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Story
December 29, 1884
The Kanabec County Times
Kanabec County, Minnesota
What is this article about?
Attorney General Brewster informs the House of Representatives that he cannot provide an official legal opinion on whether the eight-hour law applies to letter carriers, due to statutory limits on his advisory role, which is restricted to the President and executive departments, per established precedents.
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Full Text
Attorney General Brewster's Regard for Law.
In his communication to the house of representatives in response to the resolution of that body inquiring whether the eight-hour law is applicable to letter carriers, the attorney general says, after reciting the resolution: To this I must reply that I cannot furnish the legal opinion required. The authority of the attorney general to give his official opinion is limited by laws which create and define his office, and will not permit him to give advice at the call of either house of congress or congress itself, but only to the president and heads of the executive departments. Early in the government this was established, and suggested to the house of representatives by Attorney General Wirt. When the department of justice was created the law in this respect was not changed. Of course it will be my wish to conform to any request the house of representatives may make, but such wish I cannot comply with without reversing the law and precedents heretofore established.
In his communication to the house of representatives in response to the resolution of that body inquiring whether the eight-hour law is applicable to letter carriers, the attorney general says, after reciting the resolution: To this I must reply that I cannot furnish the legal opinion required. The authority of the attorney general to give his official opinion is limited by laws which create and define his office, and will not permit him to give advice at the call of either house of congress or congress itself, but only to the president and heads of the executive departments. Early in the government this was established, and suggested to the house of representatives by Attorney General Wirt. When the department of justice was created the law in this respect was not changed. Of course it will be my wish to conform to any request the house of representatives may make, but such wish I cannot comply with without reversing the law and precedents heretofore established.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Attorney General
Eight Hour Law
Letter Carriers
Legal Opinion
Congressional Inquiry
Government Precedent
What entities or persons were involved?
Attorney General Brewster
Attorney General Wirt
Story Details
Key Persons
Attorney General Brewster
Attorney General Wirt
Story Details
Attorney General Brewster refuses to provide a legal opinion to the House of Representatives on the applicability of the eight-hour law to letter carriers, citing legal limitations on his authority to advise Congress, only the President and executive heads, as established by precedents including Attorney General Wirt's suggestion.