The Leavenworth weekly times., 1873-11-06
WAR DEPARTMENT,


Washington City, Feb. 2Oth. 1873 :
Jane. L. RHsons, Esq Learenuorth Kas.
SIR: With reference to the claims Of the
employees in the Quartermaster department
at Fort Leavenworth for extra pay under
the eight hour law. l have the honor to in
foIm YOU that in October 1872, rolls were
ordered to be prepared, of the men entitled ro
extra pay under the act Of May lSh 1872.
Some few rolls have been received by the
Ouatermaster General, under these orders
which with the vouchers that are on file, will
be transmitted to the proper accounting 9th
csrs without delay. The attention Of all
officers who have not sent the required rolls
has been called to this and they have been
instructed to forward them at once.
The questions n TO classes Of employees
entitled to this compensation, will be decid-
ed "a the cases are pre- ented.
VERY Respectfully Yonr Ob't Servant,
WM. w. BELKNAP, Secretary Of War.
then obtained an interview with OR
Representative in Congress from Kansas, Mr..
ID. r. Lowe. explained the matter TO him
He considered that the Chains we're jnst, and
proposed to accompany me to the Quarter
maHkoH uc0cI0I 10 udhC duuItiouoA
into the matter, and on the following day We
called at the Office Of the Quartermaster
General, and had an interview with him in
regard to the matter. He spoke very favor
ably in regard to the matter, said he thought
the claims were just, and ought to be paid
The question was asked the Qnarlermaster
General if il was his opinion that the act Of
Nav IS, 1872, made provisions for the pay
ment of the claimants from the first day Ot
March, 1869, to the 18th day Of August,
1872 He 1.-THE Qlarermaster GENERALLY re-
referred to the act Ct Congress, and expressed
an opinion that it did not provide for the
whole time between the date of the act con-
stituting eight hours a days work on the
date Of the Presidents proclamation, and
that Congress had not a knowledge of the
fact that notwithstanding the proclamation
of the President, the officers in command in
the Department Of the Missouri continued to
evade the Law. Under these considerations,
Mr.. d. p. Lowe proposed to introduce bill
in Congress, making provisions for the set
tlement of those claims for the whole peri
cd of time which We worked, ten hours, af-
ter the act of July ., 1865. The Quarter
master General thought such course judi
cious, wherefore Mr.. d. p. Lowe drew up .
bill covering the whole time. but il was not
brought up before Congress on account Of
other business being ahead Of it, and it be-
ing too near the close of the sesei0n. But
should think from the letters of the Secretary
of War that it would require no further
legislation. Below is a copy Of my letter
to tie President inquirine as to the
validity of those claims and the answer to the
same from the Secretary of War:
FORT L:AvENwoRTH, KAN, Sept. 9. 1873
To u. S. Grant, President Of tie U. s.,
Washington, ID. C.
SIR: l have the honor to address you ir
behalf Of the employees of the Government
employed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
They request that write to you and ask i
there are any provisions made, or il they ar,
entitled to receive back pay for the two sxtrs
hour they have worked from the lst day o
March, 1869, to the fifteenth day of August
1872. presume you are aware Of the fac
that our wages were reduced one-ffth in or
der to have us work ten hours, which system
We were compelled to accept, and did worl
ten hours each day between the dates herein
before mentioned. After the issue of tn,
proclamation of the President of May 1lth
1872, We, not receiving the benefit of the lav
- therein prescribed, made application
through . petition, which was Forwarded
June 24.h, 1872. also inclosed copy o
the same to you August Sd, 1872. On tn
5th day of August, 1872, the Depot Quarter
maser at the depot ordered eight hour
therefrom to be day'e work, and We hav
received the same pay - was formerly pait
for ten hours. We believe We are Justly en-
titled to pay for two extra hours We hav
worked. An opinion from you in regard L
the matter will be thankfully received
hoping and believing We will receive Justice
and that you will promote and sustain tn
rights and interests Of the working men, 0
long a. they are just and honorable.
Very respectfully,
Employee q. N. Dept.
1857 WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington City, Sept. 30. 1872,
james l.. Parsons, Esq, Fort Leavawsrth
SIR-In reply to your letter Of the 9t
inst. in relation to the extra pay due to th
employees Of the Government At Fort Leav
enworth, Kansas, and requesting my opinio
- to the validity Of their claims for extr
pay under the eight hour Law, have th
honor to inform yOn that previous TO its n
ceipt instructions were given the Dept
Quartermaster at Fort Leavenworth to max
out the accounts Of the employees At tbs
place for extra services - soon as possible
that they be notified that snch action would b
taken, and that they need not employ claim
sgenta. No delay in the settlement Of the
accounts will he allowed.
Your obedient servant,
WV. W. BELKNAr.
Secretary Of War.
The above letters are true copies of letter
which passed between myself and the Seer,
tary Of War, which shows conclusively tn.
they acknowledeed The validity of the claim
and promised % pay them without delay
| Thinking that ample time had been take
called It the Office Of the QnartermasteI
General to make inquiries o. to the delay
was informed that all the rolls had not y,
been received BY the Quar:ermaaer-G Gener,
and hat thoae which had beon received ha
been forwarded to the Third Auditor Of th
Treasury. proceeded to that Office, mad
inquiries there, was informed that all th
rolls bad not been received and that tbes
vas no definite time - to when they voul
be received. aod that there would be no steE
taken to settle the claims until the rolls we1
al received. II is to be hoped that the Go,
esument vill not allow. further delay in Ii
ssstlensot Of theae claims. - great man
| Of the parties Who are Interested are poc
men. make this report to you through d
ssvspapsn On acco0nt of the number bsin
% lafge, and yo0 bsing 10 much scaftere
over the country Il would be impossible I
Feach you otherviaa. Hoping that the stey
which ! have taken to urge the settlement
thsse claims hsve been niisEactoey to you,
ronAiu Your obodient aervaal
fJAlm L. Parsons.