Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-25
THE STAR ROUTE SCANDAL.
Another InvestigatiOn Probable.

THE STAR ROUTE SCANDAL.
Another InvestigatiOn Probable.
OF THE DOCUMENTS BEFoHE THEY WERE LAID BE-
FORE THE HOUSE.
Speaker Carlisle is somewhat Indignant at the
publication OF the contents OF the star route docu-
ments before they were laid before the House. He
says the documents were received last Thursday
afternoon, and the bundle, without being opened,
was transmitted 10 the government printing Office.
Therefore. nobody obtained any information as to
the contents While the documents were in the Gus
tody OF the House. II is regarded as An act OF dis
respect to the House to have permitted access to
that body had an opportunity to earn the contents
or determine what should be done with the informa
ton. The Speakers indignation is shared by a
great many members, and II is not improbable that
an investigation Will be ordered the purpose OF
aScertnning how the papers became public, and
what object or motive led 10 their publication
why Ex-senator Kellogg Laughs.
STAR reporter asked ex-senator Kellogg to-day
what he had to say about the publication and the
connection OF his name with the routes lie laughed
heartily at the mention OF the subject, and holding
up copy OF The STAR, containing the matter as
taken from the sun, said, ''look here, see how funny
this is" (reading) 81 d. Adams" it is asserted,
the nom de plume Mr.. Kellogg assumed In these
Transactions "They did not even know, continued
Mr Kellogg, "that John ID. Adams is a banker OF
Little Rock, and one of the best known men In the
country" He said that the detectives in their
enorts to work up something had strained every
point point and imagined good many things, and they
We're so ignorant" he added, 'that they didn't
know who J. ID. Adams was; not knowing such a
man they Jumped at the conclusion that the name
meant me- Pitt Kellogg" The ex- Senator pronounced
the whole thing absurdly ludlcrous. and said he
had nothing to do with the routes mentioned.
What Senators Vest. Plumb, Walker
and MaXey Say.
senator Vest said that If his name appeared to
any OF the papers, and 1t quite likely it did, it
was signed in compliance with some request and
without any knowledge whatever OF any con-
spiracy or anything wrong. He could not recall
the particular route mentioned, but said: sits
quite likely that Price other Missouri con-
tractor asked me to sign and did These men
a new mail route or increased facilities, and we
sign them. Every Senator, every Representative
has signed them in that way. l know no more
about any fraud in any OF them,' he added, "than
the car OF Russia" Mr.. Vest said, IN conclusion,
very emphatically, that no man will say or dare
say that he ever had any knowledge OF or received
any benefit from any fraudulent route or even
signed petition for one knowing 1t to be fraudu-
lent
Senator Plumb said he did not think the matter
worth noticing. He had signed a petition for the
route mentioned at the request OF Kansas con-
tractor and supported by many OF the citizens OF
that state He knew nothing about the route,
however.
Senator Maxey regarded the matter as beneath
his notice. He does not feel that he needs ANY
dignity them by any notice.
Senator Walker might have signed petition for
constituents but knew nothing about it and did
not care.
1Ir. Ellis VindfcatiOn.
AS stated in THE STAR OF Saturday, Representa-
tive E. John Ellis, OF Louisiana, denies the pub
lished statement duplicating him In an alleged
fraudulent transaction concerning service on a
star route in his state. 81 will tell you all know
fl,a ftar Mr. l;ct n
"Two years ago received letter stating that
tain charges had been filed In the Post Office depart
ment against me, concerning star route In my
section and giving the charges purported to be
contained In a statement made by George F. Brott.
| went to the Post Oifice department. and saw MIR:
Woodward. and after some prOteStatiOn, he showed
me the statement l read 1t over, and then went
and found Brot. That gentleman said that he
had never made any statement to the department,
and went with to the Post Office department 10
inquire into the matter After reading the document
he sat down and wrote out an emphatic denial,
stating that he had never made the statement, and
that the things alleged in 1t were untrue This
denial had tiled with the original document, and
that ended the matter"
"Where did this statement come from?n asked
THE STAR
.'That could not find out" was the reply 81
presume it was written 10y Mr. woodward himself,
but don't know"
"What do you know about the star route men-
tioned?'
81 know all about 1t. 1 suppose" said Mr.. Ellis.
81 signed their petitions, did all OF US (meanng
the louisiana delegation>, and did what l could
to secure the service for our people,
"Do you know OF anything crooked In the
Seryice?" asked THE STAR.
81 do not. believe it is strictly regular. have
not the slightest reason TO doubt it,
The following Is the correspondence referred to
by Mr.. Ellis:
WASHINGTON March 30. 1882
SIR:-1n accordance with your request. here
with enclose s.cOpy OF the statement made by Geo.
f. BrotL The original is file With the other pa
perS =. H. WOODWARD, INSPECTOR.
TO the Hon. E. John Ellis. House OF Representatives,
The following Is BrUtts statement referred to:
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT March %. 1882
am informed that am reported to have made
the following statement the officers OF the Post
Office department rejecting upon he Hon. E. John
Ellis: ''FOr securing the contract or DonaldSon
vile Red River Landing by steamboat Bro,t gave
fee OF several hundred dollars. exact for
gotten. to f. John ELLIS. member of Congress from
New Orleans, and was expected to pay more the
term ran on. The consideration was handed over
at the instance OF ElIiS
have no recollection OF ever having made the
above statement, ana know the statement to be
false applied TO NJ E!liS that did pay him any
money as stated. or promise to pay him any sum
whatever. SO far relates to the statement as TO
transactions that DIR. Il. Ii. Peterson had with Mr..
Ellis, have to say that may have reported what
had been told me. AS to the truth OF the state
ment know nothing, as was in New Orleans at
| the time, and had no personal knowledge vi the
matter. GEO. 4. BROTT.