The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-03-08
NIGHT DISP ArCHES.
r1.postmaster James Before
the Springer Com
mittee.
Startling Revelations in the
Star Route Farce.
Canadian Farmers, in Conven-
ton. Seek Redress.
The American Hog Still Max
ing Things Lively.
An Absconding Treasurer in
the Great State
of Ohio.
The Pacific Express Robber
Still Free.
A Chapter Of Congressional
Doings.l |
The Pacific Express Robber
Still Free.
A Chapter Of Congressional
Doings.!
MISCELLANEOUS. ETC.. ETO.
Star Route Inquiry.

Star Route Inquiry.
WASHINGTON, March Sex Post
master-General James and Ex-Attor.
ney.GeDeral Mac Veagh, were exam
ined to-day by the Springer c0mn.it-
tee relative to expenditures in the
Department of Jus'ire in the prose-
cuti,n Of Star ROnte cases. James
saId bis attention was first called to
Star Route matters by ex.United
States Senator George G. Spencer, of
Alabama, and other we'll Informed
gentlemen. 1t Was their belief mil.
lions of dollars bad beeh wasted In
unnecessary ''siar" service, much of
which has never been perfurinej, aud
procured by improper measures. 1t
was also maintained that an honest,
thorough investigation would render
practicable retrenchmeLt without
detriment to the service, which could
not Only ,naKe the P.'stOm ,e Depart.
mrnt self sustaining, hut would
yied y respectable revenue
to the Treasury. Continuing, James
said: THAT / inte d-d such views
were more or less known, aud the
publicity Of them added tO the fsct
that while PO>t,ll sster 1T Ne* York,
when asked ny Stephen W.. D 'rsey
to certify in my "ffi :ial capacity t. y
large numuer ut papers cbnn-cted
with the contract office in the Post.
Office Department. I refused to do so.
THIS may account tor the bitter OPP
posi- ion to my appointment N Il
'Cabln-t position wuich developed IN
certain quarters.
jams said he visited Washington
on March 2nd ut the request Of
Whitelaw Reid. when the latter in
truduced him t. Garfield, and the
latter IN ade him tender of the Post
master Generalship at that con Versa
ton, and, af,er his appointment,
Garfield suxxe- ed there were frauds
In the P.~toffice Dep .rtIlent. aud
that he desired them completely un-
earthed.
In the POstm sster James examiCa-
ton to-day, witness said: A. M. Glib
son, formerly connected with the
New York Sun as its Washington
correspondent, placed in his hand
evidence of the grea est Importance.
The state of affairs thus revealed was
truly appalling. In the early part Of
April, fortified with facts and fly
ures laboriously and carefully COL
lected, Woodward aud nlyseiI cal ed
on President Garfield and exhibited
comparative statement Of the most |
corruptly manipulated routes. He
displayed great surprise and wished
to know If the figures had
been verified by the rec
ords. He also addel he had
been providently saved from falling
Into the trap which had evidently |
been ret for him aud seemed to be |
contemplating some peril which he |
had escaped. He asked il the papers |
had been shown to the attOrney-gen-
eral. | replied mo-" when he re.
quested me to call with that official
and Mr.. Woodward next day. We
calIe, next af ernOOn and lengthy |
consultation ensued. In an
sw-r to my suggestion as
to whether 1t would not be wiser !
TO institute civil suits for the recovery |
OF money obtained through dishonest
contracts rather than commence
criminal proceed ngs agains! impli.
Gated parties, he sad, mo-" zone
moment, Nj. President" said the
Attorney General, ''cOnsider whether
or not the Postmaster General Is not
right before tinal decision: Remem.
Der that these proceedings may strike
men In high PLACES; that they may
result in changing the Republican
majority In The United States
Senate to q Democratic ma
Jority; that they may effect
persons who claim that you are un-
Der personal obligations TO them for
services rendered during the last
campaign, and one person in par.
ttcular who asserts that without his
management you could not have
been elected. Look therefore the
facts squxrely in The face before TAX
Ing q final stand. for neither the
Postmaster General Or. myself will
Know friend nor foe In this
matter. The President walked
across the room, reflected q moment
and said mo, I have sworn TO exc.
cute the Laws; 20 ahead, regardless
OF where or whom you hit. 1 direct
you both not only to probe this
ulcer To the bottom, but 10 cut 1t
out'' This closed the conversation.
Snoftly after the conference above,
Ex-senator ~ Dorsey called on me A.
MasningloD, ana in the presence Of
~, NJ woodward. denounced Brady |
usslefly and urged that be be
,ealoved. Witness incidentally |
,"msrk. n,,.sk d that, in his opinion, |
huo;.lcatlon reports seDt to Congress
~! sne rostmaster General would te |