National Republican., 1883-03-02
HARD ON TIE CLERKS.

The Pay OF Several OF the District EN-
pIoyes stopped by Direction OF Comp
troiier Lawrence.
There is considerable excitement in the
district buildings over the fact that quite n
number Of clerks and other employees have
had their pay stopped on account Of ruling
of the first comptrollcr Some three months
ago the comptroller called the attention of
the commissioners to these over payments,
aud stated that the amounts could not
be allowed, and that there should bo
no payment TO these overpaid employees until
the amounts ovcrpaid should be returned,
Tho commissioners urged that delay might
be had in complying with the request of the
comptroller, and in the meantime wrote a
letter TO Senator Allison suggesting clause
in the district appropriation bill which would
relieve the clerks from the hardship of n
stoppage of their pay and hold tho matter in
allegiance, but were informed that such action
could not be taken by the senate as it would
be in the nature of new legislation
Tho commissioners thereupOn addressed n
communication TO the President requesting
the opinion of the attorney general as TO
whether section 1865 of the Revised Statutes,
upon the construction of which the comp
troller bases his ruling, applies to the en-.
has not yet rendered his opinion. The Sec
tion referred to is as follows;
No officer in any branch of the pubic service
or any other person whose salary, pay or emolu-
mcns are fixed by law or re iulatons shall receive
! any additional pny, extra allowance, or COnlpen-
! sntlon in amy form whatever for the disbursement
I OF public money for any other service or duty
| whatever, unltss the same Is authorized by law
| aud the appropriation therefor explicitly states
TINT II Is fursuch additional pay, extra allowance,
or compensation.
The list of stoppages, and the grounds upon
which they are made, as furnished by the
auditor of the district, is as follows;
Fay not authorized by law, J. 4. Postlcthwaite,
1924; Y. L. Beggs, si2i W IL. Calhoun, sj2i; John
| J. Burrows, s20s; George SChari, s52S; H. g. Ii j.
$685. SG% ''U r. g. crSac h M fS9ns s5 J : JSne %
james Lowe, SIP; j. W, Walker, s7i2; j. u, pcy.
ton, s9i2 Thomas u. Shoemaker, sgI2 l.. =.
shcppc d, $685. Patrick Riley, $40, and j. f..
Din5rcncc bctweon $4,000 and 50, 400 per nnnum
/ for six months, X. T.. Dodge, $500.
Extra compensNtion,, R9s. 4; FIJI slso; Frank
| Wilson, SlGO William Griffin. S130 i. ". w. Grif-
fin, sS0 David Warner, s5Oi, william Morgan,
500; Irwin Mulligan, $40, and j. w. Cross, Sl2O.
! Freight on coupons, w. .. Roome, 50.
| Travelling expenses and expenses Of iiremen's
convention, Mnr,in Cronin, sil2l.Io. ..oo
Travelling expenses Smith Town end, $3.50.
Error in pay, h. N. Barr, S3 y. Marsh, 50.
Extra for gas, ). d. Newcomb, 1ll.50,
Pay aS referee In court Of claims not authorized
by law, Daniel Donovan, slsj.
Pay as secretary of board of trustees ofpublic
schools not authorized by law, Z. D. Rheem,
S2l2.
The total amount IS sl5,3l5Oj.
Tho alleged unauthorized payments cover
considerable period of time, and extend
back to the incumbcncy of Capt. Phelps. In
fact II is shown that S7,772.60 of the amount
was paid during the terms of MCssrs. Phelps,
Dent, and Twining; $7,32i.95, during the
timc Of Dent, Morgan, and TwiDing; $155,
during the period covered by Dent, Morgan,
and Iy1orkrr aud 500 IN durinu tbp incum.
bcncy of Ncssrs. West, Morgan, and Ly-
decker.
This action of the comptroller places the
clerks in very embarrassing position, and
the opinion of the attorney general will be
eagerly looked for.