The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-02

Judge Henry l.. Lorenz, special agent for
the Department of Justice left the city to-
day for Indiana. He has been sent out by
the department to clean up the pending
claim of letter carriers for over time. These
overtime charges arise through the passage
Of an act Of Congress providing that eight
hours shall constitute a days work and,
under the provisions of this act nearly
$1,0OO,0O0 have already been paid letter car
riers in various parts of the country for
extra or overtime work There still re-
main several towns in Indiana where these
claims have not been adjusted and it is for
the purpose of Strengthening out these that
Judge Lorenz has been ordered out. He will
make his first stop at Anderson, Ind, where
a number of claims filed by letter carriers
alleging overtime work have not yet been
settled.
1t may be said in parenthesis that the
Postofice Department is not entirely salts
field that the claims Of the Anderson car
riers are justifable and an official of
the Department of Justice has been ordered
to the scene to cooperate with the postoffice
Inspector The mission of Judge Lorenz is
simply to ascertain the facts, ard this he
will be aided by inspectors of the Postoffice
Department 1t would be advisable if car
riers or clerks having claims against the
government for overtime, growing out of
the enactment of the eight-hour law,
should make it a point to place their claims
before Judge Lorenz in person, or. falling
in this, their last chance, to forever hold
their peace.
The overtime reports from the various
postoffices of the country are made to the
Postoffice Department and by them submit
ted to the Department of Justice for adiu-
dication. If it is found by the Department
of Justice that the points made by the
claimants are well taken the matter is so
certified to the Court of Claims, who render
Judgment and the whole question is then
submitted to Congress by the secretary of
the treasury, who requests Congress to
make an appropriation sufficient to pay the
claims. The last Congress provided an APP
preparation of over half a million dollars to
pay these letter corriers claims growing
out Of overtime work and this sum has been
disbursed during the summer by the Treas
ury Department. There are still some
claims outstanding which have not been
proven up and these. so far as Indiana is
concerned. Judge Lorenz will endeavor to
report on. so that the coming Congress may
act intelligently and close out all demands
OF government employees arising out of the
passage of the eight-hour law.
The agitation growing out of proposition
to remove the postoffice at Dunkirk. Grant
county. Indiana, from its present site has
so stirred up the citizens of that community
that postoffiee officials have deemed it best
20 send cut an inspector to look the
ground over and make an unbiased report.
The decision to send an inspector to Dun
kirk was made to-day and Mr.. Heath will
take no steps in the matter until the report
of his inspector has been laid before him.
Representative Jesse Overstreet was in
terviewed this afternoon by the Star and
has added his voice to the grand chorus
that has been singing the song of prosperity
thrs lghout the West. He says that this
has been a great year for Indiana and that
the people are eontented over the seasons
record and over the outlook for the future
Mr.. Overstreet visited several of the depart
ments to-day. attending to the interests of
his constituents. Mr.. Overstreet has been
notified that changes will be made at once
Of the postmasters at Acton, Lawrence and
Alliance, In Marion county, and at Stones
Crossing. Johnson county. Mr.. ]. E. Mason