New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-08

which deducted from the total smoun1 re- a. a., 40
S r ete oy lie law re ang 10 the examination and
payment certain classes of claims against the b0FsTn-
mcnt should receive the attention Of Congress The
Third Auditor Second Controller, accounting officers
OF the Treasury Department, arc rcqied Dy IA" 70 Az
Indicate and settle claims upon the United states Tor the
value of property destroyed while IN possession ~
the Government, either ny contract or npiessen ana
caius for received or taken ana uscd ny NY
The power conferred upon these officers ~ an anomalous
one Before the year 1916, claims OF this nature were
presented directly To Congress anI, Wben iyunH 10 pe
inst and proper provided iOr by special legislation
by the act approved April o. 1916 provision was made
The war between United States and Great Britain
Pursuant 20 this act, commissioners was appointed ~
the President. WIN inc aliItg ~hu oVeS.l -. ~,
ate whose dnty II was 70 decide all cafes arising uter
tho act and upon his adjudication the amount iOnd de
the claimant was PAID 0ut o. tLS IIsaS.s!' ~ an
amendment 20 III act, made the next year. mo COMMITS
required To report the faets N each case 10
Congress, tho end tGat provsion might be made Tor
The relief OF tdo ca BOO er regred 70 be re-
vsed by the secretary OF War; and confirmed by INN De-
rs ne net approved April 90 1873 all claims under
the act Of 1916 and its AMENDMENT not acted on " the
Commissioner were transferred to the Ihrd auditor,
who in his adudicatlons, was 10 be governed by ZIG
rules prescribed for the COMMISSIONS AGAIN ~ loZ2
i was enacted that the ACCOUNTING Grst Salf IRE
claims officers volunteers, and other persons IN me
be ryHsscrt6d by the Pfesid nt When however in
1888 Congress passed similar act for tie settlement OF
claims for property loot in expeditions AGAINST me 10,
dans on frontier OF Illinois and Michigan, the Third
Auditor Of tie Treasury Tas required to examine allow,
and pay taen, whatever the amount, similar claims
required 10 be allowed and paid under The act' OF
1916 and 1917.
this character exceeded hundred dollars Instead OF
deciding tse same the Third Auditor was required "
acts ~ Jan Is 1857, March ISL and March g. is9,
all OF which were enacnes IN RELATION 10 PoPsii ios'
or destroyed m the military service Hi t9e U,eo st'
the Third AudtO had the power TO decide and pay WIN
revision under rules prescribed by The secretary oi
Var, with tue assent OF the President, al claims, WHAT
ever tho amount ny an aeinent 20 lno '.ot o. 80,
transmit mis- adjustment TO the Second Controller foI AIS
decision. ~.
Feb ~ 1867 Doe %, 1869, aud Harch 3, 1871, and
300 appendix 10 Re, sed Statutes the JurSde-
OF Claims declared not 10 include
any claim against the United States growing out OF the
destruction OF appropriation OF or uanase 70 property
y the army OF nav, engaged in the suppress or the
Rebellion, but claims OF loyal citizens in states not IN
rebellion for qu2Ielna stores ANA Subsistence re-
the Third Auditor by the QuarermasterGenerai or
COmmissary General Win INSTRUMENTATION JOE settle
While no uniform rule hrs been adopted in the settle
ent OF these claims Is easy perceive the
sons which induced Congress to depart from that hst
established IT, The act Of 1916. But, Whatever may have
been tho reasoD experience mas SHOWN tba INC Gccont
ing officers Of the Treasury are not the proper persons "
have tAc duty Of passing upon such claims In almost
every these settlements require characterization
which properly belongs 10 cOuit OF law. Ia practice,
this Investigation is often not made dttr ny ne Ihifi
Auditor second Controller but Is necessarily niste
to subordlnates not ccuslVhed 70 ooI5lo.r ahu Mes
by TIE allowance % claims upon evidence asth e. PoIe'
which wOuG not he admissible IN court VI law organ
The act 1868, eproduced in Section 101,
Revised Statutes, naAes at least doubtful whether che
unless should take upon himself the questionable re-
spoEsiby refusing 10 sign warrants Tor the payment
OF aIjItc.ted claims.
Caims against the Government have been permitted 20
sleep until tie ClCs ~ connected with The transactions
out U tLey have died. gone out II service,
and been revived and supported By pdJte teti-
nOny OF such character 10 cause their allowance ny
thC accounting officers.
Asa partial remedy the evil II IS recommended that
all such claims be barred II not presented within speed
time. There Is, practically, no limitation now. 10
will be That the act Of 1916 barred claims not pro
scented within TWO years. Perhaps this period Is 100
snort. years is adopted Ia the legislation Of most II
the States tie limo IN which actions On simple con.
tracts barred Claims against tire Government should
be valid for longer time than this, and there ere
shorter time But a hotter and more Chectual remedy
evil would be the enactment OF LtW requiring
All such claims 10 be- presented III tie United STATES Or-
Courts OF Tire districts they by proceed
the OF suitS against the Unitod states,
under such limitations ana Restrictions DOth as 70 tho
right to institute tie sUt ana 10 the mode ~ pro-
cedure, a Congress may SEQ proper 10 Impose.
REPORTS OF BUREAU OFFICERS.
reports 81 the heads Of bureas herewith trans
nitted and referred 10 containing statements and in
formation the business OF the Department IN de-
could properly be embodied in this report Tae
Secretary gratefully acknoW lodges his Indebtedness TO
the officers Of the Department generally for the zeal and
fidelity with which they have discharged their duties
y. II. BEIsTow Secretary OK the Treasury.
To the Honorable the Speaker Of tho House OF Repre-
sentatives