Thomas Brady and Stephen Wallace established the firm of Miner, Peck, and Company to launch fraudulent bids for the privilege to operate these entities. For 10 points each:
[10h] Name these entities whose nickname came from the symbols used to abbreviate the overused phrase “celerity, certainty, and security.”
ANSWER: Star Routes [prompt on mail routes or private mail routes] (The phrase was abbreviated “* * *.”)
[10e] This president opened an investigation into fraudulent bidding for Star Routes. He didn’t get to finish it – or his first year in office – because Charles Guiteau killed him.
ANSWER: James Garfield [or James Abram Garfield]
[10m] When Garfield nominated the reformist Thomas James as Postmaster General, this Senator from New York tried to block it. This leader of the Stalwarts controlled patronage at the New York Customs House.
ANSWER: Roscoe Conkling
<American History>