Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-31
THE STAR ROUTE FRAUDS.
Result Of the Congregational Investiga
ton.
MAJORITY AND MINORITY REPORTS or THE sTRINGKR
COMMITTEE.


The printed reports OF the Springer committee on
"frauds in the star route mail service reached the
Capitol to-day from the Government Printing
ONCE. On the first page OF the reports is foot
note setting forth that "ths report was submitted
and printed in pursuance of resolution OF the
House OF Representatives passed July 8, 1884, au-
thorzing the committee TO file its report with the
clerk OF the House within sixty days after adjourn
ment"
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE GOVERNMENT.
The majority report sets forth that great deal
OF time was devoted to an investigation OF frauds
In the star route mail service 1t then goes back to
the Hayes administration and reviews the history
Of the star route mail service, declaring that GER
tain contractors conspired TO defraud the govern
ment The fact that the star route service is con-
trOlled by the Second Assistant Postmaster Gen.
with that Office is next explained. The inaugura-
t1on or Gen. Garfield is taken up, the appointment
OF Postmaster General James is mentioned and the
direction to the Postmaster General to prose
cute frauds is set FORTH The report then enters
upon history of the star route trials, which is
familiar to all readers OF THE STAR. 1t declares
That the present Second Assistant Postmaster Cen
erai, II. ID. Lyman, submitted a statement show
ing the number and termini OF forty routes, names
and that the expedition OF these routes was OBJ
talned through fraudulent representation and afi-
davitS that
THE AMOUNT DUE THE GOVERNMENT
for fraudulent service is s2,172, ,l32s7. The whole
number of routes upon which fraudulent service
was proven was ninety-three The manner in
winch the frauds were perpetrated is illustrated by
extracts from the testimony OF Col George Bliss,
chle1 prosecuting attorney. The report next gives
a list of routes on which fraud was practiced, and
shows how and through whom the government
was defrauded. In the next place list or star
route contractors who were accused OF fraud, but
not indicted Is given. In this list the SaliSburyS
Parkers and kerns are included. Such evidence
fral l,lrf hos
Is recited. and the Walsh and Kellogg cases are
gone into at some length. The testimony OF the
show why they did not indIct Kellogg, is also re-
viewed. The civil cases are next taken up and it
IS set forth that up to the time Attorney General
Brewster testified action to prosecute them had
been determined upon
CONCLUSIONS OF TIE MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE.
In conclusion the majority OF the committee say:
"Tour committee are OF the opinion that there
were many causes which operated to prevent the
| successful prosecution OF star-route offenders.
Whatever these causes may have been IL is doubt
less true that those who Will take the pains to read
carefully the testimony taken by your commit tee
on this subject, comprising nearly thousand
pages OF printed matter, VIII reach different
ciuaions. There was great diversity IN the testi-
mOny, and many contradictions viii be found
wholly rreconcilable upon any theory than that Of
willful perjury 1t is sufficient, however, for the
purposes OF this Investigation to state that while
the evidence against Star-route contractors and
public officials was strong and conclusive as to
their guilt, and that the government was de-
=
sums were also expended to secure indictments
and convictions. yet no person was convicted or
punished, and no civil suits have yet been inSt-
tuted to recover the vast illegally and fraud
ulently obtained from the public Treasury"
The majority report is signed by William NJ.
Springer, John j. Hemphill, Thomas J. Van Al
styne, Robert W. Fyan and Charles +. Crisp.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
Messrs. Milliken and Stewart, republican men,
bers OF the committee, submit a minority report
| setting forth that the late period at which the
majority report was presented preciuded any
thorough examination and presentation or views.
The minority defend Col Bliss and say as to kel-
losg: .'rhe gingerly manner In which the
| majority treat the extraordinary witness
Walsh, and the statement they give OF the
| nature OF Mr.. kelogg's own testimony,
may, perhaps, indicate that the majority do
do not greatly differ from the grand jury" In con-
clusion, the minority admit that the star route
| frauds were StupendouS and enormous and their
prosecution not successful, but they deny that
want OF success was due to any lack OF earnest
ness, sincerity or ability on the part OF the prose-