The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-06
The Testimony in Detail,

and denouncing him upon general principles.
The Testimony in Detail.
To the Western Associated Press.
WASHINGTON March 5.-Ex-P Postmaster gen
eral James and ex-Attorney general MacVeagh
were examined, to-day by the Springer commit
tee, relative to the expenditures in the Depart
ment of Justice in the prosecution of starroute
cases. Mr. James said his attention was first
specially called to the star matters by eX-
United States Senator George E. Spencer, Of
Alabama and other well-informed gentlemen
1t was their belief that millions of dollars had
been wasted in unnecessary star services
services much Of which had never been per
formed and were procured by improper means.
1t was also maintained that an honest thorough
investigation would render practicable retrench-
1ents without detriment to the service which
would not only make the Postoffice De
partment self-sustaining, but would yield
respeetablerevenue to the Treasury Continuing,
Mr.. James said: That / entertained such views
was more or less well known The publicity
given them, added TO the fact that while post
master at New York, when asked by Stephen
W. Dorsey to certify, in my official capacity, to
large number of papers connected with the
contract Office of the Postofice Department
refused to do so, may account for the bitter OPP
position to my appointment to the Cabinet posi-
ton which developed in certain quarters
went to Washington the night of the I'd Of
March, 1881 in answer to a Geographic dispatch
from Whtelaw Reid, which 1 understood to rep
resent Mr.. Garfelds desire On the Sd called
on him, in company with Mr. Reid. The latter
said, in substance, addressing General Garfield,
that he had asked me to come on, as he (Gen.
Garfeld) had desired and had told me it
was in reference to some suggestion of my
name for Postmaster general that l had
said that if the Treasury Department was likely
to come to New York, did not want to be in the
way and that he (Reid) had assured me that
that was now settled. General Gar
field, addressing me, said That is absolutely
settled. The Treasury Department cannot go
to New York Mr. Reid continuing said he
had told me General Garfield expected to get on
satisfactorily without friction with both fac
tions in New York. He hoped my appointment,
if made, would help to that end, but wished to
know whether, in case controversies should be
forced upon him, he could be sure, if / we're
made Postmaster general. that my natural affli
ations in New York would not interfere with my
hearty support of his administration. General
Garfield said: Yes, that is about it, and l then
replied: Such contingency, in my judgment,
will not arise; but, if it should and if ] accept
your nomination must, gentleman, either
be loyal to the President or resign General
Garfield then said That is satisfactory
and the conversation then turned to the work
of the Postohice Department General Garfield
said he was afraid there was something very
wrong in the department itself. If so, he eX
pected me to find it out, and then pillow in to the
beam and after that subsoil it,"
Dorsey was not present at this interview nor
did James see him. Neither did he call on
nor meet Senator Conkling or Vice president
Arthur. On the 9th of March, James having in
the meantime been appointed Postmastergen-
eral, the President sent for him and brought up
the subject Of star-route service. He said he
was satisfied there had been a wlful waste
of public money, and gross corruption; that,
while he did not wish TO have the mail facilities
necessary to the welfare of any community cur
tailed, all unnecessary and extravagant service
must be relentlessly cut off; that he proposed
investigation, and it must be aimed at the sys-
TEN, not at men; but that if inquiry should dis
close the fact that any person or persons had
been guilty of corruption or fraud, that person
or persons must be handed over to the Depart
ment of Justice. He gave instruction TO pursue
this investigation until there were no more facts
to ascertain
CoNFERRING WITH THE PRESIDENT
The witness said A. NJ Gibson, formerly CON
nected with the New York Sun as its Washing
ton correspondent, placed in his hands evidence
of the greatest Importance and made valuable
suggestions bearing upon star-route matters and
methods All sources of information at com
mand were made available, and the investi-
cation was pushed in every way. The state of
affairs thus revealed was truly appalling. SIN
the early part of April, fortified with the facts
and figures, laboriously and carefully collated,
Mr.. Woodward and myself called on the Prcsi-
dent and exhibited a comparative statement of
the most coruptly 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 a trap which had evi-
IDENTIFY been set for him, and seemed to be con
templatng some peril which he had escaped He
asked whether the papers had been shown to the
Attorney general / replied no, when he re
quested me to call with that official and Mr.
Woodward the next day. In conformity with
his request, we called the next afternoon, and
lengthy consultation ensued. In answer to my
tuggestion as to whether it would not be wiser
70 institute civil suits for the recovery of the
money obtained through dishonest contracts
.ather than commence criminal proceedings
tgainst the implicated parties he said no
Z" One moment r. President. said the Attor
ney general; consdor whether or no the Post
naster-general is not right before final dccis