Hallenbeck v. United States

Citations

• 48 Ct. Cl. 475
• 1913 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 50
• 1912 WL 1213

Syllabus

<p>On the defendants’ Motion.</p> <p>The Postmaster General is authorized by law to appoint rural letter carriers. He establishes regulations to equalize compensation, upon the principle, the greater the distance the greater the pay. Upon the appointment of carriers the agents of the department estimate the length of the routes, and the carriers are assigned to the different classes accordingly. Where a route is between 20 and 22 miles the compensation affixed to that class is $810. Where the route is between 22 and 24 miles the compensation is $864. If the length of a route is subsequently ascertained by actual measurement to be sufficient to entitle a carrier to be in a higher class, the Postmaster General will transfer him to that class, and he will receive the greater compensation from the time of the transferí but the transfer will not operate retroactively.</p> <p>I. Under the ¿Lei April 12st, 1902 ( 82 Stats., 107), and acts amendatory thereof, the Postmaster General is exclusively charged with the responsibility of classifying the Rural ETee-Delivery Idail Service and of fixing the compensation of the carriers, subject only to the restriction that no salary shall exceed $900.</p> <p>II. The Postmaster General’s schedules of distance and compensation are for the information and guidance of the Department; they do not constitute a contract with the carrier. His right of action is defined and limited exclusively by the terms of his appointment.</p> <p>III. Where a rural-delivery route is found by actual measurement to be longer than its distance, estimated at the time of the carrier’s appointment, the Postmaster General may correct the error so as to bring the carrier into the class in which the distance traveled entitles him to be, but the carrier can not maintain an action for back pay during the period of the mistake.</p>