Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-06
FROM WASHINGTON.
STAR ROUTE INVESTIGATION
EX.Postmaster.Gen. James and Ex.At.
tOrney.t:en. McVeagh Before
SpFinger's Committee.
WAsHISGroS. Mar. j

expenditures OF the department of justice in
the prosecution of the Star Route cases.
Mr. James after detailing his early views
on the Star Route frauds said that enter
tanned such views was more or less well
known The publicity given to them added
70 the fact that while the post master in New
York, when asked by Stephen W. Dorsey TO
certify to my official capacity IN a large num-
Der OF papers connected with the contract Of
fice Of the Post Office department, refused
to do so. This may account for the bitter
opposition to NV appointment to a cabinet
position. which was developed in certain
quarters.
He then narrated his yis; to Gen. Garfield,
in company with Whitelaw Reid on the bust
ness OF his appointment to Postmaster Gen
eralship. The conversation turned TO the
work OF the Post Office department, Gen.
Garfield said he was afraid there was some
thing very wrong in the department itself;
that II so he expected me 10 find il OUT, AMI
then put the pillow into the beam, ami after
that to -ubsoil it. Dorsey was not present
at this interview, nor did james see him.
james having been appointed, the Presi-
dent sent for him, and said that he was salts
fed that there had been a wiltul waste of
public money and gross corruption, and that
while he did not wish to have mail facilities
necessary to the welfare of any community
curtaied, all unnecessary and extravagant
sources must be relentlessly cut off. In
quirv should disclose the fact that any per-
son or persons. had been guilty of corrup
ton or fraud. that person or persons must
be handled over to the department of justice
After reciting the circumstances connected
with the appointment of A NJ. Gibson as a
special attorney, complimentary to his ser
vices, James continued: All'the sources aot
information at command were made avalla-
BILE and pushed every way. I he state of af
fairs thus revealed was truly appalling. The
inspectors designed by law to guard the in
terests of every branch of the service and
advise the postmaster general of any
abuses or irregularities which might at any
time or any place tall under their notice,
were perernptoriy forbidden to trench upon
the star route domain by the power which APP
peared to be greater than that of the head of
the department, and whose unspoken words
were obeved as law. This vast and impor-
tant service, stretching for thousands of
miles, east west and south, in regions of the
country infested by bands of hostile Indians
OF desperate outlaws, and often accessible
only bv a blackboard or on horseback, was
relegAted to the care of one man, borne upon
the rolls of the department as assistant super
intendent OF the railway mail service and who
occupied desk in the office of the second
assistant postmaster general. This man was
Ray Z. Eaton, who afterwards removed
and is now collector of customs in Maine.
James continued, in the early part of April,
fortified with facts and figures, laboriously
ard carefully collected, Mr.. Woodward and
myself called on the president and exhibited
a comparative statement of the most corruptly
manipulated routes. He displayed great sur
prise and wished to know if the figures had
been verified by the records. He also added
that he had been providentlally saved from
falling into a trap, which had evidently
been set for him and he seemed to be con-
templating the peril which he had escaped.
He asked whether the papers had been shown
to the attorney general. | replied no. when
he requested me to call with that official and
Woodward next dav. We called the next
afternoon and lengthy discussion ensued.
In answer to my suggestion as to whether
il would not he wiser to institute civil suits
for the recovery of money obtained through
dishonesty rather than to commence criminal
proceedings against the parties. He sad no.
Zone moment, Mr.. President" said the at
torney general, consider whether or not the
postmaster general is not right before de-
cision. Remember these proceedings may
strike men in high places that they may result
in changing the republican majority in the
United States Senate to a democratic major
ity. they may affect persons who claim you
are under personal obligations to them for
services rendered during the last campaign.
and one person in particular who asserts that
without his management you could not have
been elected. Look the facts squarely in the
face before taking final stand, for the post
master general nor myself will not know
friend OF foe in the matter" The President
walked across the room, reflected a moment
and said, No, | have sworn to execute the
laws, 20 ahead, res ardless of who you hit.
| direct YOU both not only to probe this ulcer
To the bottom, but to cut it out.
On the 10Th of April. Woodward and my
self called on the President. who at once di-
rected Bradv.s dismissal. / explained to the
President that my relations with the second
assistant postmaster general, official and
otherwise had always been of friendly
character that this was most painful duty
and that | hoped he would allow me to ask
for a resignation. He declined and directed
a letter to be prepared, which signed, asking
the President fer Brady's instant dismissal.
Early next morning the President sent for
me and said he had reflected on what urged
and realized nv embarrassment and that he
was willing that | should ask for Brady's
resignation. Brady at once resigned. From
the moment the table of the famous y3 star
routes was given out through the medium OF
the associated press, Dorsey begun actively
TO engage in efforts to shield himself, to
bring the investigation to naught, to disturb
the relations of the President with the cabi-
net that the prosecution was primary mo-
tive of the department and of the administra-
ton. Rerdell, secretary to Dorsey of Arkan-
sas while Dorsey was senator, confessed he
prepared proposals, that they were sent in
bulk TO the west and after being partially
filled up were brought back to be executed.
that after the proposals were accepted he at
tended to getting up influence. petitions, etc
for the expedition, and that after the con-
tracts were expedited he managed the busi-
ness of the combination, which consisted of
S. W. Dorsey, John W. Dorsey, Miner,
Peck and Boone. the last named being frozen
out to make room for Vail. Rerdel showed
transcript of books and said during the con
gressional investigation he slammed sickness
for fear of being summoned before the Con-
gressional committee During the time OF
this feiyned sickness the book was copied
from the original with exception that the
money charged in that book to the fictitious
names of Smith and Jones was there entered
under the head of profit and loss. Brndy re-
ceived $50 per cent as his share of the expe-
Ciition for one year and 80 per cent of the re-