The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-11

early edition.
TIE CESSNA ores WE'LL CHORPEN-
MING CASE.
THE Hon. John Cessna and Postmaster Gene
raj Creswell have made elaborate expli-
nations of their action in the Ohorpeuping
case. 1t is we'll for the public to remember,
however, what that case is Mr.. Dawes, in
describing it to the House of Representatives
on the 3Oth of January, called national atten-
tion to the fact that the Pestm lster- General
had awarded $4IO,O00 on q mail contract
which expired some fifteen years ago. sn1 on
which the contractor had previously received
an extra allowance of $237, 1862 on an Original
contract price of $1O6, 600. So, then, Mr..
ChorpenDing, agreeing to perform certain
mail service for $lO6, 900, has already re-
ceived therefor more than three times the
tlm originally stipulated for; and not salts
fed with this enormous advance, the Post
master General recently awarded him (un-
der iDstructions) the further sun of
$440,000, which, if paid, would have
made in all the magnificent sum of
$779,G17 for few years mail carrying,
fifteen years ago, over a route leading
from Salt Lake City to Sacra-
mento. Really, when the people
find that bare accident saves them from
being taxed $779,Gl for mail service for
which they had only agreed to pay $1O6, ,00o
it is high time they should wake up, aud that
the parties most directly concerned should
make explanations of their participation in
such an extraordinary financial transaction.
Major Chorpenning, the claimant in this
case, had the good fortune to be a native of
Somerset, the county town in Pennsylvania
in which Judge Jeremiah S Black formerly re-
sided; aud the influence of the Judge, wh1 is
now avowedly one of Chorpenning's counsel,
has b en- powerfully exerted in behalf of his
fellow.t own sman. When the extra allo vance of
$233,G17 was obtained, it was considered
tremendous windfall for the Utah and Salt
Lake mail contractor and so indeed it was,
for most men would be quite well satisfied
with getting three dollars for every dollar of
q contract price on a 800, 900 contract. But
ChorpeDning and his able attorneys to w.t.
Judge Black aud Mr.. Earle-are not
satisfied with ordinary exactions from
an over-taxed people. They tried to
get something further from Postmaster
General Creswel but he decided that, as the law
justified in making any additional advances;
and in this strait Mr.. Cessna, as the Repre-
sentative in Congress of the district which in
cludes Somerset county, the old home of Choir
penning and Black, was called upon to come
to the rescue. At the heels of the session he
introduced what was apparently an innocent
resolution, which passed the House without
examination opposition, and speedily be-
came a law. One member of the Senate who
voted for it says he was assured that in no
event would it take more than $20, 900
from the Treasury. Cessna, the author
of it, says he believed that some
money was due to Chorpenning, but that in
regard to one portion of his claim he had but
little information as to its character or
amount. What practically happened was that
Creswell, IN consequence Of the passage Of tile
Cessna resolution, awarded to Chorpenniag
$440,0 and as the money has fortunately not
yet been paid out of the Treasury, the House
of Representatives, on the statement of Mr.
Dawes, promptly and properly repealed this
$440, 900 Cessna resolution. Since the outcry
raised by the exposure made by
MIR. Dawes, the Postm aster- General defends
himself by asserting that the law originated
by Cessna reduced him to the position of a
mere accounting officer, who was obliged to
audit claim on principles aoltIch preoeRted
him from considering evidence favorable TO
the GO0ernment. If this is true no greater
legislative outrage was ever perpetrated, for
1t is like telling an accounting officer to burn
up receipts showing that Government debts
have been paid, and then forcing him to
pay the same debts a second time; aud it is
only right that Me- Cessna should explain. as
wei as he can, how he came to originate such
an extraordinary law. This he has done in
speech delivered in the House on the 7th
inst, copy of which is now lying before as.
We have not space to republish it ia full.
But its general purp ort may be briefly
summed up as follows: - Major Chorpennine
is one of his constituents, and he believes
that some money is still due him; he also
knows Judge Black, one of Chorpennines
attorneys, and he vouches for the veracitv
of Ohorpennings witnesses, and believes them
t. be truthful honorable, and respectable
men. He did not know how much money
his bill would take from the Treasury, and he
did not explain it in the House fully only be-
cause no opportunity was given for such ex-
planation; and, furthermore, he (John
Cessna never has received or agreed to re-
eiVe, either in this case nor in any other,