New-York tribune., 1872-08-02
POSTMASTER CREswELHs DEFENSE.
HIS HISTORY OF THE CH0RPENNING CLAIMS
CONGRESS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE.

HIS HISTORY OF THE CHORPEhNiNG CLAlMo-
CONGRESS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE.
lBY TELEGRAPH T0TBB TRIBUSBl
DETROIT, Aug. 1.-POstmaster-General Cres-
well addressed large audience at Jackson tonight in
answer TO speeches discussing his official transactions,
made in this State by eKGoy Blair and Senator Trum-
bull. He began by avOvDg his determination
TO prove them liars and sanderers. He hrst
took up the Chorpenning claim, saying; The
claim of George ChorpenniDg ia based upon
several contracts made in the years OF 1851 1884, ana
1885, with the PosOlce Department for the traDsporta-
ton of mails The claims under two Of these con-
tracts; the first two made for extra compensation
beyond what the contracts allowed. The claim under
the third contract the contract OF Ss was made De-
cause OF amendment, first rejection ana then an
amendment OF the contract Now the claims under the nrst
two contracts when presented to the Posonce Depart
ment were rejected and Cborpening went before Con-
gress after having submitted his claims to the Com
mittees of Congress for the consideration OF claims
went before them, and asked for legislation
upon this subject. These whole operations III
regard to Chorpening submitted to Com
mittce OF tho Senate, at the head OF which
was Mr. Ramsey OF Minnesota. law was passed re-
quirng the to adjust and settle these
claims as shown by afldavts and proofs This was III
1851 and under it Postmaster-General Brown made an
award of a considerable sum Chorpenning. which was
paid but Chorpennng disputed the manner In which
the allowance was made, extra compensation peins
allowed according TO the rates OF compensation
for the regular service fixed In the contiao.
and not by the rate Of compensation hxed IN the tfiu
section OF this act Of 1887 Now the rate OF compenSa
tion hIed in contracts 800 In one, ana sO III
the other. Tho rate OF compensation fixed In the act
was $4,000 That was the between Chorpennlng
and department The department, upon reviewing
the case, refused 10 give him further allowance
upon that plea, but they did mako hnh al
allowance upon some other point.
CONGRESS RESPONSIBLE PoR THE WHOLE BUSINESS
Chorpenning then went before Congress and passed,
July 15, 1870 joint resolution directing the fOstnasloi
General to adjust the claim Of Geo. Caorpennipg on inc
basis OF he compensation $4,000 per year aOweu
in the act OF 1851 That was the controversy between
us. Now what election was left inef Consres'
refers to the act Of 1857, and says Inae "o
shall execute the law upon tnst OASIS 80 i'r 10
his claims concerned. in the nrst ana soconu oH
tracts and then Congress further and for the rSt time
directs the Postmaster TO settle and ADJUST Cho
claim under this third contract OF 1885, according 70
basis of his agreement with the Postma5erooherai'
Now them what left for mo to do' except 10 eAoo
that law I'm good faithl have had nothing ~ uo WIN
Its passage. | never spoke 10 meihDer VI W"
gress on the subject. that is not NY Ouo. 70,
ness. I delayed my decision until DEC ~
and nv decision did not go 10 the Sixth Auditor un
January T. but Mr. Blair did not take any acuon W SUI
the payment OF the claim nor to raise any inquil vo
t. Mr. Trumbull says that my former law PaiN
ner, Mr. Earl, camo from the Postomoe DC
| partment. where he was my nrst asSi'S'
TO take charge OF the case lp"'
utterly false Mr.. Earl had never heard OF tne O"O
penping case when he resigned from the Pos'ohco ~
nartment Eari's attorney Gen. Black, hied writtei
briefs With me arguing Chorpen3ings claims. sper
two weeks in laborious examination OF the eimn e
and nled ,I,,sd ears,uyw,i,'eS opp'0n DAVE, on,
| OF the oldest, and most competent, ana ,IV ns,
exnerenced officers IN the Department, man VINO nn
held the highest positions there for the last 40 odd
who after days examination pronounced cor re
| under Ihe laws Of 1851. which was ~ 10
| anired to carry out. Having filed my avs,
I called the attention Of the sixth "a, AuaisU ,sheu
invited his eaefal scrutiny OF H. and stated thht Wo
naAI ne money must come out OF the General uear'
as there was no money appropriated Tor ,hat wa
tbe Post odlea Department funds. While the mater wa
being exanined by tho ccQunng otqers il2