Mr. SHERMAN. Upon the basis.of law. We never allow the head of a Dept to settle accounts upon any other principle. Equity may be administered by Congress, but the executive officers must be governed by law. Suppose a postmaster should make a show of equity in regard to something that occurred 20 years ago, describing an extreme case, as the Senator did, and he should Present it to the PostMGenl: the proofs on the part of the Government are all gone, but the PostMGenl under this section would have power to adjust the claim and pay whatever he thought just and equitable. There is no reference to an auditor or a comptroller; none of the ordinary machinery by which claims against the Government are investigated or allowed is provided for. Surely that ought not to be done. Then, in regard to southern postmasters, the Senator thinks the phrase “official delin. will be sufficient to exclude them. erhaps it may be, but I would not in any case give such authority to the head of a Dept. The authority that was given by law 2 years ago to the SecyTreasury to compromise and adjust claims growing out of the internalrevenue system has led to great complaints, and it will be modified at the 1st reasonable opportunity. I have no desire to impeach, and I do not impeach, the integrity of the PostMGenl; but I would not subject any officer of the Government to be appealed to day by day by claimants for an additional allowance not contemplated by law. The time of the PostMGenl is now employed. The Senator says that claim agents are harrassing him already. Well, suppose you make him general grand arbitrator of all claims that may have arisen in his Dept from the foundation of the Government to this time, he will have no peace; they will hound the life out of him. I would not give him, authority to allow any claim unless it is a claim authorized by law, in strict pursuance of law. If i. the laws heretofore have illiberal, and postmasters have not been granted enough, let us regulate that matter by our legislation.