The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-28
THE CEORPENNIEG CLAIM.

More than twenty years ago, Woodward
and Chorpenning had a contract for GER
tain mail. service between Utah and Cali
fornia. In the course of time Woodward
died, but, unfortunately, George Chorpen-
ming still lives. For nearly twenty years |
he has been a supplicant at the door of con-
gress and in the office Of the postmaster |
general, and the "Chorpenning claim" has
become historic in our politics. After
firing the patience of congress, he succeed
ed, March 3, 1867, in procuring the pas
sage of law, which was approved by the
president, directing the postmaster general
H. adjust awnng other things. his claim
" for supplying the post office at Carson's
Valley; also for carrying part Of the In
" dependence mail by California, allowing
"a pro rata increase OF compensation for
" the distance by san Pedro, for the SER
4" vice to Carson's Valley, and for such
- part of the eastern mail as was carried
Shy California during all the time when
-" said services were performed as shown
"in the aflidavits and proofs on file in the
" house of representatives. The postmas-
ter general gave the law strict, literal
construction, and although he had on file
in his office petition from Chorpenning
asking that he might transmit the mails by
the way of San Pedro for his security and
convenience, he confined himself exclusive
" to the afidavits and proofs on file in the
<,f tot of
course, all ca parte and in Chorpennings
favor and on the 25th of May awarded
him SO 4S2, and, also, on October 30tb.
$685. 95 more, amounting in all to Sl09,-
072.95, which sum was paid to and receiv-
ed by him although under protest.
Not satisfied with his hundred and nine
thousand dollars granted and paid him by
a democratic administration, he appeals TO
the court of claims, and, like Oliver
Twist, asks for more. In his petition he
places the nd ddmnunl at one hundred and
seventy six thousand dollars, but specifies
his claim at only seventy-six thousand.
For some reason, which it Is not necessary
to state, the court of claims decided that as
the matter then stood, it had no iurisdic-
ton and dismissed the petition. In the
meanwhile the republicans had come into
power and the postmaster general was
directed to 'investigate and adjust the
claim, and John A. j. Creswell, then post
master general, proceeded to investigate.
He confined his investigation entirely to
the proofs and aildayits filed by Choipen-
ming in the house of representatives, and
"awarded and determined" that there
was due from the United States to Choir
penning the sum Of four hundred and
foriy-throc thousand and ten dollars and
sixty cents Without considering the
question of Creswell's integrity, it must be
conceded that the claim was decidedly of
an india rubber character, and to one not
familiar with the expansive nature of
claims and the manner in which they are
adjusted at Washington, 1t would be some
what puzzling TO determine how the claim
so suddenly.grew from seventy-siX thous-
and to over four hundred and forty thous
and dollars, and what ''inducement' led
Creswel 70 allow the larger sum when
only the smaller was claimed. The mat
Ter has never been satisfactorily explained
and probably never will be, so Creswel
must continue to bear the odum.
But notwithstanding the expansive pow
er of The claim and the extraordinary de
cision Of the postmaster general, Chorpen
ming was not to be permitted to reap The
fruits of his fraud HIS attorney had care
fully assorted the "proofs and allidayits'
and lcf. only those which were made in his
favor, and Creswell acted upon the act OF
1867, not the one referring the matter ia
him, and honestly or dishonesty reached
the conclusion he did, but without avail.
Fortunately. the act only provided for in
yestigatlng and adjusting, not for payment
and it became necessary that an appropria.
ton should be made for this purpose. The
act of reference was passed without oppo-
sition, in the very last hour of the session,
receiving the votes of democrats and re-
publcans alike, but when 1t came TO the
question of payment, neither party was