Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-28


Resolved, That the committee on military af-
fairs he instructed to inquire into the expedien-
cy ofprOviding by law for the appointment of
an additional number of Deputy or Assistant
Quarter Masters, with the view of securing
more effective responsibility in the disburse-
mcns OF property in that Department.
NIAGARA RELIEF BILL.
On motion of MIR. Tracy, the House went
INTO committee OF the whole on the bill 'sauthor-
ling payment for property lost or destroyed by
the enemy during the late WARP which was read.
| MIR. Wright offered as amendment a pro-
viso, that the injuries sustained, for which in
dennity is to be provided, must have been
caused by the occupation or use OF the property
by the United States.
MIR. Tracy went at sotpe length into an cx-
PLANTATION Of the circumstances of the sufferers
for whom this bill proposes relief, more especi-
ally those on the Niagara frontier (whom he
had the honour to rcpresent;) the relief proposed
TO be given them by the act of 1916; the inter-
ruption of that reliefby suspension of the pow
err of. the commissioner of claims; the proceed
ings of Congress thereon; and the passage of a
second law, in April, 1917, which altered and
relaxed in some degree the restrictions before
imposed. He quoted and commented on the
words of this law, and stated the proceedings
which were had under its authority. He adj
| verted to the introduction of bill in 1919 TO
provide funds for paying the amount of the
losses reported by commissioner appointed for
that purpose, under the former act, its failure,
and the ill success which had since attended in
Congress, individual claims for indemnificaton,
by his constituents, although other claims of a
similar nature, had succeeded. Under these
circumstances, the present bill had been pre-
pared with view TO cover the Whole mass of
these claims, and bring their Justice fairly be-
fore the House. Mr.. T. went on to observe,
| that the greatest obstacle which had hitherto
operated against this allowance was doubt or
| denial that the loss of tue property concerned
was produced expressly by its use or occupa-
ton by the United States. The present bill
only contemplated 10 provide for such cases as
had been already decided upon favorably by the
commissioner, which cases it proposed TO refer
to one of the Auditors of the Treasury limiting
the allowance for losses to onc-half the amount
of personal property destroyed, but allowing the
whole of the amount of real property which Shall
he reported by that officer to have been actuai-
Iy lost, sc.
MI. Wright rose in explanation, and in sup,
port of the amendment lie had proposed. He
adverted to the provisions OF the previous acts,
and compared them with those of the present
bill, of which he complained as being loo wide
and unguarded. lie thought that il was a cor
| rect principle, that compensation should be al
lowed for property destroyed during war, in
those cases only in which the destruction of the
property had actually been caused by its l,av-
ing been used in the service of the United
States.
The debate was To proceed farther-when,
on motion of MIR. Dwight, the committee rose,
reported progress, and had leave TO sit again.
And then the House adjourned.
| Friday, December II, 1894.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
| NIAGARA RELIEF BILL.
! Mr.. Tracy moved TO take up the bill author.
izing payment for property lost or destroyed by
the enemy during the late war; which was car
ried ayes 81, noes 42.
The House accordingly went into committee
ofthe whole on that bill, Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio
| in the Chair.
| Mr.. Williams, Of North Carolina, said that
he considered the question presented by this bill
| to be of nearly as great Importance as any that
would occur during the present session of Con
gress, as proposing to revive the famous act oil
March, 18 Is, which had been the cause of great
er drain from the Treasury of the United States
than had ever been made upon the principle
from the Treasury of any civilized government
on earth-for no government ever had a stand
ing law Of the nature of that The bill now
before the House, in effect proposed renew
of the most important section (the 9ti) of thai
| law. At this moment, MIR. Williams said he
felt himself entirely unprepared 10 go into such
, an examination oil this question as it might re.
guirc. He, therefore, hoped the House would
indulge him, and others similarly situated, will
further time for consideration of the subject
I His object was not unnecessarily 10 deiay In,
! consideration Of the subject; but he thought j
| important to have before the House, and i'm DOS
session of every member, the CORES ponde enc,
| which took place between Admiral Cochran,
I and the Secretary Of State relative TO the burn
ing ofproperty on the Niagara Frontier. Their,
was another document also, which he wished th,
House TO be in possession OLA document orr
ginally brought mere to carry these claims tlro
the House, but which. since the year @, he ha:
never been able to lay his hands upon. Wher
these claims first appeared before tie House, thu
| claimants never pretended TO rest them upon tho
ground that the buildings were occupied by the
military authority at the time of their destruc
ton. They then maintained that all these burn
| ings took place on the ground of retaliation b,
the enemy, and believing that ground sufficient
to sustain their claims, they produced all th.
proof of it that they could. But, as the House
had refused TO allow the claims on that ground
They have now changed their position, and placed
their claims on different one. Mr.. w. wished
for his part to examine fully the pretext upon
| which a rG-enactment of the pcrnicious law o.
1916 was claimed and with these views lle WISH
ed the committee to rise, in order to have the
papers printed.
Mr.. CambreleBg, of New Yorls, said he hoped
that no delay would be interposed in bringing
this subject before the Uouse--but that they
should be called to act uponitimDediately; being
persuaded that they were as fully prepared to do
so now, as they would be at any future time
He expressed his astonsbment that, of all the
members of the House, the chairman of the
committee of claims should profess any want OF
inflammation mr., thie subiecf-einra frf,,,,