Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-01-15
INFORMATION
For those having claims against the
United States.

We have already mentioned 1n our
paper some days ago, that Mr.. j. P. M.
Epping of Grahamville, s. c., had been
appointed special commissioner OF
claims for this state. Not knowing the
exact nature of his mission, and being
anxious to lay all useful information
before the public, we instructed our re-
porter to see him and try to obtain from
him the wished-for information. Mr..
Epping cheerfully complied with the
request and the reporter learned from
him the following particulars:
The commissioner of claims appointed
under the act of Congress of March Sd,
1871 and May llth, 1872 must not be
confounded with the court of claims in
Washington. These two bodies have
quite distinct and different functions.
+ The court of claims has jurisdiction
over property taken from loyal citizens
by government officers and by them
turned over to the Treasury of the U. s.
This property, consisting principally of
cotton, having been sold the proceeds
we're paid into the Treasury. The judge
ment of the court of claims, up to a GER
tain amount, are, by provision of same,
paid upon presentation by the treasury
department; for larger amounts the
sanction of Congress must first be obtain
ed.
The duty ofthe commissioner Of claims
is to take cognizance OF and investigate
all claims for stores and supplies furnish
ed or taken during the war for the use
of the Army and Navy, including the
use and loss of vessels or boats while
employed in the military or naval service
of the United States.
Awards by the commissioner Of claims
are not paid by the treasury department
however until Congress makes an appro-
priation for the amounts so awarded,
(which is done annually and then the
treasury pays the different claimants.
All stores and supplies furnished or
taken for the use of the Army or Navy
may be included in the claims to be pre-
sented to the commissioner of claims at
Washington, but no claims are allowed
for theft or pillage by soldiers.
All legimate claims of citizens, wh'
remained loyal adherents of the govern
ment of the United States during the
war will be allowed, but it is for the
claimants to prove their loyalty. Loyalty
is a fact to be proved. Claims are not
unfrequently disallowed, not because
there is positive proof of disloyal.y, but
because the proof of loyalty is not salts
factory.
No claims are received or recognized
for damage, destruction and loss OF prop
erty, nor for rent or occupation OF build
ings grounds or other real estate.
Houses, mules, cattle, hogs, wagons,
corn or other grain, hay and fodder,
meat or bacon, rails, fencing and stand
ing timber used for fuel or for other
purposes, fields of grass or growing crops
used for forage, cotton used for hospital
beds, and the materials Of buildings
thrown down, if such materials are ap-
piled to military uses, fall within the
term "stores and supplies" and testi-
mony will be taken to prove the appro-
priation or use; but articles Of luxury,
wines. liquors and cotton, (unless taken
for hospital stores) are not included in
the rm "stores and supplies for the
use of the Army and Navy. They will
not be, allowed and should not be em-
braced TH CLAIMS
ALI claims under $4,000 which are to
be ssought before special commissioner
muss be submitted in the first instance
10 the commissioner Of claims in Wash
ngton to be docketed and numbered.
When this is done and the number
an application, ION blank
which will be furnished by the special