The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-05-23

General, and southern claims commits
son are concerned, with the exception
OF the amount fled in the Quartermas'
ter's Department since the beginning
of the fiscal year. The Quartermaster
General estimates the number oil clalmI
received since the beginning OF tht
fiscal year at one thousand, but does
not give the amount of them. l have
estimated the amount by taking the
elaine heretofore presented in that
department as the basis The amount
OF claims pending in the Senate and
House OF Representatives have been
prepared by the clerks OF the Claims
Committees, and have been estimated
as well as they could be from the data
at command, and | have no doubt ar.
very nearly correct. | have also
allowed $l0,000,000 for claims yet to
come in, and / think that is full
estimate, for 1t must be remembered
that it is now some years since the acts
were passed allowing these claims to be
presented. it,.
1t will he seen by reference 10 totals
in the report, that 81. SS2 cases have
been acted upon, leaving about one
half (30,242) yet to be acted upon.
The amount OF the cases acted npon
was $27 ,033, 494 Al, and OF this amount
"a, 1853, 990.76 have been allowed; lit
tie less than one-f,th. or the SIS, 547, :
l2l.ll yet remaining to be acted upon,
it is fair to remark: First, that OF the
l,347 claims pending up to the close
OF the present fiscal year in the Quar-
termaster- Generals Department, Cen
Meigs says about three-fourths ofthem
have been suspended for want OF addl-
tional evidence. (Which, in the ma
iority OF cases, is tantsmount TO reJec-
ton, } which may or may not hereafter
be furnished" This would reduce the
amount remaining to be acted on in his
Office to 1856, 707.39. Second, OF the
claims pending in the House OF Rep
J resentatives, 100000 are for prop
erty taken, occupied, and destroyed by
the United States as military necessity
in the so-called Confederate States, and
am credibly informed that the major
part of this amount is claimed by
those who acted with the coniederacy,
one claim alone, OF that character,
being for 81 100000. Also, 100000
of those claims are for the use OF rail-
roads and damages done to the same,
which are not allowed by the laws now
in force. This would reduce the
amount OF claims now pending IN
all quarters and yet to be presented
as estimated, to some $75, 100000.
And lust here would like to direct the
attention OF the Senate to letter from
the Secretary OF the Treasury to Hon.
James G. Blaine, Speaker OF the House,
dated February Is, 1874, Executive
Document 1867 from which it will be
seen that
The amount covered into the
Treasury of the United States
| from the sale ofcaptured and
abandoned property during =,
| the war, has been, S2U,5IU,ooo'ii
VI ed Sni' 'n'te N"' O'en % PEW G,5OO,227.27
Leaving in the Treasury, l4,ilO,ia9'l'
There has been allowed by the Court
OF Claims something over 81 ,OOO,OOO,
which has not yet been paid, which
comes out OF this amount.
Now, taking the proportion o! claims
allowed to the amount claimed, and
we have about onestifth. Applying
this same proportion to the amount
vet pending-some $4,000, 0OO-and
we find we have some $l5.00O,0OO,
which is but little more than the
amount in the Treasury, resulting
from the sale Of captured and ABANDON
ed property in the Southern States.
But even allowing the whole amour
of claims yet pending to be such as can
properly be considered, and applying
the proportion as before, we find we
will probably have to pay but some
ST, 100000 in round numbers, which
is lar below my estimate OF
s25 1909, and to meet which there
are nearly 81 100000 now in the Treas
ury belonging to that fund. So, II
there is any reliance to be placed IN
figures, and it is said figures never lie,
the fair inference is that 10000, OOO
will more than pay every Legitimate
and proper claim OF this nature against
the government, and surely this is not
an amount sufficient TO deter govern
ment from doing what is just and right
toward its people.
Most of the above claims can be con-
sidered under present laws by the
southern claims commission, the Quar-
termaster-G General and the Commissary-
General. 1t is estimated that to the
present time not more than ten mil
lions has been claimed by loyal citizens
or States Tor property taken or destroy
ed by the United States troops or
agents. Apply the rule and basis here
to'ore acted upon, three or four millions
will pay ali such claims.
Some say the Government cannot
afford it. What an answer that to make
10 a man who has suffered and lost at
the hands OF the Government he was
endeavoring to maintain and uphold
What an answer TO make to man
who asks. not pay for the spoliatIons Of
the enemy; not compensation for losses
incident to the war, but indemnitication
simply for what his own Government
has appropriated or destroyed. Sir, no
nation can afford to be unjust, least oil
all ours. This Government wants the
respect and good will OF its own citizens
as well as a good credit abroad. The
war is over; the effects Of the war a.
most obliterated; industry has resumed
it's pursuits, aud the whole country
seems to be advancing to high state
OF prosperity. Is it not time 10 look
into these matters ! have so feebIy at
tempted to describe? We have waited
long and patiently. Is it not time tc
give us our reward
DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE