Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-05
WASHINGTON.
Important Decisions Of the Court Of
Claims.
S1s,OOO,OOO of Claims Ruled Out.
Appeals to the Supreme Court.
Highly ]

Highly Important Announcement.
| WASHINGTON, June 4.-The President
has postponed his departure for Long
Branch until Friday.
The Modoc MIDDLE.
1t is said by the highest military author
tiles that the Modocs coulGn'G surrender as
prisoners of war in the sense known TO ns-
tions where war is declared in accordance
with constituted forms Not having been
so received, they are not entitled 10 consid-
Grafton as prisoners of war. The orders
issued to the Commanding General directly
after the assassination of Gen. Candy and
DIR. Thomas were, rot To exterminate the
Nodocs, but it was said their conduct had
been such that their determination would
be juStifable, thus leaving the mater to the
discretion Of Gen. Davis. Therefore If be
had ordered the killing of the Indians he
would not have been censnred by superior
authority. As TO their final disposition
there is no question that they will ulti-
mately be delivered TO the government of
Oregon for trial.
The Pension Bureau will this week issue
the FIRST certificate for pensions arisinglfrom
the Modoc var in favor Of the widow Of
1t. Thomas.
Transported fon Routes.
The Senate Select Committee on trans
portation has thus far gathered q large
amount of statistical information. Within
a week or ten days Senator Window, chair
man, will leave Washington for Baltimore
Philadelphia, New York, Albany, Boston
Buffalo, Montreal and other cities 90 make,
preparations for facilitating the work of the
committee.
A Decision Involving Fifteen Millions.
The Court OF Claims to-day rendered a
decision Of general interest and very great
Importance in the case of VIM. A. Hay
craft VS.. the United States, which is pre-
cisely identical in principle and the condi-
tons of fact with the well known Elnus
j. Kelly case, likewise pending. The Hay
craft case was brought on July 30, 1872,
for the proceeds of certain cotton seized and
sold By agents Of the United States Gov
ernment as captured and abandoned prop
erty. The act limited the time within
which suits could be brought for the pro-
ceeds Of such seizures to Aug. 20, 1868, be-
ing two years from date of the termination
OF the rebellion SIS fixed by the Presidential
proclamation OF Aug. 20, 1866. The Su-
preme Court decided that the am
1868. relieved all persons in the
Southern States from obligation to prove
their loyalty in court of claims, and Hsycraft
in consequence OF said amnesty proclsma-
ton and the decision of the Supreme Court,
disloyal cotton claimants like himself had
the right to commence their suits at any
time within six years after the date OF the
proclamation Of Dec. 25, 1865, under the
general statute of limitation applicable to
suits brought in this court prior to the issu-
ance of said proclamation; and his course
Of action occurred at that date, although
bis property was taken in 1868.
The Attorney General fled plea to ju-
risdiction on the ground that all suits for
cotton we're required to be brought within
the two years limitation of the captured and
abandoned property act.
Counsel for claimant demurred, and the
court to-day overruled the demurrer and
sustained the plea of jurisdiction. Counsel
for claimant theI appealed 10 the Supreme
Court. This decision if sustained by the
Supreme Court will bar and exclude the
claims against the government for the pro-
ceeds of cotton TO the amount of about
S15,000,000.
s3,OOO,00O More Disposed of.
An important decision was also render
ed in the case of Waltsr ID. Sprstt, of Mis-
sissippj TO the effect that claimants who pur-
chased cotton f-om agents of the Confeder-
ate government knowing at the lime that
the proceeds would be used in the prosecu-
tioE of war against the Federal government,
acquired no title to their purchases
and therefore have no right of action agains.
the limited States for the subseouept can.
ture and sale of such cotton. This decision
governs andexcudes claims to the amount
Of faboBt three million dollars. AZ appeal
was taken 10 the supreme court.
Vfcksburg Cotton.
The Court Of Claims made an order re-
ferfing what are known as the vi ksburg
cotton case involving the proceeds Of some
nine thousand bales TO Eken Evelith of
Washington city, as special commissioner
TO disentangle the complicated question of
ownership, ETC., and report at the next
term, aud then adjourned Till The third
Monday in October.
Down.
The advisory board OF Civil Service met
the President and Cabinet to-day by invita-
ton, and submitted their report, maturely
considered, proposing q modification of
some of the present rules and adding sew
eral new ones. 1t is understood that the
board has given careful consideration to the
subject of securing an equitable distribu-
ton of offices as regards locality. The
modified rules will not be promulgated by
the President until after the next Cabinet
meeting.