New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-27
NJ. Stanley has closed theUpperCongo to commerce.
The King of Dahomey has liberated the garrison
of the Portuguese Fort Whydah on condition that
the place shall not be ceded to England.
POSTMASTERS CLAIMS FOR BACK PAY.
THE EFFORTS OF AGENTS TO SECURE FEES BY BIG
PROMISES


fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.1
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26.-The pOstmasters
and Of the United States might well
be their guard against the seductive circulars and let
ters OF q certain class Washington claim agents, who
make living by first persuadng gullibe people that
they have claims against the Government and then by
evyng and collecting series of assessments under the
of fees upon pretexts The nature and
extent Of the old postmasers claims described in
THE TRIBUNE Of Friday last Yesterday a TR BUNE cor
respondent was shown letter written Mr.. Graves,
who Is postmaster at small town in Maryland. by Mr.
Laughorne, Washington clsn.agent In part, this
letter reads follows:
have sent out some $4,000 blank circulars ETC.,
which, with envelopes and clerical labor cost me con-
siderable and expected very reasonably by this tle
10 be receiving some returns from !he payment OF me
last al almost the last hour instead or IN DecemDer as
months be ore the claims can be arranged, examined
and settled This leaves 1t only short tune
direct from the Department and nope you will not fail
to remit my fee In the mean Time as my nave
small part of my foe, say $25. II You can't sent me
TINS amount send me what you can without ia esti-
mate your clam at 5000 This Is my opinion only
If Mr.. Langhorne's statement is true he has sent
circulars to all posImasters in the United states.
not one ten of whom would be entitled TO anything
even il the recent act should be con-
strued to suit the clan-agents themselves
1t is more than probable that Mr. Graves has no just
oam and he has, that it does not amount to one-baf
OF $500 Under date OF August Pennsylvania post
master wrote to the Department as follOws
On July IT man named Pennypacker notified all the
pcstmasers III Schuykll County 10 meet hiln ON hat
day. have found that he was not authorized by
the Department and revoked the power Of attorney
that gave ann to collect the money IL there Is any
coming To Will pay commission unless the De
partment requires II.
Mr. Pennypacker appears to be energetic man
who has been engaged for some months
in trying to induce poStasers give him authority to
collect mythical claims for them. That his labor is not
one of love alone is shown by the following circular
| letter:
BY the provisions of recent act OF Congress you are
entitled 10 of pay postmaster, which act
| 1868 and 1873 inclusive william e. Earle esq,
member of bar OF Washington, ID. c.. in hgh stand
ing and OF long experience ls associated Win me IN
making proper and advan sgeous settlement OF those
arr, ars OF pay by personal attention 70 your
accounts You will please sign ana acknowledge the
iuclosed paper before juscs OF tue peace or notary
public yoG pOssIb can and reiurn II oy ma
to You will also incose 81 TO pay Tor clerks cerdh
] sum will cover all your expenses until The collection Is
made. rne daes of your service may be made blank to
BE- filed up by the Department. There u snug sun
| due you well worthy our prompt attention.
The copy in the possession of TRIBUNE correspond
ent is dated West Chester, Penn, August %. 1888
| bears tue autograph Of Charles ii. Pennypacker
aud is add essed postmaster at large office, the
salary OF which ir way affected by the
law under which the clams pending were brought
That law did not apply TO posmasters at frstcass ~
secondclass offices all Mr. Pennypacker In his haste
and of hand allusion to the expense account OF
! clerks certificate" 20 betray considerable
Anxiety to get 81 from each person who can oe made "a
! believe that the Government owes MIN "snug sum.
Inc fos,Ia , neta, nm. 20 tbc Attorney
General and requested his opinion upon certain features
o. the law enac ed oy the last 4. D. mn
coincide with Judge Gresbarns construction OF tho law