The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-03-16

Salu uc ku6H Inc mali was Del0g
carried in shorter time than the ex-
| petition schedule called for, before
the order for expedition was made.
1t would have made no difference,
however, the witness said, because
the contractor could not have been
fOrcedsto carry it on the short sched-
ule without extra compensation.
With regard to the Mineral Park
and Phoebe routes, witness said they
had been very DESTROYS of running
a daily mail to connect with the
| Southern Pacific. 1t would have
been a good thing if the route had
been properly worked, but it was
not, and witness cut it down to a
weekly service. Representation
was made that great damage had
been done to the contractor, and
upon renewed promises to render
good service, it was restored to tri-
weekly service. Touching the
question OF extra pay, witness said
it was the universal rule to
allow compensation to contractors
when the service was discontinued.
The law also required it. Witness
described the origin of the mail bill
system, and said he did not write to
postmaster ordering him to diScoI-
tinue their use, nor did he believe
any such letter had ever been sent
from the department; never knew
Of an instance where the chief in
spector of the division, Mr.. Lake,
omitted to report to him
any delinquency on the part of con-
tractors. Lake had microscopic
vision in these matters. He was
the father of the present inspection
system, and had been accused of I'M
due severity. Contractors often
seeking to have him removed.
Wilson then renewed his question
of yesterday regarding collision or
combination with the defendants to
defraud government, which witness
denied in most positive terms. This
concluded the direct examination
and Bliss began the cross eXamina-
ton.
The cross-eXamination was con-
Quoted at great length, as to the
manner of granting expedition, and
| the reasons for it on yai ious routes.
Witness said there was constant
pressure from Congressman for ex-
petition. He held a matinee on the
subject every day. Being asked
why he did not expedite certain
routes, witness said he might not
have been in the eXpediting humOr
that day The question of expedi-
ton with him was something OF a
matter as 10 how he felt. The re-
ceipts from a route had little inhu-
ence in his decision. phey only
showed him how many stamps were
sold, not how much mail was car
ried.
The witness was asked if he had
to drive bargains for government.
| He said he had to see expedited
almost all the routes less than pTd
rGtG.
Bliss-Then you assert that eigh.
teen of the nineteen routes expe'
Idited are at less than pro rata.
| Witness-I do, and will show il
| to you. We had general rules for
Expedition. We calculated first
class service in the western country
worth about $50 mile, depending
on the character of the country, and
it should not exceed $50. These
nineteen routes will show an aver.
lage of less than $50 for a mile. The
witness assumed in the contracts
they had not committed perjury
the only means used to prove them
was by the general rule allowing SO
much a mile according to the sec
ton Of the country where the route
lay. He denied there were errors
manifest upon the face of the aflida'
WITS, or that they were absurdly al
variance with the results. Bliss
asked why the ToqueTville-Adair.
Vile route had been expedited tC
thirty-three hours? Why had thai
time been selected unless the sale
route was 1872 miles in length and
four miles an hour, about as slow
time as he allowed upon expedited
routes? Bliss produced affidaVits
based upon the thirty-three hours
, schedule, prepared by Peck, in New
Mexico, January, 1879, six montht
before the the order was
issued, in which Peck made
the same allowance as wit
ness. That question you will have tt
ask Peck, you will have to go and
see him substantially same ones
lions were asked in regard to a sim
liar affidavit in the Julian-Cotton
route, where the affidavit appeared
to be prepared several months in
advance of the order. The cOult
remarked that it was not necessary
to investigate Peck on that.
"He could not have known what
the order would be, except by eOlu
> sion," answered Bliss, while counsel
. laughed satiracally.
The question having arisen as
, regards the right of cross examina
ton, Merrick expressed his under
I etanding that it was not confined t.
: the limit of Brady's examination
! but that when defendant went
upon the stand, he threw himself
open as far as the whole case was
concerned. The court concurred IL
that view. The witness was asked
/, if he had not allowed compensation
!. I'D to the limits filed by the atfidaV
Its in each of the nineteen routes
He answered that all were expedited
at less than pro rata.
The court-You don't include thu