Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-08
FROM WASHINGTON.
STAR ROUTE INvESTIGATION.
Ex-senator Spencer of Alabama Before
the Committee.

Ex-senator Spencer of Alabama, now
resident OF Nevada, was examined today be-
fore Mr.. Springer's committee concerning
the Star Route investigation. Early in Jan.
ST. l went from Nevada to New York on
business, met Mr.. James. then postmaster
he told me he wanted TO go into Garfeld's
cabinet as Postmaster General, and asked
NE 10 aid him.
said | would assist him, and afterwards
did render him what aid could. When he
had been appointed Postmaster General, |
sald TO him that he had An opportunity that
few men had in lifetime to make great
reputation. He asked how, | replied that
he could make the post-office department
selfsustaining the first year, and that the
next year he could reduce the postage TO two
cents How he again asked. BY break
ing up the star route ring, | replied. | took
pledge from him that what | said should
be strictly confidential.
Several men connected with the ring lived
IN the west. and were almost neighbors of
mine, and DE- sired that my name snould not
go to the public as an informer. Afterwards
l went to Pres. Garfield and received
pledge from him that hat should say 10 the
Postmaster General should be confidential.
lie gave me the same assurance that
James had given me, that my in
formation should be secret. 1t was my sug-
gestion then that Mr.. Woodward was select
ed to take a general charge of the investiga-
ton. The Star Route prosecution as far as
it went, said Rerdelfs story, if true.
would maze conviction. When he (kerdelD
offered it. those to whom he made it failed
to take his affidavit. Dorsey afterwards got
him. and got him to make an affidavit TO
another story.
SUpnppr then a of his
November last for contempt and OF his ac
quittal in Judge Wilie's court. II want to
state" he said, THAT of my own know ledge
| know of no fact that would be admitted
evidence that would tend to convict" This
was stated 10 Bliss through Secretary Chan
dler.
The witness referred to the testimony
Thursday of ex-Postmaster General James, in
which he said that according to Spencers
statement that Dorsey had gone to Senator
Spencer's room and said, '.See how do bus
iness," whereupon he placed five or six hun
dred dollars in an envelope and Brady came
in took the money and left
IL did not say that had seen Brady and
Dorsey in the room together; | never saw
Dorsey pay Brady any money; James was
mistaken; We have talked so much on these
star route Investigations that he may have
got thugs mixed If | made such state
ment | must have been drunk, and am not
i'll the habit of getting drunk"
Then you understand asked Stewart, a
mber of the committee, ''that the state
ment of James concerning the payment of
money by Dorsey to Brady was made out of
whole cloth?"
Il certainly never heard of the payment of
money. Dorsey at one time was very bitter
on Brady and was anxious for his removal as
second assistant postmaster general"
The witness testified concerning
the star route prosecutions Il al
ways felt, he said, THAT the govern
ment took most complicated case.
| felt as if it was masquerading before
public, and could not see why complicated
case should be taken when there were some
that were not so complicated. don't think
any one was ever prosecuted except the
Dorsey combination that held about 10 per
cent of the expedited routes, in NV reccol-
lection the smallest per cent. There were
the Dorsey combination, consisting of J. W.
Dorsey. Vail, Peck, Miner and Boswell,
with about 10 per cent of routes; Salisbury
combination consisting of the two Saisburys
and J. J. Gilmore, with about 80 per cent of
the routes the Parkers combination con-
sisting oftwo brothers. with about % per cent
of the routes and the Landerson combination.
said" but his name dropped out because of
his initials; there scandal gossip connected
with the talk OF why the second Indictment
was not found. but as do not know as a
fact do not like to repeat it; there was a
sort of preacher, J. 2. Colegrove, IN New
Mexico, who had the routes.
OF what denomination was the preacher.
asked Milliken. a member of the committee;
he must have sheared lambs while he
preached to the flock Mr.. Spencer said he
understood an agreement had been made be-
tween the government and star routes, to
compromise the cases ''Did the contractors
pay anything for having the routes IN
creased?" asked Springer. Witness replied
1T was an open secret that they had to pay
335 per cent for the expedition and increas-
ing OF the service. No one told me that in
shape that could swear to it, but L never
had any doubt but what it was fact 1t
was supposed to go to the second assistant
Postmaster General, but was not in the
secret and do not know.