New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-06

| correspondence OF the Republican,
WASHINGTON, January 81, 1872.
Inc number of claims fled with the
southern Claims Commission, amounting to
from $4,000 to $4,000. is s67; $4,000 to $40
no. 23S; $4,000 to $4,000, II; $50 900 to 49,
oOo 80; $40, 900 to $50 900, 81: $50, 900 to $780,
ooo ls; $6O, 900 to go, 900, IL; SO 900 to $780,
ooo, 4; $4,000 to $4,000, 8; 800, 1000 10 $780,
ooo, 3; 100000 to 100000 IA; 5000. 900 to
$3oo,OoO, 6; Of $4OO, OOO and l Of $42s, 900.
| Inc aggregate amount of the claims that ex.
coed 5000 each is over $l5,O 100000. The en-
tire amount of the claims filed is only $685.
ooo,ooO-a sum greatly inferior to the value
OF the excess ofpublic lands granted to each
OF a number Of railroad corporations over
the actual cost Of constructing and equip
ping their roads.
Judge Adds, chairman of the commission,
was before the House Claims Committee on
Friday last, and made lengthy statement
in explanation of the work done by his
board. He took part also in general dis
cussiOn relative to the merits and in sup
port OF the bill introduced into the House
on the twenty second instant by Mr. Blair,
authorizing the appointment of special COM
Missioners to take testimony. These agents
provided for are limited to three in number
at any one time, whose duty it shall be to
investigate CLAIMS above $4,000 in amount
each. They may travel, but under the
reins of the general board. The commits
siOners are provided also with three addi-
tional clerks and as many shorthand re-
porters as they may take notion to en-
ploy.
1t is the general expectation that the bill
will pass, though some think that it will be
80 far modified as to somewhat narrow the
latitude given the commissioners for enl-
ploying stenographers. a modification that
should be made. But what is the object of
the bill! 1t seems to be to authorize the
agents of the commissioners, travelling in
the South, to investigate claims which ex-
| coed $4,000 in amount Heretofore their
agents have been limited to claims amount
Ing to $4,000 and less. But who placed the
| limit, The law did not, but the commits
sieners did; and now this appeal to Con-
gress for additional legislation. after two
years spent in comparative idleness, ap-
| pears like mere pretext for the delay that
| will be occasioned. There is no necessity
| for it. There was no good reason for re-
| stricting their agents to the examlna'
ton of claims less than $4,000 in
amount. 1t was certainly ridiculous
proceeding to hear claimant
who had suffered loss to tue amount OF
$4,000. $4,000, or perhaps $4,000. until he
had proved up to $4,000, and then say to
him: THAT is enough, sir we are not au-
thorized to go further in your case: we will
report this much of it to Washington.
$500 was paid the attorney for making up
the papers. The agent at Washington takes
half the balance, leaving to the claimant
| $3.50 out Of $4,000.
| The fact is, that neither the commission
ers nor the administration party IN Con
gress know where they stand, and exactly
What they will do in this matter. They are
afraid either to pay or reject the Claims
and SO take middle course as the safest fol
the present. Loyal claimants there are
whose claims are just and established by
overwhelming testimony. The payment OF
the sum total demanded would make but a
small breach in the public treasury, which
would be repaired by much less than
months revenue. But no one presumes
that all the claims are tair, or can be sup
ported by competent evidence. 10 allow
SIS. 900. 600 would be liberal estimate This
would certainly not be ruinous-would
hardly be of sufficient magnitude tt
call for regulating the national DEBT
Bv Withholding from these people their cap
ital they are kept poor. their plantations
non-productive and almost worthless as
source of revenue to the government. 1t Is
a losing game for the government, and
foolish polcy-among many-on the part OF
the administration. Congressman appeaies
TO individually express themselves with EN-
nhasis in favor of immediate payment, ye
no one seems able to tell with certainty thu
object of the delay.
The following is list of Louisiana claims
each over 500. 900 in amount filed with thu
commission since it was established
James Hewitt $42S, 100, Ascension parish
Milton S. Shirk $l26,602 CaddO parish
Warren NJ. Benton $45,2o7, Mrs: Julia b
Lounsdale S36, 500. John G. and Horace b
Tehbetts SOS, $50, Carroll parish: Stephanla
NJ Chotard S5l .l72 ConcOrdia parish; Paul
Gregory $27 ,O49, De Soto parish; Stephen
+ Beauchamp $27 ,975, Leonora j. kenne
DIV 1900. Juliet Manscker $50, 300, Mrs
r. V. Packer $23,337, Mrs. Mary Martha
Roberts S25. 900, John Shelton S2O,llo, Sa
rah J. Vailean $l57 ,07O, East Feliciana par
ish: Alfred Dupennier So, $50, iberia parish
john Bemiss Sl29,475, Robert A.. =: camp
Sl26. 663, Maria Collins S32, o3o, prlscIll'
ellis $1,000, John Nelson S3l $40, La La
fourche parish: John r. Temple S3s, soS
Morehouse parish; V. I. b. PlanchI S4o,9o2
Na,chitoches parish; Mrs. H. L. IL. Bene1
and Mrs H. Follen ST. $40 Isaac Bloom $50,
3g5, John NJ. Burrows 100000, Mrs: \. MARI ara
p. Evans S272, 800 Henry Eastman 90 80 :,
Adelaide {. GENTLY $4,000, William Gol al
, ing e56,7OO the heirs Of Barry Hayes
q and Fergus Mayronne Sl3O,3oS, Wlillan u
McAdam S4O.779, Alfred Pierson $50, 43o
Adele Rixmar Sill, $50, Marcus n: Raoo
vich $50. 1888. Henry E. Spearing $500
Alfred N. Williams $47,97S; James Woo
S23I 900, Orleans parish; Alexander taa &c,
cult S23,9S5, Eugene Fercmt "; io9' A.ns
Landry Mahoudeau $22,934; Adrlen Yer
nen;I s23 $50, Pointe Coupee parish; Z
Archinard 1927 .465, William Bailey ~ ?3
A AdeI,a e. Casson sa75, 4as, Clara Il. Flowe
sl32. 242, John Osborne $3.50, Whlttey N N
sasser slOO,49s Adelphias -, F. soq m,;Ga
So, 6i9, James b. Sullivan sal, 5l5 kapld L,
parish; James A. Whalen Sll5,Ieo, SC .
Charles parish Alonzo T. p,o LOCKER 800 90 Nj j.. =.
Mrs Corwine Perren Soo'2oo, 81: .,o m ini
TTangipahoa parish; DR.. j. c.. Pat nc,
$79.442. West Baton Rouge parish; WI
liam j. Fort So2, ST., West Fe!lclana parish
NEW ORLEANS CUsTOMHoUsE.