New-York tribune., 1903-04-19
BEAVERS'S WORK UND0NE
PROMOTIONS HELD UP.
General Readjustment Of Postal
Clerks Salaries Made Necessary.
LEY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBusE.l

[sr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsE.1
Washington. April 1S.-The most important
result OF the postoffice Investigations thus far
occurred to-day. when the Controller OF the
Treasury. Mr.. Tracewell. rendered an opinion
which holds UP all the recent work OF Superln-
tendent Beavers Just before his sudden resig-
nation. and makes entire readtustment OF
the salaries of postal clerks in first and second
class offices throughout the United States neees-
sary.
In the absence Of Postmaster General Payne
from Washington. the First Assistant POST
master General discovered that Superintendent
Beavers had awarded salaries and promotions
regardless Of the express provisions of the law
taking pains in every instance TO secure an
agreement between his allowances and the total
amount appropriated. but dividing up the larger
salaries IN such 8 way as to reward the great
est number Of employees
It was the opinion Of the First Assistant POST
master General that it would prove necessary to
suspend ali further promotions until the total
number Of clerks in each class corresponded TO
the number authorized by Congress, but this
gradual adjustment is not sanctioned by the
Controller
CONTROLLER TRACBwELL'S OPINION
Controller Tracewen says the act Of March
q. 1903 making appropriations for the Postoffice
Department for the fiscal year ending June 80.
1904 under the headings 'Ofice of the First
Assistant Postmaster General" and Salary and
Allowance Division" contains numerous pro-
visions sor the compensation of clerks In first
and second class Offices, including employees OF
various designations, and each Of these pro
visions specifies the rate OF compensation to be
paid TO the employees OF the classes designated
therein the number OF employees provided for
and the amount appropriated
fSu rrJlz h0r
Aand that provides that 5 per cent of the appro-
priations mentioned may be available inter
chanseably for expenditures the objects
named but no one item shall be Increased more
than the 3 per cent named
The Controller calls attention TO the well
fzblished principle that appropriation Of
specific sum for a particular object must
be construed in the nature Of a limitation
and prohibiting the Of a greater
II Is held. therefore. that the author
fly granting the OF per cent Of the
amount appropriated for any of the particular
class Of employees provided for is specifically
limited, and this prohibits the of greater
percentage either Of the amount appropriated
for any class OF employees or Of the amounts
bT which the appropriation for any class Of
employees may be increased with the single ex-
ception OF the funds that may be used IN the
event Of consultations Of postof1ces- That is
provided for In this item Of the Postofice APP
preparation bill:
For compensation to Postnasters s2iIsaoe Any
die existing law shall be transferred TO the ap-
ofices and made available for the payment of
salaries of superntendents and clerks at stations
established II lieu OF the postothces discontinued
AN IMMENSE NUMBER AFFECTED.
Under this decision the immediate recall Of all
promotions and changes in first and second class
xEis. he hal try
that an immense number Of clerks viii be af-
fected, and so extensive have been the devia-
tions from the law. the possibility that half the
promotions recently made in offices Of the
classes named may be suspended until the next
appropriation bill goes into effect year hence.
Postmaster General Payne said to-day that
no charges affecting the office OF Second As
sistant Postmaster General ShaIlenberger had
leen received. and that he was not aware Of
any new developments in the investigation.
1t is learned from other sources that the at
tention of the investigators has been called to
The conspiracy IN connection with the auction
sale Of dead mail matter which occurred some
tine ago II alleged that certain clerks
had succeeded in attaching to the packages to
De sold marks by which the valuable
could be identified, and then bid them in. Some
employees were discharged as the time a
suit OF the conspiracy but IT is now said that
the chief offenders still retain their places
Senator Aldrich was among the callers at the
ONCE or the postmaster General to-day, having
stopped over in Washington on his way to Hot
Springs Va He called to secure the appoint
rnent Of a Rhode Island postmaster.
Postmaster General Payne to-day appointed
committee TO consider proposals for supplies for
the postal service in the fiscal year beginning
July ] next. The bids will be opened at the
supply division OF the department on May i
The committee consists of Chief Clerk E f.
RinbaI of the money order system; Superin-
tendent ] H Reeve, Of the bureau Of postage
stamp supplies and postmasters accounts and
J. A Meyer, clerk IN the office Of the Second
Assistant Postmaster General a committee for
this purpose is appointed annually. The COM
miTtee is directed TO pay due regard to quality
well cost OF the various articles TO be sub
mitted and to take into immediate consideration
the items of supply OF wrapping papers for the
service and 10 report thereon at the earliest
practical ble moment