The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-10-01
but tnat the Government took that witness and
sent him TO the penitentiary."
The report continues:


sent him TO the penitentiary."
The report continues:
The manner of procuring an expedition was
reduced 10 a science. The afdavits OF contractors
and Others were used as foundation upon which
allowed. The brazen effrontery and perjury OF
these affidavit makers Is without parallel in the
tSneG Ho % t IN boSS en nD hsn
by the contractors, just as they laid up supplies OF
grain for their horses These afidavits were the
sole measure for the cost of the expedition, and
other evidence was required by the department
for granting increase OF services, and increases
of speed, which cost the Government hundreds Of
sfidavits was kept on hand, and blanks filed
when occasion required 10 use them; and the
papers filed with the department were the basis of
securing large and valuable additions to each con-
tract Thus perjury was made the basis Of all the
frauds perpetrated.
A considerable portion of the report is de-
voted to the subject of employment and
compensation of attorneys. The amount
paid for this purpose, as far as ascertained,
is S144 SAC, of which George Bliss received
S57, ,732. A review in reference to the testi-
mony in explanation OF the failure OF the
Government to secure conviction in two
Stsr-Ioute trials is given, but the report says
the Commission had not time to pursue the
Investigation in reference to the attempts to
bribe jurors. In reference to the contractors
not indicted, the repert says:
From tabular statement from the Office OF the
Second Assistant Postmaster General, the amount
which IL claimed could be recovered from the
Salisburys and Parkers is estimated at 1854, 4OS,
while the record OF evidence In the POstOffice De-
partment at the beginning OF the Investigation by
the Department was meRger against the Salisburys
and Parkers, yet the evidence subsequently pro-
cured through special agents sent out for the pur
pose, showed that the operations OF these parties
as contractors were glaringy fraudulent. aud that
they should have been indicted and convicted.
and prosecuted in civil suits for the recovery of
large sums illegally obtained from the Govern
ment. Some mysterious and powerful influences
must have operated to secure their immunity
The next subject considered is in relative
to the failure to indict Ex-Governor Kellogg,
and the report saws: George Bliss seemed to
oppose all efforts looking toward such an IN
dictment, and upon this point continues as
follows:
There is a wide issue of veracity between Bliss
and members of the Grand Jury, as to efforts made
by Bliss TO secure an Indictment against kellogg.
The foreman of the jury. Mr.. Mitchell and Messrs.
Willard, EdmonstOn, Stewart and Tuesdell, ap
peared before the committee, and each corroborat-
ing the other stated substantially that Bliss, after
the evidence of Walsh had been concluded before
tie Grand jury, stated that James b Price was ex
pected to arrive in the city on the following day
and would appear before the jury as witness for
the Government in that case, and secure an ad-
iournmsent over one day on that account This
day Price would appear as witness iDtimating
that Prices testimony was necessary to make out
jury met, Bliss announced the failure of Price to
appear, and was compelled to submit the case on
the evidence already taken. The jury then voted
not to present an Indictment Bliss stated that he
did not expect Prices attendance. but might have
said TO the jury that the case would be stronger
when tried before petit jury, for then they ex-
pected 20 have Price a witness for the Govern
ment, but each OF the grand Jurors above men
toned was positive that this was not what Bliss
said.
1t further appears from the evidence of
Merrick and Kerr that at the time this Grand
jury was in session, the Government had no
knowledge whatever that Price wOuld ever
be witness in its behalf. He was then
under Indictment for conspiracy, and no
proposition had been received to accept him
as 2 witness at that time.