National Republican., 1884-03-21
THE STAR ROUTE CASES.
Col. George Bliss Gives His Evidence Before
the Springer Committee,
His Connection with the Prosecution and
the Work He Performed.
Several Statements Made by MeSsrS. Cook and Glib
son Shown to Be Erroneous.
Details OF the Arbitration In the Case OF
the SauIsburys.

George Bliss, government counsel in tho
star route cases, was examined yesterday by
Mr.. Sprlngers committee in reference to his
connection with the Investigation. He said
IL was first applied to to be employed by
James the last week in August; then 1
rather declined. ] was applied to further
about Sept. q, 1881, and accepted the appoint
ment"
MIR, Bliss read the following letter dated
Now York, Aug. %, 1881, to tho postmaster
general in connection with his accepting the
position of government counsel:
MY DEAR JAMES: Referring to our conversation
about my ocomihg engaged in tho sar route
cases and Col Cooks dispatches want to say two
or three things, though think probably per-
sonal interview with you and others Will be neces-
First greatly appreciate the compliment you
aud the attorney general pay me In thinking OF
me In this connection.
Second. whe / should expect TO be paid as well
asthe government pays any one fot law business
which IL stating II lOw-l should not tnluk OF
going into IL ior the mere lecuniary results to
myself; and lerefore
Third want one or two questions answered
cintdentially, such us those Has the desire to
employ me anything TO do with Arthurs possible
accession acc sso me- 10 me prSsdey ior II Il dges 40
Just now TO go into the cases, for IL will be con.
sldered that am there with his consent, If not
procurement, and though do notdoubt he would
favor the "going for" every guilty man. still to
stir up the star route gang" at the outset OF his
administration, IT. unfortunately he Is to have
one, would add to his difficulties at the outset by
bringing down upon him the powerful gang"
beiorg he has had chance to conquer. as know
large. In other words, if the star routers think
they would get any favor from Arthur, should
want them 10 remain In that opinion till he has
won in manner the confidence of the non-star
routers, and ought not to expose him to attacks
a% Is has S sRsh M to ,Ra
Tinle has given oIit and the Sun encouraged, that
the prosec,ton is IN danger of falling? know
the difficulties IN the way, aud tnnt success can
not be asured when you are fighting, before
Washington courts and jury, werful q set Of
men as are involved in these cases. But don't
feel like going into falling case-one which its
friends have In their hearts come to believe Is
likely to fail.
Is anybody who is believed 10 be guilty to be
snyru, protected, or pass, by? There is a sort OF
belief that there 10 something of this kind. am
aware OF the dihicuty of your answering these
three questions especially upon paper, but want
To- possess your mind Of them that YOU may know
thing in case I come to Washington: What would
my relations to the case be? How much would
they require me to be in Washington, or away
they likely TO take me?
Now, my dear James, all this may perhaps strike
but it shows how feel, II, after seeing what is
iu my mind, you still think the condition OF
things Is such that can be of use in the cases,
try to come over to Washington some afternoon
this week, in spite of this hot weather.
To the letter Mr. Bliss said the postmaster
general tclegraphed a reply that the answers
to the questions would be satisfactory to him.
Mr.. Biiss accepted the appointed Sept. 5, and
on that day wrote the following letter to Mr..
James: .. ..a r...
MY DEAR JAMES: I had long interview with
Col. Cook It was satisfactory on the whole in all
respects except. one, though there were some
idiosyncraoies of his developed. The one eXcep
tonal point to which / refer is this: He repre-
sented that i was not certain | could be retained
that he, and you, aud MacVeagh were in my
favor; that he thought he could through Gibson
influence Blaine, and suggested that should pull
my wires II could. Now have no objection to
pull my wires in politics for friend or myself,
but ] never have pulled wires for law business,
and don't mean to begin now. ! didn't quite
know what to make OF this phase OF the matter,
but. while concluding IN my own mind that y Is
portance, and that II il not correct, still tell you
of 1t frankly. Don't mention it, OF course, to him
sS AsSSuming ms a matter TO 20 be AL right am dis
Long Branch / rather think l VIII drop down
here some afternoon aud talk with him on some
professional phases OF the case.
Mr. Bliss continued: II went to Long
Branch the eighth or ninth of September,
aud saw James and MacVeagh. Nobody else
was there. ! mention this because Cook has
said he was there lIo was not there. though
at q subsequent interview he was present.
On Sept 10 Cook, Gibson, and myself had a
conference at Elberon which lasted two days.
MacVeagh was in tho house and was sent for
from time to time, so he can fairly be con-
sidered as being present"
"Now state briefly the nature of your SCR
vices in the star route cases." said Mr..
Springer
"That would bo heavy job" Mr.. Bliss ro-
Piled "At the interview ut Elberon," he
continued 81 was told what had been done.
Cook and Gibson said they were absolutely
ready. Gibson had prepared an elaborate
statement with reference to Dorsey and Dor
sey's connection with these cases. The Pres
OFT nnI San 20 En
number of contractors had failed on this.
The route had been see.sawed up and down.
Walsh got hold of 1t and finally he was de-
clared failing contractor. Tho strength of
the case as II criminal one rested on Walsh.
He, it had been stated was able to
testify to the payment of mOney,to Brady.
The case seemed fairly good one, but | said
l couldn't help regarding Walsh as CO.
conspirator, and was unwilling to 90 unless
Walsh should be one of the parties indicted
Subsequently modified my views to the
extent that Walsh should be considered as a
consprator. Gibson thought he would not
consent, but was instructed to communicate
with Walsh. We broke up on that case.
Walsh subsequently came to see me in
Washington. | read over the statement pro-
pared by Gibson as to what Walsh could
testify to. | found that there were some
matters that he could not testify to; that
some things in the statement were mere in
ferences. j said plainly to Walsh that he
ought to be included in the indictment, and
also remarked that understood Gibson had
approached him on that subject. He said
Gibson had not been to him. The Dorsey
case was next taken up. 1t had been repre-
sented as ready for the grand jury. l SEQ in
the testimony that has been given before
this committee that | was represented a.
saying tho case was a weak one.
did not say anything of the kind.
At our interview | asked where was Dor.oy's
clerk. They replied that he had "gono back"
on tho government. | replied that that
weakened the case. l had tho impression
that tho case was II strong one, but found
that many of the statements made by Gibson
in his report We're mere differences, On look
ing then into the papers myself decided the
case was strong, and state now that IL was
the strongest ono wo had. | selected it
deliberately, In these cases the United States
statutes were 50 defective that the conspiracy
section was the only one wo could consider
applicable. II Brady had increased the speed
of a single route and allowed u largo sum
for 10, there was no evidence OF a
conspiracy on Brady's part. Nor was
there such evidence, When you went on
to tho route itself and made examination
1t was consistent to think that the officers Ot
the postollice department had been imposed
upon. But when you take ten, fifteen, twenty
five, or more routes, and lind tho amounts Of
increase very large, the aggregate carries
with it evidence OF guilt. ] took that yiew