The Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (New Albuquerque, N.M.) 1882-1884, 1884-03-06
Washington Gossip.

| TO star route matters by eX-Un1ted states
Senator Spencer. and other well informed
gentlemen. 1t was their belief that
ST., 200, 900 had been wasted in unneces-
sary service, much of which had been
PEI formed and procured by improper
means. 1t was also maintained thor
ough investigation would render practica-
bic retrenchment, without detriment to
the. service, which would not only make
the Postofice Department self-sustaining
but would yield respectable revenue to
the treasury. Continuing, James said
! That he entertained such views were more
or less known. and added to it the fact
that while postmaster at New York
when asked by Stephen w. Dorsey to
certify in my official capacity to a large
number of papers connected with
the contract office and to the
'Postoflce Department, refused to do
so, may account for certain bitter oppo-
sition to my appointment to cabinet po-
sition. About this time Garfield informed
me in an interview that he proposed
nominating me as pestmaster-generaL /
decided to undertake the duties of the
position. General Garfield said he vas
afraid there was something wrong in the
department, and thought, if SO, he ex-
pected me to find it out. On the ninth of
(, March, James, having in the mean time
been appointed postmaster general, the
President sent for him and brought up
| the subject of the star route service. He
said he was satisfied there had been will
full waste of public money, and corruptions
and the unnecessary service must be cut
off; that the proposed investigation must,
if inquiry showed any persons were guilty
! of corruption or frauds, they must be
handed over to the department of justice.
He gave instructions to pursue this inves-
! tigrtion until there were no more facts to
ascertain.
The witness said that A. M. Gibson,
formerly the New York Suns correspond
ent placed in his hands evidence of the
greatest importance and made valuable
suggestions bearing upon the star route
matters and methods. All the sources of
information at his command were made
available and the investigation pushed in
every way. The state of affairs thus re-
vealed was truly appalling. In April, fort
tilted with these facts and figures, labor
ously and carefully collected. Woodward |
and myself called on the President and |
exhibited a comparative statement of the
most corruptly manipulated routes. He |
displayed great surprise and wished to !
know if the figures had been verified by
the records. He, also, added that he had
been providentially saved from falling |
into the trap which had evidently |
been set for him and seemed to /
be contemplating some peril which he
has escaped. He asked whether the pa
pers had been shown to the Attorney
General. | replied "No." when he re-
quested me to call with that official and
Woodward the next day. In conformity
with his request we called during the next
afternoon and lengthy consultation en-
sued. No answer was made to my sug-
gestion as to whether it would not be
wiser to institute civil suits for the re-
covery of the money obtained through
the dishonest contracts, rather than COM
mence proceedings against the implicated
parties.
He said ''No."
"One moment, Mr.. President" said the
Attorney General, Consider whether or
not the Postmaster General is not right
before a final decision. Remember
that these proceedings may strike men in
high places. That they may result
in changing the Republican majority in
the United States Senate into Democratic
majority. That they may effect persons
who claim that you are under obligations
to them for services rendered during the
last campaign and one person in particu-
lar who asserts that without his manage
ment you could not have been elected.
Look these facts in the face before TAX
ing a final stand, for neither the Post
master General nor myself will know
friend or foe in this natter The Pres
ident. 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"
This closed the conversation. After
the conference above referred to Ex-Sen-
ator Dorsey called on me at Washington.
and in the presence of Mr.. Woodward
denounced Brady bitterly and urged that
he be removed. The preparations made
for investigating the Star Routes were de-
scribed by the witness at length.
In conclusion the witness said: Il
gladly avail myself of this opportunity of
presenting the fscts in my connection
with the Star Route proceedings. In
justice to myself and still more to the
memory of President Garfield, | wish to
say his conduct throughout was honorable
and was encouraged by it. If he had
taken a lower view of his official obliga-
tions it is my firm belief he would not
have fallen victim to the assassin's bull
let. | don't know that the assassination
was in consequence of Star Route mat
tiers, but believe from the clamor of the
people and the clippings found in the
assassin's pocket that Guiteau's head was
turned by these things"
Ex-Attorney General McVeagh testified
at length concerning the Star Route
frauds and corroborated the testimony of
James in its main features. McVeagh
will continue his testimony tomorrow.
The entire clerical force of the Census ,
Bureau, los in number have been sus-
pended from the 10th inst.
Hon. Kenneth Raynor, solicitor of the
treasury is dead. !
Brig-Gen. Donald SMacKenzie, United )
States army. was examined by the retir-
ing board at New York to-day. and as he
is regarded as hopelessly insane, there is
no doubt of his being placed on the re-
tired list. r
The name of John w. Mason, West 9
Virginia, is mentioned as the probable
successor of John c. New, as assistant l
Secretary of the Treasury. The Keiter-
Boynton committee continued its investi- /
cation this afternoon.
The Senate Committee Oil Public Lands
at special meeting held this evening
ordered a favorable report upon the +
House bill declaring the forfeiture of the |
ands granted to the Texas Pacific rail
road in New Mexico, Arizona and Cali I
fornia and restoring them to the public
domain. c
The House Committee on Public Lands T
agreed to report favorably to the House
the bill to declare forfeited the Ontona-
ron &, Rr11le river railroad nmnanv,s | I