Opinion ID: 88492
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: in regard to fitzparick and the seven other claimants,

Text: That none of these claimants were 'employed in the civil service at Washington,' which it was indispensable that any one claiming under the joint resolution should be. No officer, clerk, messenger, watchman, enlisted man, or employ e being entitled unless within that special class; a class which not only excluded the military and naval branches, but which, in reference to the civil branch, comprises only those persons who fill some office or hold some appointment established by law. That the findings of the Court of Claims that the persons were ' employees ,' were not findings of fact, but findings of law, and therefore not findings proper for the court to have made as the basis of its conclusions; that being findings of law they were re-examinable in this court; that thus re-examined it was plain that the word employees being found in the phrase, 'all other clerks and employees,' was to be regarded as meaning employees whose duties were clerical; moreover that the 'employees' meant to be favored were 'employees' in the office of the Commissioner of Public Buildings, &c.; that is to say, employees having appointments as officers in the edifice appropriated to the commissioner, &c.