The state journal., 1884-03-08
THE STAR ROUTE CASES.
Testimony of Messrs. James and Mac
Veagh Before the House Committee.

testimony OF MtSkTSs JAMES anu MAC
Veagh Before the House Committee.
WASHINGTON, March G-Ex Postmas
ter General James and EX-Attorney Gen
cral MACY cagh testified yesterday before
the Committee on Expenditures in the
Department Of Justice relative to the ex-
penditures in that Department in the
prosecution Of the Star Route cases.
After stating that his attention was first
called to the Star Route matter by ext
S. Senator George e. Spencer ana others.
and giving an account OF his appointment
as Postmaster General, Mr. James
said that Oh the 9th Of March
after his appointment 10 the Cabinet, the
Presi dent Sent for him ana brought up
/. the subject Of the Star Route service
He said hcw satisfied there had been
willful waste OF the public money, and
gross corrupuon that While he did not
wish to have mail facilities necessary to
the welfare of any community curtailed,
all unnecessary and eXtravagant service
must be relentlcssly cut off; that the pro
posed investigation must he aimed at a
system, and not at men, but that if the
inquiry should disclose the fact that any
person or persons had been guilty of cor
ruption or fraud such person or persons
must be handed over TO the Department
of Justice.
Mr.. James then gave an account Of his
appointment Of Mr.. r.. IL. Wood to con
duct the Star Route investigation. Upon
the recommendation Of John Swinton,
he called in a. NJ Gibsons assistance
and the inquiry was pushed and an ap-
palling state of affairs was revealed
Having collated his facts, Mr. James
waited upon President Garfield and made
an exhibit. The President was greatly
surprised and wished 10 know if the fig
urcs had been verified by the records
He also added that he bad been provi-
dentially saved from falling into "a trap
which had evidently been set for him
and seemed to be contemplating some
peril which he had escaped. We asked
whether the papers had been shown to
the Attorney General. replied no,
when he requested me to call with that
official and Mr.. Woodward the next day
In conformity with his request, we
called the next afternoon and a lengthy
consultation cnsucd. In answer to my
suggestion as to whether it would not be.
wiser to institute civil suits for the recov-
cry Of the money obtained through dis
honest contracts rather than TO com
mencc criminal proceedings against the
implicated parties, he said "No." 'One
moment, Mr. President, said the At
torncy General consider whether or no
the Postmaster General is not right Be.
fore final decision, remember that these
proceedings may strike men in high
places that they may result in changing
Il Republican majority in the United
States Senate into Democratic majority,
that they may affect persons who claim that
YOU are under personal obligations to them
for services rendered during the last cam
paign and one person in particular, who
asserted that without his management
YOU could not have been elected. Look
these facts square in the face before tax
ing final stand for neither the Post
master General nor myself will know
friend or foe in this matter
The President walked across the room.
reflected moment and said mo; |
have sworn to execute the laws. Go
ahead regardless Of where or whom you
hit | direct you both, not only to probe
this ulcer to the bottom, but to cut it out. "
The witness further said that Dorsey
came to him and denounced Brady, and
Inspector Woodward after inquiry, de-
clarcd that Brady ought to be removed.
Witness told the President and he or
dercd Brady's dismissal, but afterward
said he would accept his resignation,
which was done. After investigation the
routes We're reduced in the Territories to
the old contract rates, saving 81 600, 600
year the Government.
The witness then told how Rcrdell had
confessed, and described the entire his
tory and m0duS operdndj Of the Dorsey
Brady Star route swindlc. FIX Sena-
tor Dorsey told ex-senator Spencer that
he was a ruined man because his
confidential clerk Rerdell had
"squealed on him Later he called
on Spencer and told him lit was all
right, as Jim Bosler had fixed Rerdell and
got an affidavit out Of him denying his
confessions. The witness explained how
Messrs Gibson, Cook Brewster and Bliss
came to be retained, and said that on one
occasion when the President was closcted
With Dorsey and others Colonel Cook
had told him how serious the case was
in his opinion, and that he had heard
that terrible event was to happen, he
did not know what. Mr.. James declared
that he believed General Garfield pro
cccdcd regardless Of this warning Of his
assassination, and did his whole duty in
regard to the prosecution Of the Star
route frauds.
Governor Stewart, a member of the
committee said Your belief, Mr..
James, is that the assassination of Gar
field was in consequence Of Star route
matters 2"
II don't say that, n replied the witness.
81 mean, Judging from the clamor Of the
people and clippings found in the assas-
sins pocket, that Guiteau's head was
turned by these things.
Mr.. Macyeaghs Testimony.
Mr. MacVeagh testified that his atten
ton was first arrested by finding that
Star route was rated at $4,000 per an
mum, but was given TO John w. Dorsey,
of Vermont, at So, coo; yet it appeared
that $50, 900 was paid for this work, and
ii was sub let al ser, 900 When an in
quiry was started all this was wiped out
except the $4,000 Here, he thought, was
gigantic system Of robbery OF the
Treasury, and he determined to stop it
and punish the thieves, if possible Hence
the action taken rs rclatedby Mr., James,
whose statements witness correlated.
Witness advised the retcntion,of Mr.
Brewster because Of his intimacy with
Gen. Arthur, and because Of his ability
and high standing at the bar. Brewster
and Bliss We're engaged few days
before the President died. Witness
thought it best TO resign when Mr.. Ar
thur became President as q matter Of
taste, but agreed to remain until the Pres
ident could select successor. Mr.. Ar
thur urged witness either to remain in the
Cabinet or take charge Of the prosccu-
ton, but Mr.. MacEeagh deemed this
course dangerous to the success of the
prosecution, and declared also that il
would he distasteful for him TO take the
responsibility Of the proposed prosecu-