St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-08
SPENCER ON THE STAND.
He Details. His Connection with the
Star Route Cases.
The Persecution of Friend Causes Him to
to Give the Snap Away.
He Blames the Administration for Not
Taking the Easily Proven
Cases First.

tee, concerning the star route investigation
early in January, 1881. He said, went
from Nevada to New York on business. One
day, walking on Broadway, / met James,
then postmaster at New York, and he asked
me to accompany him This office. did so,
and when at his Office he told me he wanted
to go into Garfeld's cabinet as postmaster
general, and asked me to aid him, and after
wards did render what aid l could
When he had been appointed postmaster
general, said to him he had the opportunity
that few men had in a life time to make
great reputation. He asked how. replied,
he could make the postoffice department self
sustaining the first year, and the next year
he could reduce the postage to two cents.
Howe he again asked. By breaking up the
star route ring replied. l took pledge
from him that what said should be strictly
confidential. Several men connected with
the ring lived in the west, and were almost
neighbors of mine, and I desired my
name should not go to the public as an in
former. Afterwards | went to Gen. GARFIELD
and received pledge from him, that what l
should say to the postmaster general should
be confidential. He gave me the same as
surance that James had given, that my in
formation should be a secret. 1t was at my
suggestion then, that Woodward was the Sc
lection to take the general charge OF the in
vestigation. One day, while in the postof-
flee department, Tyner insisted that Wood
ward should not be appointed. then said,
thought that Woodward was
the best man to take hold
of the matter. He was appointed and given
general directions for making the entire in
vestigation. In the winter of 1881 remained
in New York, and used to meet A. NJ. Glib
son, and he told me what he knew, and
afterwards showed me table Of the ninety
three routes he had prepared. We met in
Washington, and together went to Wood
wards room, where he was made acquainted
with Gibson's information. l remained in
Washington about three months, most of the
time getting up evidence in the star route
cases. l remained in Washington until
Garfield was shot. I made up my mind that
instead of saving the government two or
three million a year the investigation
would be failure. Receiving no pay for
what l was doing, paid little attention to
the subject and in the latter part of March,
1882, l went to Nevada and remained until
June. Spencer then gave an account of his
return to New York, his being s"bpenaed to
and remaining two weeks, of his efforts alone
and with Secretary Chandler, to
secure an interview with George
Bliss 'sWhile sitting in one
of the hotels with Secretary Chandler, Bliss
came to the latter one day. They went out
and talked two or three hours. / interrupted
them several times, but Bliss said he did not
want to see me- He told Secretary Chandler
he desired not to see me until 1 went on the
stand, and if / didn't swear to what he ex-
pected he would cross-examine me. I re-
manned here until the court adjourned. I
then went to New York and showed Senator
Conkling my subpoena. He said it was not
IN legal form, and advised me to go and
attend to my business. l asked if my staying
in Washington had not waived my rights to
leave He said l followed his advice. l
want to state, said the witness, that of my
own knowledge, knew no material fact that
would be admitted as evidence, OF that would
tend to convict. l thought Secretary Chan
dler had stated this to Bliss. The witness
referred to the testimony of ex-Postmaster
General james, in which he said Spencer
told him that Dorsey had gone to Senator
Spencer's room, and said, see how
l do business, whereupon he placed $4,000
or Sc, 600 in an envelope and put it on the
table, and that Brady came in, took the en-
velope and money, and left l did not say
that had seen Brady and Dorsey in room
together. never saw Dorsey pay Brady
any money. We have talked so much on
the star route investigation, that he (James)
may have been mistaken and have got
things mixed. If / made such a statement |
must have been drunk; | am not
in the habit of getting drunk
I" Then you understand" asked member
of the commission, that the statement of
James concerning the payment of money by
Dorsey to Brady, was made out of whole
cloth?''
81 certainly never heard of the payment OF
money. Dorsey, at one time, was very BIT
ter against Brady, and anxious for his re-
moval as second assistant postmaster gen
eral''
The witness then testified concerning the
star route prosecutions. g always felt" he
said, that the government took
most complicated tax. felt
as if it was masquerading
before the public and could not see why the
complicated cases should be taken, when
there were some that were not
so complicated. I don't think
anybody was ever prosecuted, except the
Dorsey combination, that held about 10 per
cent of the expedited routes, in my recollec
ton the smallest per cent There was
scandal and gossip connected with the talk,
why second indictment was not found, but
as do not know anything as fact, do not
like to repeat it. Second Assistant Post
mast General Elmer, told me an agreement
had been made to compromise with the
larger contractors and combinations, which
asked for an arbitration, and said, they were
willing to pay the money, if the government
proved it had been taken illegally.
The arbitration board was to
consist of one man, representing the gov
eminent, and one representingthe contractors
and these two to select a third. Elmer said,
he had been selected on the part of the gov
eminent, Col. Ingersoll on the part of the
defendant ahd the third man was to be
Geo Bliss Bliss never met them, such action
being entirely Illegal 1t was an open secret
that contractors had to pay thirty-three and
one-third per cent. for expediting and in
creasing the service. No one ever told me
that, in short, could swear l never had any
doubt. but that it was fact. l was supposed
to go to second assistant postmaster general.
but was not in the secret and do not know
for certain. Spencer said, that he was anx-
ious to break up the star route ring to vindi-
cate Hands, formerly contractor, but now
a resident of Decatur, Alabama. He had
been prosecuted while contractor,
the witness asserted, and the latter was anx-
ious to see his prosecutors come to grief. a.
VI. Gibson is expected to appear tomorrow.
HUDSON IN WINTER.