The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-03-14


services rendered during the last cam
paign, and one person iu particular,
who asserted without his management
you could not have been elected. Look
these facts square in the face before
taking final stand, for neither the
Postmaster General nor myself will
know friend or foe in this matter
"The President walked across the
room, reflected moment and said /:
No; | have sworn to execute the laws.
Go ahead, regardless of where or
whom you hit. l direct you both not
only to probe this ulcer to the bottom,
but to cut it out,
Mr. James was followed by Ex.At-
torney General MacVeagh, who testi
ed that the first information he had
relative to the proposed Star route in
vestigation when he was advised
by the President to consult with
the Postmaster General. which he did.
He said that his Judgment then was
that it would be best to secure facts on
which an investigation could be based.
He examined in the Post Office De-
partment and found that one route, in
Nevada and Arizona, on which resi-.
dent had carried the mails for $4,000
annually, John W. Dorsey, of Vermont,
agreed to carry them for $4,000. On
further investigation he found that the
mails were delivered daily instead of
weekly +; that S52, 900 was paid for the
same that the work had been sub-et
and performed for $28,000. Mr.. Mac.
Veagh also found that when commit
tee of Congress was appointed to in
vestigate the matter there was an
entire wiping out of all that had been
done, and the original contract for 49,.
600 Tor weekly service was recognized.
Afterwards contract for services
three times a week for $4,000 was re-
cognized. Sub contractors, the witness
said, did the work for $4,000.
GIGANTIC ROBBERY OF THE TREASURY.
Other examinations convinced Mr..
MacVeagh that there had been ''gi-
gantic robbery of the public Treasury
unless ordinary indications were at
fault" This had been brought about
by the loose way of doing business in
the contract department of the Post
Office Department. The witness found
that the government did not have the
slightest protection in certain cases. In
consequence of the convictions of Mr..
MacVeagh that irregularities existed,
inspectors were selected and ordered to
go and ascertain the exact fact On
the records in the department and the
reports of the inspectors the govern
ment officials relied for the evidence in
the Star route prosecutions.
"Mr. MacVeagh corroborated the
testimony of Mr.. James relative to the
appointment of Messrs Gibson and
Cook to assist Mr.. Woodward.
"TEere was nothing else in these
matters" the witness said, ''till the
wounding OF the President l was
with him uEtil his death at Elberon. 1t
was newspaper comment that | was the
gloomy officer of the Cabinet. 1t was
my misfortune to think each day that
the President was much nearer his
grave than he was, and l only regard
ed it as little time till my duties in
office would cease. l felt that it was
undesirable, and, from my standpoint,
grossly improper to complicate the Star
route cases by any act that could
avoid when l knew was not respon-
sible for the final conduct of the cases.
| desired to do nothing to complicate
the President who would succeed Pre-
sident Garfield, and / wished my sue
cessor to 60 in as little embarrassed as
possible.
"Shortly after the President died it
was felt by all the gentlemen having
in charge the Star route matter that
something ought to be done to select
counsel. They knew that prominent
counsel had been engaged on the other
side. proposed to ask Mr.. Brewster.
l thought then, and still think, that
it was our duty to select member of
the profession who held cordial politi-
cal relations with Mr.. Arthur. l knew
that Mr.. Brewster sustained relations.
He possessed the necessary qualities to
conduct the cases. / invited Mr..
Brewster and Mr.. James invited Mr..
Bliss This was done few days be-
fore the President died. Immediately
upon the accession of Mr. Arthur told
him that my conviction of public duty
made it unbecoming for me to remain
and injurious to the public interest.
But | was willing to do anything in
my power to relieve him of embarrass-
ment, and said would remain thirty
or sixty days if necessary, that he
might have time to select my successor.
On my return from the funeral the Pre-
sident asked that l say to the country
that my leaving the Cabinet was on
my account. This l did through the
Associated Press. Subsequently the
President asked me if l would not re-
consider the matter and said not.
81 was convinced that my usefulness
was ended and that my remaining
would be injurious to the public inter.
eat. | said second time through the
Associated Press that it was my deter
mination to withdraw and / again gave
my reasons. On November IA turned
over my Office to the Solicitor Gener-
al.
81 had several conferences with Pre-
sident Arthur as to the general subject
OF the prosecution of Star route cases,
giving my own views as to what was
necessary to be done The President
expressed desire that | remain and
continue responsible for the prosecu.
tion, first as Attorney General and sub.
sequently as leading counsel for the
government After my announcement
OF the position occupied, which was
read to the President, he asked me to
allow the matter to rest till his return
from Yorktown, he said he had selected
my successor, whose name he was
kind enough to give me, but some diff
ficulty had occurred in communicating
with him. AT subsequent interview the
President said he had made up his mind
and had decided to ask another gentle
man to take the place, for some months
at least His nama WAS IN 0o IN tha