Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-01-18
A Little Joint High Commission.

The United States and Spanish govern
ments have Just entered into an agree
ment for jointly taking testimony In
Cuba to be used by the commission hold
ing its sessions in Washington for the ad-
judication Of the claims of American ci.i-
Zens, growing out Of the present insur-
rection of the island. These claims are
mostly based on the confscation or de-
struction by the Spanish authorities VI
property in Cuba belonging to American
citizens treated as insurgents by said
authorities. Others of our citizens, flee
ing from the island in consequence OF
threats or fears of personal outrages. as
traitors to Spain or sympathizars with the
insurgents, and, leaving their property
unprotected, have suffered losses for
which they seek indemnification. Others,
in being expelled from the island claim
reparation for their resulting losses. and so
on through all the notifications of out
RACES to which citizens of this country
lately or still residing in Cuba have been
subjected during the four years of this
tenacious Cuban insurrection. Some
claims, we understand, have been put in
for the losses of slaves but as "neither
slavery nor involuntary servitude' is re-
cogniZed as within the pale of law in the
United States we presume that all such
claims will be thrown out of Court. The
President in his late annual Message sug-
gests the prOpriety OF some legislation
by Congress calculated to discourage citi-
Zens of the United States residing in Cuba
from dabbling in slavery or the slave trade.
This Joint High Commission to take
testimony in Cuba on all these American
claims will have tedious task before it,
though we suppose the claimants them
selves will cheerfully assist in the work.
In any event, while we have little fear that
any Just claims will be overlooked, we
think it quite likely that some spurious
cases will be worked up unless proper
precautions are taken against them. II
will be remembered that the Mexican
Claims Commission at Washington ION
claims of our citizens growing out Of Our
war with Mexico) passed the notorious
Gardner claim for losses In silver mine
near San Luis Potosi TO the extent of Qyel
half million Of dollars, and the equally
notorious Metres claim for losses in Q
quicksilver mine to the figure OF one hun.
drod and fifty-three thousand dollars, and
that after these awards had been paid by
the Treasury in gold it was discovered
by a commission sent out tor the examin
alton, that there were no such mines il
Mexico as those of Gardner and Metres
and that all their official ledgers, day
books and vouchers of all sorts were tor
geries. The suicide of Gardner in th'
Washington City Hall on his conviction
of the fraud was the end of his case
Metres, shrewder rogue, from his secur
retreat in Mexico, impudently informed
"Uncle Sam" that, having discovered tina
the aforesaid quicksilver mine was fraud
he had better pocket his loss as there wa
no help for it. Now this joint commits
sion of inquiry in Cuba, in visiting tn
plantations upon which some of thes
American Cuban claims are located. wi
act judiciously, for otherwise there ma
be some serious mistakes committcd.-N
Y. Herald.