United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Post, 148 U.S. 124 (1893)

United States v. Post

No. 1061

Submitted March 6, 1893

Decided March 13, 1893

148 U.S. 124

Syllabus

Under the Act of May 24, 1888, c. 308, 25 Stat. 157, which provides

"that hereafter eight hours shall constitute a day's work for letter carriers in cities or postal districts connected therewith, for which they shall receive the same pay as is now paid as for a day's work of a greater number of hours. If any letter carrier is employed a greater number of hours per day than eight he shall be paid extra for the same in proportion to the salary now fixed by law,"

reference is not had only to letter carrier service, and a claimant is not required to show not only that he has performed more than eight hours of service in a day, but also that such eight hours of service related exclusively to the free distribution and collection of mail matter, and that the extra service for which he claims compensation was of the same character.

Page 148 U. S. 125

Under § 647 of the Regulations of the Post Office Department of 1887 and the act of 1888, a claim for extra service and pay may include an employment of the letter carrier not only in the delivery and collection of mail matter, but also in the post office, during the intervals between his trips, in such manner as the postmaster directs, but not as a clerk.

Such extra service is not an extra service within the meaning of §§ 1764 and 1765 of the Revised Statutes, payment for which is not authorized by law.

The case is stated in the opinion.