National Republican., 1873-12-22
THE MEXICAN CLAIMS CONN
STn

Considerable complaint lrs been made by
American claimants ngnin>t the mixed
American and Mexican commission. This
commission was established IN 1869, under
treaty provisions, and has therefore been in
existence nearly five years. The commits
sion has nearly year yet 10 conclude its
work, but at present II looks as though the
work accomplished would be lost, and that
mo claimant will receive anything. hs by the
terms Of the treaty every cas-" nn the dn,hrl
MUS, be decided ere ih" lime liked by law
arrives for closing lie work. Even If ninety
niue per cent. Of the cases should be- de
Cided, the work done goes for nothing.
There have heen filed before the commits.
sion 10l, American claims ui which but 2Ss
have been decided and OF the $40 Mexican
claims filed there have but 3s5 been decided,
leaving, as will I've seen, of the 1921 cases
before the commission the large number Of
1904 cases still undecided
Claimants urge, with cunsil"r'N" force.
that if il has taken nearly tiNt wears To dc
eide less than one-thirl Of the cases, there
1, very little hope of disposing Of the re-
mainder in the year lcIl of the life of the
commission. II Is understood that most of
the cases undecided have been argued and
ready for hearing for over two years, and
tl,s, many claimants have lccn urging de-
cisiol,s in their respective cases, but As yet
without effect. The American commits
sisner lays the blame upon the Mexican
commissioner, while the latter replies that
the American commissioner spends more
Ofhis tinr attending TO his own private af.
fairs ia Kentucky than he does In attending
/, the work of the commission. The
American commissioner Is paid 5000 TO
remain in Washington and do this work,
aud IT the complaints made against him arc
well founded, the matter should be looked
to IN order that the work already accom-.
plished may no, he lost, Considering the
advanced STATE nr the business before the
commission there would seem TO be ne
doubt that an intelligent and energetic
lawyer could dispose of the entire dockeI
in sis months, filing an opinion in each
case II this were done with the American
cases, aud the Mexican commissioner shollt
fail 10 complete his work, then the case,
could go 10 the umpire, on the ground o
the failure of The two commissioners Il
agree. lie Is not bound to await the iilina
Of an opinion by the Mexican commissions
Ia any ease, for, NOE consult, he may neyeD
file one lie has been selected TO conside
and decide such cases rs are not cOncurre,
In by both commissioners, and il Is the duty
OF the American secretary to transmit II
him the paper, in such cases within II re,
sonablc time after the American commi,
sioncr has filed his decision and the Mc> iral
commissioner has had notice Of such ming
By pursuing that course the business ol tn
commission would soon be accOmplishc,
and all complaint answered. 1t Is TO b
hoped that the Secretary Of State will II
least investigate the matter and ascertain
whether or not the complaints are wei
founded. for IL true, there is barely tim,
lef In which to accomplish the objects q
the comsS>sion by the selection of an able
and energetic lawyer, TO conclude The worl
OF til, American commissioner.