The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-04-18
CAPITAL CHATTER.
A MisinterpretatiOn of the
Spaulding Act.
SENTENCING OF STRIKERS,
A miscellaneous Batch OF Interest
ing kilograms from Various
Localities.
Capital Chatter

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Post
naster-General has written to a MEM
her of the House committee on post
Offices and post roads a letter, urging
that Congress definitely and unmis-
takabIy declare the purpose and intent
OF the so-calied Spslding act'' for the
-eadiustment of the salaries of post
masters who served between 1854
and 1874. When this act was
passed in 1888, its true ID lent
and meaning was a matter OF great
donbt and perplexity. Postmaster
General Gresham studied it carefully,
and wrote an elaborate opinion upon IL.
He also called upon AttOrney-Generai
Brewster for a construction of the law.
The Interpretation placed upon the law
by the Attorney-General formed the
basis OF g mode of readjustment adopted
nv the department. This mode has
given great dissatisfaction to most Of
the 5000 ex-postmasters who sup
posed the law to mean one thing, while
the officials construed il to mean an
other. They are pouring complaints
into Congress and demanding that the
method of readjustment be chan ed.
Postmaster-General Villas has thus far
pursued the method adopted by his
predecessor. He did not feel
authorized to change the rue,
in view of the fact that the
Forty eighth Congress appropriated
nearly a quarter of million 10 pay the
establishments under the rule adopted.
Up to March 18th, some % ,ST5 cases had
been reviewed. OF this number 1855
claims were allowed, the aggregate of
the allowances being $54S.S74. The
claims disallowed are 15,5lS, and the
claimants mostly claim that under their
Interpretation of the act something
would be found due them. Claims
numbering 3,S2S. calling for an appro-
priatien of 1921 ,252, had been reported
70 Congress to be provided for in the
deficiency bill. 1t is suggested that If
Congress does not ratify the present
method of readjustment, it should sus-
pend action on an appropriation for
these claims. as change OF the
rule OF readjuStment VIII work
great confusion and compel =
review and readjustment OF the claims
already allowed. as an expenditure OF
over three fourths of a million under the
construction of the law now followed is
not likely 10 put a quietus to those
claims. The department is DESTROYS
that Congress make plain the very
complicated and perplexing piece OF
legislation. 4 resolution is pending be-
fore Congress declaring the postmaster S
view of this law as the true construc-
ton. A bill is also pending ratifying
the action taken under Attorney
General Brewster's Interpretation OF
the Spalding act and instructing the
department to continue to follow it.
al of the members OF the
select committee on labor troubles,
except Mr.. Stewart, of Vermont,
who is on a leave of absence,
we're present at this afternoons meet
ing. After a short discussion of the
best means OF pursuing the inquiry
the committee resolved TO subpoena
Messrs. Gould, Hopkins. Powderly and
Mcdowell. The committee is anxious
10 secure al the correspondence passing
between these gentlemen in relation to
the western strike, and will begin its in
vestigation here on Tuesday with the
examination of Messrs. POwderlv and
Mcdowell, who will be followed on
Wednesday and Thursday by Mr.. Jay
Gould and Mr.. A. L. Hopkins. The
committee is disposed to report at an
early day. but is determined to make
the investigation thorough and impart-
ial