The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-01
THE UNION.
Late ru.tnAasters,

For the Union
L.to Po.tIaaastsrs.
GENTLEMEN In the Baltimore Sun OF this morning is
communication relative TO the reversal by the First
Comptroller of the Treasury OF decision OF the Sixth
Auditor, appeal by William Hunt, of this city,
behalf OF late postmaster in Ohio. The following stale
ment OF facts in eonnexion with this matter WILL think,
prove Interesting large body OF late postmasers .'dis
abled IN the line OF their duiy;'
In the OF "The United States the Bank OF the
Metropolis, IS Peters, 377" decided that The right
OF Postmaster General OF reviewing predecessors de
csions extends to mistakes IN matters OF TACT, arising
from errors in calculation, and 10 Of rejected
calms IN hch mate rial testimony is afterwards dscov-
cred and produced But ii credit has been given.
an allowance made by the head OF department. and is
alleged TO be illegal allowance the judicial tribunals
must be esorted 10 to construe the law under which the
allowance made, and 10 settle the right between the
United States and The party whom the credit given
1t is no longer case between officers judgment and
that of las successor"
In 1885, when the fret postal reduction law went into
operation, and when, owing to their diminished compen-
saton, hundreds of postmasers resgnng weekly,
Cave Johnson then at the head Of the Post Office De-
paInent, by and with the sanction of the Attorney Gen
era allowed certain extra commissions. This al
lowance was acquiesced in from that time until the in
sallaon of Judge Hall He forthwith denounced it as
illegal, and, without troubling himself about resorng 10
any Judicial tribunal, rescinded the order OF prede-
cessor, whose jealous Of the public purse was
never surpassed. Resolving, however. to exhibit the
perfection Of human reason" the Judge declared that
those late posasles who had received the allowance
and whose accounts had been finally closed might keep
what they had got but that the large number OF those
who, through fault OF their own but solely owing to
the nadequacy OF the clerical force guilty of hav
ing their accounts still open should be guo,ined. and
transformed from creditors into debtors the depart
ment This, too it appears was only short time after
the Judge had demanded Of the managers the of $50
the price OF coat lost by him at the Taylor Inauguration
Ball, and when the accounts of the ball had long been
"fnally closed"
In August, $780, James Graham, late postmaster at
New Garden, Ohio, having himself applied in vain for
an adjustment OF his account employed his attor-
ney TO attend to his interests On presenting my ceden-
tals informed thai the should be attended to in
reasonable time, probably the Auditor meant
able eternity) After waiting seven months during
which period performed many prgrimages the de-
part ment did the most Jealous Turk the tomb of
the Prophet TO the conclusion that possibly Ora
hams heirs might day receive the balance due, but
that Graham himself stood no chance whatever.
Soon afterwards, the Hon J. Cable, on behalf of his
constituent Graham, requested TO report progress
in the gave him statement OF the facts. sug-
costing that he himself had better press for settlement
He did so whereupon the Auditor informed him and me
that the suspended, being affected by the
der of the Postmaster Generalthe Auditor not having
then made up his mind as to whether he would be gov
erned by the order not. Subsequently he conceded
with Judge Hail. and, at the conclusion of elaborate
argument decided that Graham not eatlled to the
allowance of 1915, the effect OF which was to make him
debtor.
From this decision of Mr.. Fanelly, and with the ap
probation of many members of Congress of both parties,
who were confident of its reversal. on behalf OF Ora
ham, appealed to the Hon Elisha Whesey First Comp
roe the fact OF the appeal having been duly registered in
the book for that purpose in the Auditors Office. The
result antcipated for the Comptroller in series
OF unanswerabe arguments proved that the allowance by
Cave johnson strictly legal and, reversing the decis
ion of the Auditor, directed the claim OF Graham to b.
settled
II was now supposed that this the end of the mat
ter and the newspapers far and wide carried the glat
tdings the army of late postmasers whose Interest,"
had been at stake But, 10 another actor about Il
appear--no less parsonage than Judge Hall himself
Who on returning from Richmond and learning what hat
been DONE became highly indignant, and complained tina
he knew nothing of the appeaP-that he ought to have
been notified" &c. On this ground, application was
made to the Comptroller who consented reopen the
in order TO afford the Judge opportunity of presenting
written argument, which he promised to hand in imme
diately on his return from his recent trip to New York
This no viewer, he failed 10 do and by thus keeping the
matter in suspense, he will succeed in doing indirectly
what he could not accomplish directly viz deprving
pos,masters of the balances Justly due
Now, either il the duty OF the Auditor 10 have in
the first place submitted his decision and argument IN
support thereof to the Postmaster General
his duty. II it icas his duty, which no for mo.
men pretend why not the papers sent to the "su
perior officer" who the floor, for his 'cor
rec,ons aud additions instead of forwarding to the
Comptroller only half decision If, the contrary
the Auditor had righ, TO act independently of the Post
General, previous incumbents always thought
they had why Judge Hall permitted to n,erpose. ant
appeal TO the courtesy OF the Comptroller for re-
opening Of the case
What right the Postmaster General had to interfere
after the decision Of the Comptroller may be gathered
from the sh section of the OF July 2, 1896, empower
ing the Auditor settle the accounts Of the Department
aud merely certifying 10 the Postmaster General the bal
ances found due; but providing that If either the Post
master General any person whose account shall be
ed be dissatisfied herewith, he may appeal to the First
Comptroller OF the Treasury, who decision shall be sd
and conclusrpe.'
i have deemed it proper TO make this statement, mas
much as the publication OF the decision of the Compiroer
has had the effect OF nundating with letters from
postmasters, who more than year ago employed 10
prosecute their claims and who, in the simplicity theii
hearts, supposed that the time had last arrived when
the rays justice had penetrated into the Pos, Office
Department
WILLIAM HUNT
WASHINGTON Cry, July 81.
RETURN OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAvY.-The Hon
William A. Graham has returned to this city after brief
visit to North Carolina Republic.