New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-07-08
The Mexican Claims COmmf ssiO

The following interesting information
touching this matter was telegraphed from
Washington Sunday evening:
Mr.. Zamacona, the new Mexican commits
sioner, and Mr.. Rolla. the new Mexican
agent, have arrived at New York, bringing
the confirmed treaty between the United
States and the Mexican republic for the re-
vival of the Mexican claims commission,
and it may be expected that at an early
day the business OF that commission will be
resumed
This commission was established under
Mr.. Stewards treaty OF February l, 1867,
now been extended for two years more,
from that time. Neither government seems
to have appreciated the number and magnl-
tude of the claims, for tine examination Of
which the period originally fixed by that
treaty was wholly inadequate. The whole
number of claims of citizens OF the United
States against Mexico filed with the com.
mission was l0l7, and the whole number Of
Mexican claims against the United States
95S, nearly 1000 in all. This is more than
four times the whole number OF cases
before the American and British
claims commission. Surprising the bust
ness of the Mexican commission and
that of the American and British commits
sion to proceed with equal dispatch. the
Mexican commission will therefore require
four times as much time as the American
and British commission for the transaction
of it's business. This tact shows how I'm.
just and unreasonable have been the COM
plants by some persons as to the pre-
tended want Of dispatch by the American
and Mexican commission. The number OF
cases decided by the commission is 2l5, re-
mainining to be acted upon 1885, numbor OF
claims disposed of 32S, leaving to be acted
.l,vy, f.,v,
which favorable awards have been made
fifty two; amount of awards in the same
cases $3.50, 706. The amount claimed was
S., 625 $50. Number OF Mexican claims in
which favorable awards were made, one
hundred and fifty.seven, amount Of awards
made in the same $S6, $50. The amount
claimed was $2l ,949,4 74. The largest claims
preferred by. Mexico against the United
States are on account of incursions by
American Indians into Sonora, Sinaloa,
Chihuahua and Durango, which involve
precisely the converse OF the question which
has since arisen by the incursion of Mexican
Indians into Texas There has been much
complaint on the part of agents OF Amer.
can claimants OF want Of dispatch OF bust
ness, but they themselves are mainly re-
sponsible for it by reason of extraordinary
delay in the preparation and presentation
of the claims. Most of these claims had
existed for many years before the organiza-
ton of the commission. All parties had
notice of the conclusion OF the treaty, Feb
ruary, 1869. The commission opened in Au.
gust, 1862 but Of the 1917 American claim
ants, only 1919 put in their cases at the end
of year, and at the end OF two years only
5l3 Then the delay of tie claimants them
selves is at the bottom OF the whole ditii.
Guilty.
The other great cause of delay is the fact
that most Of the evidence is in Spanish, and
has to be translated into English. The com
missiOners could have required all the claim.
ants on both sides to file their evidence in
translation and in print, as every other
court requires, including the Court of
Claims, but the compliments, through their
agents. made so much complaint of expense
of translating and printing memorials that
the commission were deferred from requir-
ing evidence also to be translated and pre-
scented in printed form, which would have
facilitated business, as with the American
and British commission.
When the commission meet anew they
will have, in the first place, to agree on an
umpire, in the place OF DIR. Leiber. de-
ceased, or fall back on the provisions OF the
treaty of 1868, by which it is provided that
the commissioners shall name a third party
to act as umpire; but il they should not be
able to agree on the name of such third
person, they shall each name person, and
in each and every case in which the com.
mission shall differ in opinion as to the deci-
sion which they ought to give. it shall be
determined by lot which of the two persons
named shall be umpire in that particular
case. Next they will have to dispose OF the
questions that were pending between Com.
Inissioners Guznan and WadswOrth, on the
subject Of Indian depredations. The mum.
Der of cases submitted to the late umpire.
DR.. Leber. but not decided is 1856. these
being Indian depreciation claims. In the
American vs.. British claims commission
the number of claims against the United
States is AS. the number against Great
Britain is nineteen. Number of cases already
decided 35l. Number to be decided l3l.
Not 100000 have thus far been awarded,
and several distinguished lawyers here
think the total amount will not exceed
81 100000.