St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-30
The Committee has COmplet-
ed Its Report for Submits
sion to the House.
1t Details the History of the Star
Route Frauds from Hayes
Administration to the
Present.
1t Declares that the Frauds Could Not
Have Been Committed Without
the Assistance of Brady.
And Other Persons in High Official Positions
We're Oriminally Cognizant and Guilty
Participants Therein.

which during the last session of congress in
vestigated the star route prosecutions, has
completed its report for submission to the
house on reassembling. The report is signed
by Messrs. Springer (chairman), Van Al
styne, Hemphill, Fyan and Crisp, the Demo
cratic members of the committee.
1t details at length the history Of the star
route frauds from Hayes administration
down to the commencement Of the suits, and
declares the frauds upon the service could not
have been committed without the knowl-
edge, cooperation and assistance Of Thomas
j. Brady, and that not only the contractors,
but many other persons in high official posi-
ton in the government, were either crimi-
nally cognizant Of the frauds or quietly par
Elephants therein. II declares the amount
out of which the government was defrauded
in the star route mail service, during Hayes
administration, exceeds four million dollars.
At one time the government was paying
$3.50, 600 per year for carrying mails to Of
fees that yielded less than $12, 600 revenue
The story of the attempt to arbitrate the
Salisbury and Parker cases is told at some
length, and the report has the following to
say concerning these combinations:
1t appears from evidence that these two
most powerful combinations of post route
contractors were known as the Salisbury and
Parker combination. All efforts at procur-
ing indictments against these parties failed
material witness against Salisbury was
one Thomas a. McDavitt, a nominal con-
tractor for the principals, who held a
large amount of expedited service.
7 N
adelphia FOR fraudulent bidding on certain
routes in Texas, matter quite different
from those in which his audience was chiefly
sought. Woodward was directed by Attor-
ney General MaeVeagh and Postmaster Gen
eral James to procure an affidavit from
McDevitt as to his knowledge of the frauds
in the Salisbury cases. McDevitt made
full statement OF all the facts within his
knowledge, and was given by Woodward an
implied promise of immunity in considera
ton of his making full disclosures. The
binding force of this implied promise was
recognized by James and MacVeagh.
McDeyitt added he would freely communi-
cate any further information within his
knowledge whenever called upon by the gov
eminent. Notwithstanding this full dis
closure on the part of McDevitt, and the i'm
piled promise of immunity which he had re-
ceived from Woodward, the Philadelphia in
dictment was pressed to trial, and
McDevitt was convicted and sent to
the penitentiary for one year. Woodward
protested to the president and attorney gen.
eral that in the trial and conviction of Nc
Dewitt the solemn pledges Of the government
had been broken, and urged executive elem
ency in his behalf, which was not granted.
Woodward testifies, also, that McDevitt was
the witness he should have relied upon to
break into the Salisbury combination, and
show they methods Of doing business, and
that he was the only witness accessible to
make proof against the powerful combina-
| ton. But the government took that witness
and sent him TO the penitentiary"
The report continues: s'The manner Of
| procuring the expedition was reduced TO a
science. The affidayits of contractors and
others were used as foundation upon which
the expedition and increased service were
allowed. The braZen effrontry and perjury
of these affidavit makers is without parallel
in the history OF criminal prosecution. The
affidavits were signed and sworn to In blank
and were kept on hand by the contractors just
as they laid up supplies Of grain for their
horses. These affidavits were the sole meas
ure Of the cost Of the expedition, and no
other evidence was required by the depart
|
and ami Increase of speed, which cost the
government hundreds az thousands Of dol
lars. 4 stock Of these blank affidavits was
kept on hand, and the blanks were filed
when occasion demanded, and the papers
filed with the department were the basis Of
securing large and valHable additions to the
contract. Thus puriury was made the basis
of all the frauds perpetrated.
A considerable portion of the report is de-
voted to the subject Of employment and
compensation Of attorneys. The amount
for this purpose, as far as ascertained, is
| S144, $40, of which Geo. Bliss received ST.
732. A review of Merrick's testimony in
explanation Of the failure of the government
to secure conviction in two star route
trials Is given, but the report says the commit
tee had not time TO pursue the investigation
in reference to attempts to bride jurors. In
reference to the contractors not indicted the
report says:
''From a tabular statement from the Office
Of the second assistant postmaster general
the amount which it is claimed could be re-
covered from the Salisburys and Parkers is
estimated at 1864, 403, while the record of
evidence in the postoffice department at the
beginning Of the investigation by the depart
ment was meagre against the Salisburys and
Parkers, yet the evidence subsequently pro-
cured through special agents sent out for the
purpose, showed that the operations Of these
parties as contractors were glsrngly fraudn-
lent, and that they should have been IN
dicted, convicted aid prosecuted in civil
suits for recovery OF large sums illegally OBJ
tanned from the government. Some mys-
terious and powerful influences must have
operated to secure their immunity.
The next subject considered Is relative to
the feature Of the indicted governor, Kellogg,
and the report says Geo. Bliss seemed to op-
pose the efforts looking toward such indict-
ment, andupon this point continues as fol.
lows:
''There Is a wide issue of veracity between
Bliss and members OF the grand jury as &c
the efforts made by Bliss to secure the in
dictment against Kellogg. The foreman Of
the grand jury, Mr.. Mitchell, and Messrs.
Willard, Edmonston, Stewart and Truesdell,
appeared before the committee, and each
corroborating the other stated substantially
that Bliss, after the evidence Of Walsh had
been concluded before the grand jury,
stated that James B. Price was
expected to arrive in the city the following
day, and would appear before the jury a.
a witness for the government in that case,
and secured an adjournment over one day
on that account. This was on Friday, and
the promise was that on Saturday Price wa:
to appear as g witness, intimating that
Prices testimony was necessary to make ou
the governments case. On Saturday When
the jury met, Bliss announced the failure Of
Price to appear and was compelled to submit
the case on evidence already taken. The
jury then voted not TO present the indict
ment. Bliss stated he did not promise Prices
attendance, but might have said to the jury