New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-17
THE SOUTHERN CLAIMS COMMISSION

WORK DONE BY IT DURING THE PAST FOUR YEARS
A RENEWAL or THE TERM OF TIE COMMISSION
IMPROBABLE.
fFRoM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON April 16.-As the renewed term
OF the Southern Claims Commission fast drawing near
its expiration general review OF the origin OF the 'o
mission it's aims and the actual business IL has trans
acted cannot be without interest. The statement Deo"
is summary OF the official records by which the pubc
can readily form opinion as TO the wisdom OF AGAIN
renewing the of the Commission. The political
feeling this point is outlined.
The Commission established by a section 10 mo
Army Appropriation act OF March >, I'LL ana war 10
consist OF three commissioners having salary OF Soooo
ner year each for two years The Jurisdiction conferred
on the Commission very limited, ana the Jest OF
LOYALTY required claimants who should come before
very severe and in consequence OF their msundrstand
ing or their disregard OF these two facts the CLAIMANTS
and claim agents have caused vast amount of com
pant on part OF Southern loyallsts ana IN" S"uhe
delegation in Congress against the rulings and dee ton-
OF the Commission. The proposition 10 pay any rat OF
persons in the late Rebel states FOR property taken
the Union armies during their campaigns IN hostile teri
tory was strenuousy opposed by both Eastern ana west
ern men in the Senate and House aud was only carried
bv determined coalition Of the southern members with
threat to blockade all legislation in which the Eat and
West were Interested
The measure a. finally passed established commits
sion OF three 10 receive and consider III" claims
~ nersons who were citizens OF the United states and
ova TO the Government from the beginning to the 'bd
of the Rebellion. The claims were only to be Tor ,ons
ar supplies taken furnished for the Use al the Union
armies and these technical words were found 10 nave
such limited meaning that only small part OF the loss
suffered by residents the South, however Loyal 70 the
Government of the United States, could he brought
within their definition They include corn hay. oatS
and fodder fed to the army horses and mules fencing
and lumber burnt for fuel horses and mules taken or
the artillery cavalry. wagon-trains; tOero ut ior Tue.
quarters fOrtCatlons; cotton useu TOT bo-taI V'
and cattle hogs and bacon used IN the absence OF rats
or supply trains but not claims for ior mo
oceupation OF buildings and grounds nor nasr done TO
fields fences buildings crops by the march or ensanI
ment OF troops simple Use or DESTRUCTION OF Piot
ery of any kind FOR any purpose nor the Dc predictions %
niliage committed by the troops in carrying pr or c"u
suming as the might be- the horses ana mdi' .n
the cattle hogs, poultry, or other food supplies OF s
neopie Cotton tobacco, other property seized anil
carried of weaken the resources OF me peopi an
states rebellion. wac not included nor W
of properly 10 prevent it's use by tile Confederate
The Commissioners were TO REPORT ueir IN
each case 10 Congress- but there was no implied or dII
promise pay such claims as they should approve ia
March, 1873. when the Original term OF tno IN
expired Congress very unexpectedly reused 70 ettll
the time presenting claims, and thus cut on arle
number OF the poorer and reioter and possibly most
meritorous, claimants, who had Detn waiting 70 sc
the original act anything more than pontcil
device intended TO catch votes 10 the IEesluehua GAIA
paign of Is72 Last session the House passed bill Ia
let in these belaed claimants, but the ,ena" dd h"t
some 22O,O claims were flied, claiming an amount
inward OF y6OOO.OO0 OF course, Ia make up such .
tbpre must have sweeping disregard OF ID. nlia-
ons and conditions liked by Congress A. TO the loyalty
Of the claimants and the nature OF the cais aEd the
Commissioners have been now engaged four YEAR IN
sitting dis!oya aud neutral claimants from tnos
who loyal the Union cause, and tue claim. tht
are not within their jurisdiction from those that arc
within IT, They made four annual reports to Con
eress embracing over 1900 claims allowing less than
one-haf In number and less than Quentin VI amount
They have still than l4,6OO claims 10 report upon,
but many OF these are virtually aoandord oy tLo
claimants who meet the present requirements 40
10 loyalty or dissatisfied with the rules OF yana-
ada nv ne
ing practice of the army bureaus.
The of the Commission, renewed FOR four year. IN
1873 expires March, 1877 and Will probably not les
renewed and its unfinished business will be postponed
or transferred The southern opposed 10
IL without distinction Of party, and wish 10 abolish H. IN
the hope OF getting something la Its place that VIII dst
ute money from the Treasury IN their Section and tha
leading Republican senators and Representatives, are OPP
posed distributing any money there IN pay OF war
Claims and will with 5outberners 10 abolish the
Commission. II is remarkable circumstance that Ten
nessee the first OF the reconstructed states mas nal
law operation for the settlement n The claims o. hef
citizens 1866, i've before the other Rebel
states were admitted and succeeded last year In getting
the time for Hing claims from that State extended N