bringing
the mail to Rawlins two hours too late
to connect with the other mails.
He did not believe such was the case, or if
it was, it had been a mistake of the cores
ponding clerk, whose duty it was to look
after such things with particularly. The
schedule was only fixed by the second as
sistant postmaster general.
The peculiarities of the St.Charles Green
Horn route were next inquired into.
The testimony being technical in charac-
ter and relating to the correction of errors
of advertisements and schedules.
The route from Trinidad to Madison
was next taken up and thoroughly ex-
amined.
Expeditions had been put on that route,
witness said, to give it direct communica-
tion with the county seat.
| In connection with the Garland Parrott
| City route Bliss called the witness atten-
tion to postmaster's letter protesting
that the proposed fifty hours schedule was
impossible.
Witness replied positively that nothing
was impossible in that direction. If men
! and horses enough were used it could be
4 done. That was the contractors business,
not his. The assertion was ridiculous on
i its face. Witness presumed he had not
4 considered productiveness when he in
creased that service. Witness did not al
ways seek to verify statements made in
the petitions and their endorsements.
When they came to him from responsible
persons he presumed they spoke the truth.
Bliss inquired if the witness remem-
bered the orders connected with the Dallas
Baker City route.
He answered that he had an indistinct
recollection of such orders. He had m ade
an order in come ection with over 10000
star routes.
Bliss--Orders for expedition and increase,
orders of some kind. Bliss asked why ex-
pedition had been ordered on this route in
stead of increased trips.
Witness answered that it seemed ridi Gu
lous to think the slow service six times
week was better than three trips per week
on the fast schedules, especially if the peo-
pie wanted it that way.
Bliss asked how he knew people wanted
it.
Witness said he accepted the representa-
tions of members of congress as to the
needs of the people.
Bliss-Were they always an expression
of their own unbiased judgment?
Answer Certainly, could assume any
thing else.
The examination required to the Red
ding Alturas route.
Witness said he had no knowledge the
mail was being carried in less than the ex-
pe0ited time before the order of expedi-
ton, but if he had known it he would have
made no difference. The contractor would
not have been forced to carry it upon a
short schedule without extra pay.
Davidge Caughingly)-I think the wit
ness is getting the better of Mr.. Bliss. /
think he better be stopped.
Bliss--Mr. Davidge need not protect me.
There are others needing his protec-
ton.
Witness was asked if he had sought to
drive bargains for the government. He
said he had expedited almoss all the routes
at less than pro rata.
Bliss-Then you assert that eighteen of
nineteen of the routes were expedited at
less than pro rata.
Aswer-I do, and viii show it to you.
We had general rule for expedition.
We calculated that frst-class service in
mile, depending on the character of the
exceed $50. These nineteen routes
will show an average of
less than $50 per mile. Witness assumed
that contractors affidavits were true.
That they had not committed
perjury. The only means he
used to prove them was by general rule
oil Al
section of the country where the routes lay.
he denied there were errors manifest upon
the face of the affidavits, or that they were
absurdly at variance with the results. He
did not remember anything about two afi
davits in one case.
Bliss pointed out an instance.
Witness said the result as shown as in
proportion, would be the same in either
case, though the figures were different.
Bliss-Caniboth be true?
The Court-You are as good Judge of
that as he, of an affidavit signed by John
a contractor.
Witness said he did not remember tax
ing steps to ascertain if Dorsey was a sub
contractor. The jacket did not show it.
1t appeared to be regular, and the case had
OOOA AuIhOIs q COI-
responding clerk. The jacket should have
shown the fact if Dorsey was not a sub
contractor. 1t would have been mistake
on the part of the clerk. Witness wosld
not assume a man was a scoundrel be-
cause he was contractor. He assumed
they were honorable men.
Question-Then you assumed their state
ments true because they were contractors.
Answer assumed their statements
true as far as they knew,at the same time,I
used my own rule as a guide.
Bliss asked why the Toquerville-Adair-
vile route had been expedited to thirty
three hours. Why had that time been Sc
lected.
Witness said the route was 132 miles in
length and four miles an hour was as slow
time as he allowed on the route.
Bliss produced an affidavit based on a
thirty-three hour schedule prepared by
Peck, in New Mexico, Jan. 1879, six
months before the srder, and asked why
Peck had made the same allowance as
witness? Answer-That question you will
have to ask Peck. You will have to 60
and see him.
Substantially the same questions were
asked in regard to q similar affidavit on