New-York tribune., 1884-02-04
WATCHING Mr.. SPRINGER.
INTERESTS OF JUSTICE IN JEOPARDY.
DEMOCRATIC EFFORTS TO MAKE PUBLIC GOVERN
NEXT EVIDENCE IN STAR ROUTE CASES.
tay TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

NEXT EVIDENCE IN STAR ROUTE CASES.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l
WASHINGTON Feb. 3.-Men who are desirous
that the real facts relating the Star Route nves
tcations and prosecutions shall be out ana
thai the interests of Justice shall at the same time
he guarded, have already become suspicious of the
manner in which Chairman Springer and his COM
m;ttee are proceeding. There is good reason Tor
the belief that the suspicious not g1oundless.
Chairman Springer may be acting In good 1alth'
and vet he has already done things which nave
subjected him to serious criticism from some Oh tne
members of his own party, and the Speaker, II is
understood. has thought II necessary 10
lecture him about certain matters.
Soon after Mr. Springer began operations ugy
stories began to be told about the Influences whleh
snrrounded him and apparently guided his investi-
cations Within the last week ii has been asserted
by one Government official who is carefully watch
ing the investigation that person who appears TO
enjoy Mr. Sprlnger's full confidence has boasted III
NewYork CITY that he controls Springer ana
his investigations" that " he drew the reSoiu-
tions which Springer offered 10 the House.
and which were adopted by that body that GER
tam persons desired not TO have the investigators
pnshed in certain directions, it would be Wise ior
them TO consult him. The official mentioned re-
earded these boasts extremely signihcaht' no
has positive knowledge that during the nIst It"
months of the Star Route Investigations III Aooi'
the information collected by the Government agents
found its way into the possession CT the persons
who were under investigation, and that they ala
not obtain it without paying for it. verbatim cop
les of special agents reports and other documents
Of great value to the defendants were thus obtained
by them The leaks were stopped about the peelh-
ming of 1882 and subsequent to that time the OoN
ernment was not put 10 the expense OF correcting
testimony for the use OF the defendants but serious
mischief had already been done.
DAMAGING EVIDENCE OBTAINED.
The manner in which and the agencies by which
the Government was thus placed at disadvantage
are il is understood fully known to officers OF
the Department of Justice. The evidence in their
possession it is positively asserted, is direct ana
strong enough to justify the Government in insitu-
ting proceedings for the punishment of the Offenders
The apparent anxiety obtain possession OF all the
reports and other papers which have a bearing on
the star Route cases, which are still to be prose
cuted for the recovery of money, which, IL Is al
legged was fraudulently obtained by contractors is
the matter which now arouses the strongest suspl-
cion. The resolution adopted on motion OF Mr.
Springer calling for all correspondence and IN
formation in the Post Office Department touching
the prosecution of all persons charged with frauds
in the Star Route mail service, was de-
signed to draw out summary of the testi-
port of the charges, and TO disclose
the names and residences Of witnesses, most OF
whom live in the Western States and Territories.
The effect of the publication of this information
would of course be disastrous TO the Government.
The warning of the Postmaster-GeneTal has been
so far needed that Mr. Spnnger's committee has
agreed TO recommend that a subcommittee examine
the documents in question:
A MOST paIscnIEvoUs RESOLUTION.
Ill ssAl.a nl.tffn IN
some respects still more Objectionable. 1t was Of
ferred by Mr.. Rogers, of another com
pittee, January 80, and requires the
Postmaster-General to transmit copies of
all unpublished reports made by special agents
during the year 1851 having reference 10 the star
lion would place the defendants In the civil prose
cutions already mentioned in possession OF large
amount of the testimony In detail when the |
Springer resolution would have drawn only Iii the |
II is understood that this fact has been called to
the attention of the committee by the Fostmaster-
disclosure of testimony, the publication of |
which now would handicap or wholly |
thwart the Government III its efforts !
a recover money mlawfuy and fraudulently OBJ |
tanned by contractors, is thus thrown upon the Dem
ocratic majority in the House II the comm committees
of that body being used TO serve dishonest per-
snal ends as is earnestly asserted 10 be hc case,
the fact cannot be known too soon.
USEFUL INVESTIGATION FAVORED.
To promote thorough and honest investigation |
the Attorney General and the Postmaster-General !
will lend all the aid in their power. II is within |
the province Of the Springer Committee to investi- |
gate and ascertain whether during the in |
yestigation of the Star Route frauds pre-
liminary to the trials, the Government was placed |
at a disadvantage by the illegal acts of any of its
agehts aud 1t is a together probable that the COM
N ttce will not proceed far with inquiry into the
Star Route business before il is confronted by evil
dence that such the fact. Then II Will be seen |
whetheTsor not the committee proposes TO act III |
good faith with the House and the country.
CONTEST EOR WAGERS