New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-10
THE CHORPENNIEG CLAIM.

THE CHORPENNIEG CLAIM.
In the Senate, on Tuesday, Mr. RAMSEY Of Mime
sofa, from the Committee on POst-Ohices and Post
| Roads submitted the following report:
The Committee on Post-Oflcos and Post-ROads, TO
which was referred joint resolution H r. No 47@ re-
pealng the joint resolution approved july To- ~ emu
lied resolution authorizing the POStmdstcf-Gctl
20 adjust the accounts or George ChOTpehng DegleaNe
10 report the same back TO the Senate with recon-
mendation that il pass as it from the House.
IL appears that the resolution Sought TO be repealed
and adjust the claim of George Cborpeunng under the
first section of act for his relief approved March B.
FOR The regular service and the claim growing out OF me
curtament and annulnen OF bis contract on route 10
10 SOL Oh the basis of his agreement with the Postmaster
General for the service u be settled a. provided Tor INC
services named in said act of March b lo5 lie S'd
BE Selsd &C. Thas the and be hereby
sI,6s w SSi. aS cbosHrrg AMI n bis oH & for carving
9s s sn o' o for f carr y part y s Iaennc By
snSvin 3ro rq,a nS and T 6 psIt Of The Este
were performed by sdaFl and proofs Tie the House
thus h viii be seen that the proposition made by Con-
gress worked out TO its logical results Oy te f3S'l
General az he directed, might naturally IN the
opinion of your Committee lead to the concu5on arrived
at. The evidence heing eonnned 70 te us p o
uroofs on the House OF Representatives. the POST
beyond or behind that evidence should nc desire 10 do
In the language Of POstmaseT-General BrOWD " Ihe~e
the records Ire Department nor any contradictory or
explanatory testimony could be taken by tie Govern,
|
| exact Justice IN the case " 49,,
To show the Improperly Of the legislation which con
fined the Postmaster General TO any particular proofs
and afadays," the Committee instance important evi-
dence Which Is on me IA the I9sUlcr M @ anu
sGering to wit - letter from Chorpennng himself,
asking for authority transport the mails rom sacra
nepte to salt Lake via san PEDRO for his security
! and convenience" when u appears that altcrWard ne
made claim for large amount OF compensation Tor Tie
YonT Committee therefore unanimously concur in the
opiaion that the Postmas4 General did not deyiate
fn the discharge OF his official duty IN the settlement
made but strictly oboycd the law OF Congress and iat
Congress alone should assume the responsibility! any
in enjoininR upon him the fultment OF duty which ha7
led to such surprising results The resolution itself was
iasd without debate tie harry Of legislation during
The lsst hours II the session and indeed the very as'
one In the published statutes OF that session
Tie resolution Doubtless would not have been passee
had the magnitude VI the claim been known and Tire DR.
ncues be encountered in deciding properly upon me
evidence az shown by the proofs ana ahldaVls On nc
il the House OF Representatives"
Your Committee express 10 opinion as TO the merits
of tbs claim OF Chorpennng but beg leave 10 suggest
that the Court OF Claims he invested with Jurisdiction
cormg 10 the law and evidence obtained and applied in
tue tsplI manner, without being restricted t. the am
davis and proofs Oh HE III 'Ao iiO"'' u MI
The Committee beg leave to submit with their report
he statement Of the POstinaseTGcneral, showing the
process by which the settlement made with Chorpenng
vas arrived al, ander the law ana also comnnicatlons
of this Committee, which made part OF this report
| The POstmdshr- Generals Letter.
The following concise and convincing letter OF the
Postmaster General il made by the Senate Postofce
"a
| pennng:
| POsr-OPF1cE DYPARTNEST, WASHINGTON, Feb. !, 1871.
| Hon. ALEXANDER Ramsey, Chairman of The IOstOUce
! Ny DEAR SlR: The senate having referred 10 your
Committee House resolution FOR the repeal OF the res
honor to invite at the hands OF your Committee most
searching investigation into all the proceedings CON
neced with the claims Of George CborpenGlng. and 70
request that report may be made until you can conn
IDENTIFY speak as 10 my good or bad faith in respect
In Justification of myself desire to make brief state
ment.
on the 22d of September 1869 ChOrpennng presented to
me, as POstmasteTG petition, wherein he asked
for the reversal OF decision made by POstnas Gen
Brown, ana for allowance OF an additional sum OIL
money in the way Of Extra compensation under the nrst
gument OF counsel gave written decision on oct -
1859, adverse TO ChOrpennng and dismissed his petition
| eOrs-Meesrs. Holt, Blair, and Kandall-naney, that
the had already been decided by POstmaster-Gen.
SatiOn. This declared TO be final disposition Of the
upon the Law il then stood, and supposed that
upon to cons consider it. But BY joint resolution of Con,
ensi spS'ed rc S 10 Byer se and adjust
not only the claims Of Chorpennng under the first section
nv said act for the regular service but also certain
other claim growing out OF the entertainment and an
nulment Of his contract route r. the basis OF his
agreement with the Postmaster for that service
This act was mandatory and enioned upon me the labo
TiOus and dsaeeble task of Investigating and adjust
ing certain specified claims in prescribed manner, at n
liked compensation and according the "afidavits and
i was made mere accounting officer and was charged
with the adjustment OF ChOrpcnnngs claims, under the
act OF 1857 according TO uEteTabe and arbitrary
AS as able, reluctantly proceeded TO discharge
my duty, to the best OF my ability The result of my
abors present 70 you in the form Of a report Ii fully
details the Of my decision. and the reasons there
I for.
Having given to the subject the best ability and study
could command, sent for Mr. j. ~ Davis, one Of the
most upri gt lboiOus, and competent Of my subordn.
ates and submitted to him my report his careful
revision He returned 1t at the close Of the day with
hui one objection. His point was that lad erred in
allowing for services prior 10 the lst OF July 1885,
al the rate of So 900 per annun, rather than AT the old
contract price OF $4,000 per annum answered that
had already carefully considered that point, aud was
obliged 70 override his objection This felt constrained
IN do i'm obedience to the words Of the law II, how
cYer had adopted Mr. Dayiss suggestion II would have
made djsreIce OF about 1900 OF 5000 In the amount
| Of the award.
concluded my official connection with the by for.
may fling my report in the Department on the 23d OF
December st where II has ever since remained subject
| 10 Inspection and examination. III was not until the
7b day Of January that copy Of IL was transmitted 20
sixth. Auditor. never signed any warrant, DRAFT
order or other authority for ts payment or directed %.
Te0ursed npy other officer 10 do 50. On the contrary
sent for Judge Martin, The Sixth Auditor ana ms chlei
clerk Air NrCrc, and after telling them 0i thc hAFh
f... tf- fl 81 nm fg fUI