The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-11-22

munica,ion in another column from distinguished
American now in China II is written with marked
ability, and will amply repay an attentive perusal
Claims upon the Government, and their Collec-
ton.
Aside from the grauies authorized BY Congress- there
are two classes Of demands upon the easarythe one
arising under laws where the rights perfect and the
other where there is no such law, but when justice
based upon good consideration. requires that one should
be passed 10 create right In both cases the claimant
demands paymentin the first instance. at the treasury
and failing here resorts TO Congress. When no law au-
iborzes the for which compensation is sought the duty
of rejecting claim at the treasury is plain, and is seldom
questioned But very large number Of claims arise I'M
der existing laws when, in the judgmen. OF the account
ing officers of the treasury. the amounts claimed are not
authorized. Both questions OF fact and law are pre-
sen,ed. and when either is decided against claimant,
he has no appeal direct remedy, but must ask relief
of Congress If be has public funds in his hands he
may it Is true, withhold them, and allow the govern
ment to prosecute him aefauer. and test the ques
tons by Offering his claims as set-of This mode OF
recovering claim has been of too common occur
renee. Thousands of claimants have such OF
testing the propreiy OF the decisions made against them,
and very many would hesitate 10 10 it if they had
They are compelled TO resort 10 Congress for relief.
Hence, the records OF Congress show that immense
number OF petitions annually presented TO that body
for relief The calendars Of the two houses crowded
with private bills But unfortunately few Of these
ed upon-ihose OF apublc obtaining the preference,
and usually occupy most Of the time devoted the
sideraon OF bills Undisputed claims have often been de-
ayed, after favorable report OF committee, for many
years without definite action. Some equitable and jus,
claims fail for want Of proper understanding OF the
evidence presented to sustain them while others with
on, shadow Of merit owing 10 The skill used in pre-
pairing them, and the plausible aeors of experienced
agents. are allowed. Experience has taught them that
explanations are often essential a proper understand
ing of their rights This compes them 10 resort here al
an expense hch few BEAR to press their claims in
person. employ, runous cost, agen, attend
and represen, them This expense. well the delay.
bear hard upon honest caimants The outside pressure
OF agents only the time OF members, but.
when yielded to- often brings suspicious upon their
tives No tribunal could be lily adapted 10 exam.
lining the facts OF than Congress |, has no time
to devote rigid scrutiny OF the evidence OF prin
cplcs involved While the claimant has right in
sst upon prompt and thorough Investigation and
speedy action, the interests OF the government demand
one better adapted TO elictng the whole truth, and
better suited to apply the principles upon which
the different claims rest Owing to the fact that
Congress acts mainly upon parts evidence, and
the argument being usually all one side some be-
lieve that many bad claims good ones are allowed
by that body. Motives OF economy to the government.
we'll justice to claimants. require that more
suitable mode of acting upon claims should be adopted
No one, we think, questions the evil Of the present
mode Ii cannot be denied, that justice TO claimants re-
qurss that their applications should be promptly consid
cred. and without expense TO them. Members who have
been bored by outsiders for years past their rooms on
the streets, and at the Capitol appreciate the neces
sy OF being relieved from such annoyance. Runor,
with her thousand tongues, has been too long busy in
spreading slandcous reports to render it desirable for
Congress to be both Judge and jury in such -Four
modes OF remedying the evil have been suggested
First. To require the evidence to be taken on notice TO
the government and both the claimant aod government
10 be heard before the proper committee in Congress
would be wholly mprac,cable the pan Of the govern
and OF the committees. The former could no, be rep
resented before all the different committees without euor.
expense, could the latter possibly End time for
such hearings.
cffoNd 10 establish OoaIu OF Claims Inc nearing
Of all applications to Congress for relief Numerous
bills have been reported to create such nbsna Under
law OF 1916 commissioner (Mr Lee) was appointed
to investigate and sdludcae upon certain claims growing
gu, of the of 1914 Payments were to be made from
The treasury upon his judgments Those who remem Der
The PRACTICAL results Of this act will question the wis.
iom of Congress in limiting. the very next year. the
power OF The commissioner aad reporting facts to Con-
Gress be surprised that, al the succeeding year. the
commission abolished This and the dongs OF some
special commissions have led Congress to negative all
bills creating boards for acting upon claims thoagh re-
ported and pressed by OF the faithful guardians
Of the public treasury.
Third. To allow the government to be sued in The df-
feren crcu, courts OF the United States Those who
the practical operations of the government
would never assent 10 this II would be impossible for
he government fully to present i,s side OF case in dis
amt parts of the country II would require large share
,f the force in of the departments to prepare and
'upern,snd such while j, would be mprac,cabe
send the evidence to the place of trial. even il were
,afe for the public archives be carried 10 dsan, places
This plan would be unnecessarily expensive and ex-
remedy hazardous to the interests of the government
While 1t would extend only to that class OF cases covered
" existing laws