Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-15
cLAIms on sol1THERN LoYALIsTs.

The second annual report OF the COm-
mission TO examine and report on the
Southern War Claims should he read by all
who wish to note one of the phases Of the
late contest between the sections. From
an abstract of this report, which has found
lis way into print, it appears that from
March, 1871, the date of the organization
of the Commission, to Nov. 80, 1872, the
number Of claims fled was 1900, in
which an aggregate Of over $40, 100000
was claimed. OF these, 2,786 cases, rep
resenting IS, 424, 3l4 as claimed, have been
disposed Of by awards amounting altogeth-
er to about SI,13S,O00. About 700 cases,
claiming 81 100000, have been Investigated
and are under further consideration, the
claims appearing meritorieus, but the proofs
insufficient on which to frame Just awards.
This will leave about 10000 untouched
cases, amounting to some 100000,
when the commission expires by law, next
March. The claims now reported embrace
345 from Alabama, in which S355,00 are
claimed and SCI, 900 allowed; 1S4 from Ar
kansas, In which $4,000 are claimed and
$4,000 allowed; from Florida, in which
$500 are claimed and 81, 200 allowed; ia
from Georgia, in which 1907, 900 are claimed
and $4,000 allowed; p from Louisiana, in
which Sill, 060 are claimed and $155,000
allowed; 2l2 from Mississippi, in which
S421, 900 are claimed and 100000 a.
lowed; 272 from North CaIolins, in
which S234,000 are claimed and $4,000.
allowed; Al from South Carolina, in which
1000 are claimed aud SlS,500 allowed;
397 from Tennessee, in which S380,000 are
claimed and $4,000 allowed; s from Texas,
in which Sl4 900 ara claimed and $500
allowed; and 545 from Virginia, in which
SI,O60,000 are claimed and $4,000 allow
ed. 1t is quite certain that all the claims
will not be disposed of when the official
life Of the Commission expires, in March,
1873. TIE Commissioners think il would
take four years to do full justice 10 the
subject, and even then many of the cases
would have to be hurried through without
due investigation; audit is, therefore, highly
probable the Commission viii be continued.
They say slI kinds Of claims are made; that
some rest upon substantial grounds snd
should be paid, but that there are hundreds
Of suspicious cases, manufactured claims,
doctored charges, indirect attacks upon
the treasury. These are supported by ev-
idence carefully selected to meet a certain
view Of the case, and urged with zeal, IL
dustry and periinoc.iy. The principal IL
gradients Of this CT. $ Cf cases are, rent
for houses aud lands occupied by the
United States forces, loss Of estimated
profits, money that might have been made,
but was not, and damages occasioned ~
the acts of persons whose political or sec
tional utilization it is hard 10 determine
These claims are generally got up by per
sons who are prepared fo- emergencies, and
have the proof necessary TO establish their
points. They are generally adopts il
the matter Of "doctoring" such claims, and
they find no scarcity Of men who sre
willing to assume the position Of claimants
for one-half the proceeds. An effort will
be made TO continue tie Commission
Such movement viii be advocated on the
ground that the claimants have a right TO
b. heard, no matter how much time it takes;
ard opposed because while the Commission
is in existence fresh claims will be constant /
ly rising 10 the surface, as they will while
the country is blessed with 4 class Of men
who make their money by their wits,