Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-30
The Star Route Investigation.
REPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE SPRINGER CON-

The Star Route eInvestigatiOn.
REPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE SPRINGER CON-
MITTEE
The majority report OF the Springer committee
(House committee on expenditures Of the Depart
ment OF Justice) upon the star route
has been completed. The report, which is signed
by Chairman Springer and by Van Alstyne, Hemp
hill, Fyan and Crisp, goes over the whole ground,
which has already been extensively commented
upon, and draws as conclusion that the frauds
were very extensive and heavy, and the failure
to convict unaccountable, as the committee
deemed the proof more than sufficient. 1t holds
Second Assistant Postmaster Brady responsible
for the frauds MI. Merr1ck'S testimony is eXten-
sivey quoted and stress is laid upon his disgust
the outcome of the trials and his characterization
OF the second jury as oad in bad
The report goes on to speak Of the various trials
In the washington courts and OF the failure to con-
Mr. George Bliss was mistaken IN M the poIicy WHICH
he pursued in regard to obtaining evidence. The
total loss TO the government by the frauds during
presldent n EN- Hayes administration Is estimated at
Mr.. Macveagh, the report says, retired from the
oce OF attorney general, and also declined to act
the ground that he could not have any moral sup
port In the cases, and it was moral support alone
tended COMMENT Is made upon the withdrawal OF
MIR. MacVeagh because he believed that he could
not be properly sustained by President Arthur. In
"Your committee is OF the opinion that there
were many causes which operated to prevent the
successful prosecution OF star route Offenders.
Whatever these causes may have been it Is doubt
less true that those who will take the pains to read
carefully the testimony taken by your committee
on this subject, comprising nearly thousand
pages Of printed matter, will reach different con-
clusionS There was great diversity in the testt-
mony, ana many contradictions will be found
wholly lrreconcfiable upon any other theory than
that OF wllful perjury. 1t Is suficient, however,
Tor the purposes OF this investigation to state that
while the evidence against star route contractors
and public 0mcias was strong and conclusive as to
their guilt, and that the government was defrauded
OF large sums OF money, and that large sums were
also expended TO secure indictments and convic-
lions, yet no person was convicted or punished and
no civil suits have yet been instituted to recover
the vast sums Illegally and raudulently obtained
from the public Treasury"
The report continues relative to the removal Of
local officers In the District OF Columbia who were
h1nQer1ng the prosecution OF the star route cases.
and were giving ata and comfort to the defendantsh
ana says Marshal Henry, according to the testi-
mony OF the Attorney General, was removed ssf0r
nagrant violation OF his duty In aiding the defend
ants"
In relation to the expense Of the trials 1t says II
Is impossible TO determine how much the expenses
OF the courts In the District Of Columbia were in
creased oy reason OF the many indictments con-
sloereo ana presented by grand 1urteS and by
reason OF the long and expensive trials
The enortS to have District Attorney Corkhiu re-
moved Tor alleged sympathy with the defendants
Is also referred to at length.