Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-22


is explained in what We quote from him
as follows:
Fourth. To establish q judicial tribunal un-
der the constitution inferior to the supreme
court rs authorized by the constitution, at the
seat Of government, to which all claims rejected
by the accounting officers might be presented
and considered. 1t seems to Us such tribunal
might be organized so as to be as safe to the
government as the Supreme Court itself, and
afford the claimant q prompt hearing, leaving
Congress to attend to our great and important
interests. 1t would be more likely to arrive
at justice than Congress itself. Such court
should sit with open doors. hear counsel on
both sides, and should make its decisions in
writing, giving itsreasons for the conclusions
"When properly organized, and surrounded
with suitable guards, it would be as safe, and
equally above suspicion, as the Supreme or
any other Court. Tribunals for similar pur-
poses are said TO exist in England and else
where. Some of the States have provided
claimants in many cases with the means of
securing redress. If created such a court
should be limited in its powers, and its prin-
ciples OF action clearly defined. However
clear and perfect the claimants right may be,
the government is not now sueable. But in
cases where. If it were an individual it could
be sued, and Judgment rendered under the
present law, this exemption now stands be
| tween the claimant and his lawful rights
Unless appealed to the Supreme Court on 4
question of law, final judgments, to be con-
elusive between the parties, mi ght be rendered
as the facts and the law should require in
all other cases the court might report the
facts to Congress for its future action. Such
a report, made after hearing on both sides
would be far more reliable than that of any
! committee. In case of final judgments against
the government, they might be paid at the
treasury, or reported to Congress for appro-
| priation. When against the claimant they
| could be enforced by execution. Such tri-
bunal might also pass upon claims arising
! under treaties with other governments, and
thus save the expense of special commissions
like the late board of Mexican claims. But
we do NO. propose to go into details. Our OBJ
Ject Is to suggest few outlines to call the at
tentiOn of the public to the subject great
evil now undeniably exists. The remedy is
with Congress alone. The wisdom of that
! body can easily mould the details so as to Sc
cure the object desired free from all reason
able objections. III the main feature is right
this can be easily done. The expense of such
a tribunal, with a competent officer to repre-
sent the government, will not equal the amount
| 1t would save by rejecting one moderate-s ized
1 pdu eldlm Dut inc CONSIDERATION OF expense
ls trifing compared with the obligations OF
| justice to those who have honest demands upon
| the government. Usually it is not their fdul,
that they are not paid; while the government
is bound to provide a simple and speedy mode
| Dy which they can assert their rights
| Such tribunal will cost but small SUM-.
few thousand dollars annually-and will
| save very large one in scrutinizing and re.
Jectins bad claims, and in saving the time snc
| expense Of Congress. The per diem of the
members of both houses amounts to 1868 fol-
one day. If that body devotes only ten day
to private claims, it costs the government
S23,6S0. Judging from the rules, which re
quire two days in week, We believe, to b,
| devoted to the consideration Of private bills
We suppose that between fifty and sixty day
are consumed in considering claims. IF th
Is so, the expense of this branch of their duty
saying nothing about printing. &c, would b.
over 100000 annually. This estimate i
based upon the supposition that the session
average, but one day in each week is devoted
to private bills, the per diem of the member
alone would amount to $50, 56S annually I
but ten days were devoted to private claims
1t would amount to more than the necesSar
expenses of such tribunal as we suggest
On the score OF economy, as we'll as Justice
! our present Impressions arc that judicia
| tribunal Ike the one we have suggested ough
to be established At all events, VIC trust tina
these suggestions will call the attention q
those moro competent than ourselves to tn
consideration of an appropriate remedy 70
the existing admitted evil. There are numer
Gus reasons why special legislation upon clai IN
should be avoided, and general laws passe
GOVERN. all admissible cases But we resery
this branch Of the subject for another occa
sion
The Sentinel discusses the internal I'm
provement question, following close il
the wake of the Union in the position
takes.