The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-02-11

report shows that the Postmaster General
is entirely free from blame on his part, and
l want it read through
The report submitted by Mr.. Ramsey
was read as follows:
The Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads, to which was referred Joint reso-
luton III. r. No. 419l repeating the joint
resolution approved July Is, 1870, entitled
Joint Resolution authorizing the Post
master General to adjust the accounts of
George Chorpenning," beg leave to report
the same back to the Senate, with a recon-
mendation that it pass as it came from the
House.
1t appears that the resolution sought to
be repealed makes it mandatory on the
Postmaster General to settle and adjust
the claim of George Chorpenning under
the first section of an act for his relief,
approved March 3, 1857, ION the basis of
compensation allowed by said act for the
regular service, and the claim growing ont
of the curtailment and annulment of his
contract on route No. 1891, on the basis of
his agreement with the Postmaster General
for the service to he settled as provided
for the services named in said act of March
B. 1851" The said first section reads as
follows, namely;
"Be ii esadted &C., That the Postmaster
General be, and he hereby is, required to
adjust and settle the claim of said Choir
penning, as surviving partner of Woodward
& Chorpennng, and in his own right, for
carrying the mails by San Pedro and for
supplying the post office in Carsons Valley
and also for carrying part of the Indepen-
dence mail by California, allowing pro
rata increase of compensation for the dis
lance by San Pedro, for the service to
Carson's Valley, and for such part of the
eastern mail as was carried by California,
during all the time when said services were
performed. as shown by the affidavit and
proofs on file in the House of Representa-
tives.
Thus it will be seen that the proposition
made by Congress, worked out to its logi-
cal results by the Postmaster General, as
he was directed, might naturally, in the
opinion of your committee, lead to the con-
clusion arrived at The evidence being
confined to the 'affidavits and proofs on
file in the House of Representatives" the
Postmaster General had no power of dis
erection left him to go beyond or behind
that evidence should he desire to do So
In the language of Postmaster General
Brown. These were to be the only
guides in the settlement, and neither the
records of the Department nor any CONTRA
dictory or explanatory testimony could be
taken by the Government to assist in attain
ing what might be considered exact justice
in the case
To show the improperly of the legisla-
ton which confined the Postmaster General
to any particular "proofs and affidavits,'
the committee instance important evidence
which is on file in the Post Office Depart
ment, and which the Postmaster General
was prevented from considering, to wit. "a
letter from Chorpenning himself, asking
for authority to transport the mails from
Sacramento to Salt Lake, via San Pedro,
for his own security and convenience
when it appears that afterward he made
claim for large amount of compensation
for the extra distance thus travelled.
Your Committee, therefore unanimously,
concur in the opinion that the Postmaster
General did not deviate from the discharge
of his official duty in the settlement made,
but strictly obeyed the law of Congress,
and that Congress alone should assume the
responsibility, if any, in enjoining upon
him the tultillment of Il duty which has
led to such surprising results. The res
olution itself was passed without debate
in the hurry of legislation, during the last
hours of the session, and indeed is the very
last one in the published statutes of that
session.
The resolution, doubtless would not have
been passed had the magnitude of the claim
been known, and the difficulties to be en-
countered in deciding properly upon the
evidence, as shown by the proofs and aft
davits ON file in the house of Representa-
tives.''
Your committee express no opinion as to
the merits of the claim of Chorpenning,
but beg leave to suggest that the Court of
Claims be invested with jurisdiction over
the case, that it may go there for adjudica-
ton according to the law and evidence
obtained and applied in the usual manner,
without being restricted to the ''affidavits
and proofs on file in the House of Repre-
sentatives."
The committee beg leave to submit with
their report the statement of the Postmas-
ter General showing the process by which
the settlement made with Chorpenmng was
arrived at under the law, and also commu-
nications from the Postmaster General.
directed to the chairman of this commit
tee, which are made part of this report
The joint resolution was reported to the
Senate without amendment.
Letter Of the Postmaster General to the
Senate Post Office Committee.
The following concise and convincing
letter of the Postmaster General is made
by the Senate Post Office Committee part
of their report in the case of Chorpenning:
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 4th, 1871.
Hon. alexander Ramsey, Chairman of tile
Post Office Committee Of tile Senate;
My DEAR SIR:-The Senate having refer
red to your committee the House resolution
for the repeal of the resolution of Congress
approved July Is, 1870, have the honor
to invite at the hands of your committee
most searching investigation into all the
proceedings connected with the claims of
George Chorpenning, and to request that
no report may be made until you can con-
fidently speak as to my good or bad faith