Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar

“ The compensation paid to public officers of the United States for their services, or for traveling expenses incidental thereto, is always under the control of congress, except in the cases of the salaries of the president, and the judges of the courts of the United States. As said by this court in Embry v. U.S., 100 U.S. 685: 'All agree that congress has full control of salaries, except those of the president and judges of the courts of the United States. The amount fixed at any one time may be added to or taken from at will. ”

“ The reply to this is that the claim of this officer rests not upon any contract, expressed or implied, with the government, but upon the acts of congress, which provide for his compensation. The case cited by the assistant attorney general in support of his contention (Packet Co. v. Sickles, 10 How. 149) was a suit upon a special contract between private parties. ”