New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-12
SCANDAL IN SENATE
Pointing CLERK Is
DISMISSED.
accused of Promoting Post
masters Claims-St0ry
Reflects on a Senator.

Washington, Eeb- IL Nli-laIl D
Turner, Of Oregon. for twelve years
printing clerk of the Senate, has been
dropped from the rolls All the circurn-
stances connected with Mr. Turner's
separation from the government service
have not come to light, but a story relat-
Ing 20 his dismissal is in circulation
which reflects on d member of the Sen
ate
The summary dismissal OF Mr.. Turner.
who WAS one Of the most popular and
efficient employees in the Office Of the
secretary Of the Senate. came as q shock
10 the Senate wing of tn. Capitol Mr..
Turner had complete charge Of all print
ing for the Senate. and in his position
came into close touch with all Senators
and their secretaries. His dismissal fol-
lowed complaint made by Senator Pen
rose. growing out Of the fact that an un-
favorable report on resolutions providing
for the payment OF claims Of certain for
nler postr7asters had failed TO come back
from the Government Printing Office as
RAPIDLY IS Il should The adverse re
port on these claims had been prepared
BY Mr.. Penrose.
The claims referred to have long been
known as the Spauiding claims" and
one Of the men most interested in them
Is former Cuban postoffice official who
has been discrediteG and who recently
has been acting as an attorney in press
ing for action other claims Of foEmer
posrmasters. This official is reported to
De on terms Of intimacy with a United
States Senator who has beer active on
eehalf Of the claimants mentioned
According to the story in general cir
culation at the Senate to-day. ii was at
this Senator's assistance that some
twenty resolutions were presented in the
Senate by members from as many states.
These resolutions were handed TO Sen
Rtors with the explanation thar they
merely called for information
AS a matter OF fact. they directed the
Secretary Of the Treasury to audit and
report for payment the amounts due
former postmasters. About twenty of
these resolutions We're introduced, all of
them being indefinitely postponed. fol-
lowing the presentation Of the adverse
report by Mr.. Penrose.
OLD CLAIMS OF POSTMASTERS.
on December 20, 1869. the Senate
passed a resolution offered by Mr.. Lodge
directing the Secretary of the Treasury
to audit and report for payment the
claims Of massachusetts, postmasters
who had served from 1864 TO 1874
Later resolutions phrased in the exact
language Of the Lodge resolution were
introduced by many other Senators
one Of them was offered by Senator
Bradley. who demanded that his meas
ure receive the same treatment as that
10 the Lodge resolution. Senator
~ Penrose insisted that this resolution
and all similar resolutions he referred
10 the Committee on Postofiices and
Post Roads. on January i and j Mr..
Penrose's motion 10 refer was debated
a length. Senators Carter. Hale and
others pointed out that the adoption Of
the resolutions advanced the claims 10
point where il would be necessary for
Congress 10 recognize their validity and
provide for their payment
Mr. Hale said that the resolutions had
been skiifuIly drafted. The trainers Of
these resolutions knew what they were
about" he declared They knew what
this language meant; they knew that it
meant appropriation, and that when the
door was opened We could not shut it
Senator Dick, Of Ohio. appeared on
the floor as the chief advocate Of the
resolutions. making the longest speech
in the debate.
Mr. Lodge Joined with those who
favored reference Of the resolutions TO
the committee He said he had sup
posed his resolution was merely one Of
INQUIRY. OF careful examination, how
over. he found that to comply with its
provisions would involve the detail Of
twenty clerks for six weeks. He felt
that il was his duty TO ask that no &C
ton be taken TO carry out the direc-
ton given in his resolution
This statement by Mr.. Lodge seemed
to satisfy most Of the Senators who
thought that their states were being
-3jscYir1inatcd against in favor OF Massa-
chusetts. and ali the resolutions were
referred 10 the Committee on Postoffices
and Post Roads. %r. Penrose assuring
the Senate that d report would be made
by February ! In the course Of the
debate on the question Of reference il
v-as charged that the resolutions had
been drafted 10y lobbyists, who had been
making a Persistent effort to loot the
public Treasury. Ny Penrose had in
serted in the record various reports from
the Treasury and Postoffice officials de-
claring that the claims were without
merit.
FEES MIGHT HAVE BEEN s.. 0oo.o00
For some fifteen or twenty years
Mr. Penrose said, these claims have
been promoted by MIR. Spaulding from
the Atlantic 20 the Pacific Ocean He
tspauldiug} generally writes letters &c
uestmasters. OF those whose names are
available iacioSinC = power Of attorney
giving him q commission Of from - 10
30 per cent, = is estimated that these
claims may amount to $4,Ge.V,ro. max
ing. Therefore. the possible fees To those
interested IN The cases considerably over
81 eG9DO4 an amount calculated 10 alter