National Republican., 1884-03-06
STAR ROUTES AGAIN.
Ex-POstmaster General James Before q Congress
siOnal COMMITTEES.
AWeIl Worn Subject to be Discussed
Once More.
What the Late President Said about The Prosecution
Of the Star Reuters,
Mr.. James Makes n Startling Statement
and Then Modifies IL.


Attorney General MacVeagh were examined
yesterday by Mr.. springers committee rela-
tive to the expenditures of the department Of
justice in the prosecution of tho star route
casos. Mr.. James said his attention was first
specifically called to the matter by ex-United
States Senator George L. Spencer, Of Ala
bama, and other wellinformed gentlemen.
1t was their belefthat millions of dollars had
been wasted on unnecessary star service, much
OF which had never been performed aud which
WAS procured by improper means. He Mr..
James believed that with honest and cconom-
ical management the postofice department
might be made self-sustaining. When post
master at New York he had refused to certify
certain contract papers presented by stephen
w. Dorsey, and he believed that his action in
this regard was the cause of the bitter OPP
position to his appointment as a cabinet ON
Ger. Mr.. James then gave An account OF an
interview between himself and President
Garfield on March 2. 1881, which Is Of no
special interest at this day except to show
that President Garfield was anxious TO con-
ciliate both factions of the republican party
in New York. 1t was understood that should
any controversy arise between the factions
Mr.. James was either to be loyal to the presi-
dent or resign. The president said he sus-
pected that something was wrong in the post
Office department, and IL there WAS he wanted
him Mr.. James to find it,
On the ninth of March, Mr.. James having
been appointed postmaster general, the presi-
dent sent for him and brought up the subject
of the star route service. He said he was
satisfied that there had been willful waste of
the public money and gross corruption; that
while he did not wish to have mail facilities
necessary to the welfare Of any community
curtailed, all unnecessary and extravagant
ha 10, ttn. aDn ttati
proposed investigation must be aimed at q
system and not at men, but that If the in
quiry should disclose the fact that any person
Or persons had been guilty of corruption or
fraud that person or persons must be handed
over to the department of justice. Mr.. James
appointed Mr.. p. IL. Woodward, of Connecti-
cut, his confidential agent in the investiga-
tion of the star route frauds. While in New
York some time afterward Mr.. James was iu-
formed that Mr.. John Swinton, one of the
editors of the New York S,n would, if so
desired, place him in communication with o
gentleman who would materially aid him in
the impending investigation. This resulted
in the employment of Mr.. A. NJ. Gibson, for
merly connected with the New York S,n, to
assist in the investigation. The witness pro-.
ceeded to detail the discoveries made, with
all OF which the star route trials have made
the public quite familiar He said the star
route service when he became postmaster gen.
oidi bhS CdiO Vi Ouc iuah'
Ray p. Eaton, borne upon the rolls of the
department as an assistant superintendent of
railway mail service, and who occupied q
desk in the office of the second assistant post
master general. He was afterward removed
and is now collector of customs in Maine.
Mr.. James continued: In the early part of
April, fortified with facts and figures labori-
ously and carefully collected, Mr.. Woodward
and myself called on the president and exhib-
tied o comparative statement of the most
corruptly manipulated routes. He displayed
great surprise and wished to know If the
figures had been verified by tho records. He
also added that he had been providen-
TALLY saved from falling into trap which
had evidently been set for him. aud seemed
to be contemplating some peril which he had
escaped. At the presidents request Mr..
James and Attorney General MacVeagh called
upon him the following day. Mr.. James
suggested that it might be better to bring
civil suits for the recovery of money from
dishonest contractors rather than to com.
mence criminal proceedings against the i'm
plicated parties, but the president said No"
zone moment, Mr.. President" said the
attorney general, consider whether or not
the postmaster general is not right. Before a
final decision remember that these proceed
ings may strike men in high places that
they may result in changing a republican
majority in the United States sem
ate into democratic majority;
that they may affect persons who
claim that You are under personal obligations
to them for services rendered during the last
campaign, and one person in particular, who
asserts that without his management you
could not have been elected. Look these
facts squarely In the face before taking a
final stand, for neither tho postmaster gen
eral nor myself will know friend or foe in
this matter"
Tho president walked across tho room, re-
tal a sNn. I ha,,
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 1t out"
Shortly after this conference ex-senator
Dorsey called on Mr.. James, and in the
presence of Mr.. Woodward denounced Mr..
Brady bitterly and urged that he be removed.
On the nineteenth of April Inspector Wood
ward addressed me communication strongly
urging that the interests of the pending invcs-
LEGATIONS out Of the department n t demanded the
retirement of Thomas j. Brady from the
Office of second assistant postmaster general
Mr. Brady was asked to resign, although the
presidents first impulse was to direct his re-
moval.
About this time Mr.. Woodward recon
mended that Mr.. Gibson should be retained
by the attorney general, which was done. On
the earnest solicitation of Mr.. Gibson, William
A. Cook, Esq, member of the Washington
bar, was also retained. Mr.. Cook had been
rendered a large fee by the defense, but had
declined. From the moment tho table of the
famous ninety-thrGe star routes was given
out through the medium Of the Associated
Press, Mr.. Dorsey began to actively engage
In efforts to shield himselfto bring the inyes-
tigation to naught, to disturb the relations OF
the president with his cabinet, and to con-
vince tho country that persecution" was the
primary motive of tho department. and of the
administration.
Rerdell, secretary to Mr. Dorsey while
Dorsey was senator, confessed that he pre-
pared the proposals; that they were sent in
bulk TO tho west, and, after being partially
filled up, were brought back to be eXecutedi
that after the proposals were accepted he at
tended to getting up influence, petitions, &C.,
for expedition, and after tho contracts were
expedited he managed the business of the
combination, which consisted of 5. w. Dorsey,
John w. Dorsey, Miner, Peck, and Boone,
the last named being frozen out to make
room for Vaile. Rerdell showed transcripts
of the books and said that during
tho congressional investigation he slammed
sickness for fear of being summoned
before the congressional committee. During
the time Of this feigned sickness book was
copied from the original, with the exception
That the money charged in that book to the
fictitious names of Smith and Jones, was
there entered under the head of profit and
loss Smith represented Brady, and Jones
Turner, of the contract office. Brady re-
ceiyed 33b per cent. as his share of the expe-
dition for one year, and 80 per cent, of the