Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-22
Extra Pay for District Employees.


CONTROLLER LAWRENCE DECLINES TO APPROVE
ALLOWANCES FOR EXTRA sERvIcEs-THE CON-
MIssIoNERs ASK A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF
THE NEW RULE.
First Controller Lawrence has addressed a
letter to the District Commissioners in relation
to claim of Mr.. Daniel Donayan for extra ser
vices amounting to $3.50. He says as Donavan
was employed in the Auditors office at the time
he should not receive any more than his regular
salary, in accordance with sec. 1865 revised
statutes of the U. g., and he therefore rejects
the claim.
He adds:-''I beg to call your attention to the
fact that quite number of disalowances has
been made on account Of illegal payments for
extra services, &c, to persons who are now and
have been since the Commissioners were mott
fed of such allowance in the employ ofthe Dis
trict, and that such presons have been regularly
paid their salaries notwithstanding the ndebt-
ednes5 to the United States on account of these
illegal payments, and to say that no further
payments should be made to such persons on
any account until the amounts (shOwn by the
statement of the differences of which copies
have been furnished you) paid in violation of
law shall have been repaid into the treasury of
the United States on account of the proper an
preparations. | have directed that no credit
shall be given for disbursements subsequent to
the date on accounts of payments to persons
VINO have been repaid until the amount due the
United states on account of such payments shall
have been paid into the treasury"
THE REPLY OF THE COMMISSIONERS
The Commissioners held private session yes
terday afternoon, after which a letter was adj
dressed to Judge Lawrence in which they state
I'VE referred Jour communication to the audi
tor for report. and have just had his report sub
mtted. without now calling in question your
ruling as set forth in the communication now
replied to, the Commissioners respectfully re-
quest a suspension of the same only so far as it
applies TO payments to the parties involved for
the current month. To stop the paw of these
employees without more adequate notice. espe-
ciaiiy at the holiday season on the year when
their necessities are unusually pressing. would
seem to be a hardship unnecessary to enforce at
this moment, especially as there can be no cues
ton of the responsibility of the bonds of the
commissioners against whom the Irregularities
are charged and the eventual security of the
government OF the United States for the amounts
alleged to have been Illegally paid"
CONTROLLER LAWRENCE REPLIED AS FOLLOWS:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
FIRST CONTROLLERS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. 81, 1882.
Gente1nen:-YO our letter Of to-day requesting
suspension of the ruling stated In my COM
municatiOn of the 18th instant in so far as it re-
lates to the pay of District employees for the cur
rent month, is received, land in reply l have to
say in view of the facts stated, that l am
willing the employees referred to should be pa id
for the current month, If the Commissioners
deem it advisable. Very respectfully,
(SlSned) WIN. LAWRENCE,
First Controller.
To the Commissioners n"