Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-17
LObby-sriking in Trouble.

The great swindle attempted in the post office
department, of which our dispatches have given
some account, presents an interesting study for
congressman aud their constituents, and places
the postmaster general in very uncomfortable
position, 1t shows what lobbyist can, some
times, do in the 'last days" of session of con-
gress and it shows the postmaster general that
il is not always safe TO do what is asked by
claim agent, even when he seems to have the
forms of law in his favor In this case, the
treasury came well nigh losing half million
dollars, ostensibly to satisfy claim which is
one of the most rascally swindles on record.
A man named George Chorpenning presents
Claim" for damages, because, years ago, he
was not allowed to have certain contract for
carrying the mails from Salt Lake City to San
Francisco. OF course it is an old claim, which
has been constantly spurned and rejected, at the
post Office department, heretofore. Neverthe-
less, he contrived at one time to get 100000
which never should have been paid to him. His
agent and lobbyist, it is said, is a Mr.. Earle, a
former law partner of Mr.. Ores veil. This man
seems to have studied with great care, the art of
getting a corrupt bill or resolution through con-
gress, and, especially, what may be done during
the hurry and crowd of business in the last
hours of session. Therefore, on the 18th of
July last, when congress was about to adjourn,
he rontrived 10 get through cunningly written
resolution authorizing and directing the post
master general to settle Chorpenning's claim.
Probably not three men in congress were fully
aware of its character.
Armed with this resolution, the agent, Earle,
made an attack on Mr.. Creswell with whom
his old partnership relations gave him some adj
yantages. Finally, after much persistence, the
case was taken up; and, after the usual routine
Of examination and reports the sum of S448, 900
was awarded to Chorpenning, and the sixth au-
ditor was peremptorily ordered TO sign warrant
on the treasury for this amount, although no
appropriation to pay it had been made. 1t is
supposed that the money would have been taken
from the general post Office fund and made up tn
deficiency bill. The auditor was not satisfied;
be believed there was something questionable in
the case; but be had no authority to disregard
peremptory order. The warrant would have been
signed and the money drawn, if the matter had
not, just at this time, come to the cars of Mr..
DANSoy VIM iinuSAlAsNiJ XIV tulOusu VIC tOuSt
resolution forbidding the auditor to execute
the order.
There will now he searching investigation;
the villainous claim will be exposed; and the
S44S 900 tof which the above named Mr.. Earle
was to receive s2OO, 900, it is said) will not be
drawn from the treasury. Those who make the
investigation will do well 10 inquire what
methods can be adopted to prevent the passage
of such resolutions OF the lobby, in the last
hours of a session of congress. They are sure
to be there, ready to slip through at an I'M
guarded moment. Sometimes they can be
found in the pile of bills and joint resolutions
that have accumulated on the speakers table;
sometimes they get IN by other methods; and
the chances are that they will get through con-
gress, in the hurry of business, unless they are
watched carefully and constantly by members
who know what they mean.