The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-15
CLAIMS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.

A bill OF great importance anu ihleI
OF to hundreds of citizens and residents
Of the Southern States WIS recently in
troduced In the House of Representa-
tiyes by Mr.. Levy, of Louisiana, and re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee. It
relates to claims OF aliens and citizens
growing out OF the late war. 1t may not
be generally known that at present no
jurisdiction is provided by the laws OF
the United States for the determination
81 these claims, with the exception OF
the Court of Claims and the Southern
Claims Commission, which are now
engaged in hearing and settling
claims therefore, filed. But the time
for presenting claims cognizable by
these tribunals respectively, expired in
| August 1868, and March 1873. Mr.
LEWIS bill proposes to enlarge the
Jurisdiction of the Court of Claims, and
to vest it with the right to hear and de-
termine claims of every description
which may be presented against the
General Government, and to abolish
the Southern Claims Commission. 1t
also removes all existing bars to
tho presentation OF just claims,
such as that of statutory limita-
j t;on and the narrow, restricted Juris-
diction of the tribunals heretofore
provided by the Government. To sho"
how illiberal the legislation on this SUD
iect has been, it Is only necessary to say
as an illustration, that no jurisdiction
has been provided since the war 1ol
claims growing out of the renting O
buildings for governmental purposes
during the war, and no claim could bt
more Just than such u one.
Under Mr.. Levy's bill, any claim o
an alien against the United States may
with the concurrence Of the representa-
tive CT the foreign government OF whlci
said alien is subject or citizen, b'
referred by the Secretary OF Stat
TO the Court of Claims, which shall hav
Jurisdiction to hear and determine sucl
claims, not in accordance with the mar
row and technical statutory and com
mon law rules which apply to the trla
!, and settlement of American claims, bu
in accordance with the principles OF in
ternational law and in pursuance {
! treaty stipulations and agreements DC
l tween the United States and the Govern
ment of the claimant. Moreover, eithe
party will have the right to appeal to tn
United States Supreme Court, and jude
ments rendered by either court will b
satisfied in the same manner in whic
r other judgments of said courts are salts
! fed. These are excellent provisions
Y the bill and no foreign government ca
! fail to approve and accept them. AS &c
i American citizens, they will undoub
: edly prefer to submit their claims to
Q highly respectable and able cour
. rather than to a board Of commissions
: who seek favor with the administratio
! by an indecent display OF prelude
q against every claimant.
Q The United Court Of Claims is con
posed of five judges and presided oy'
Il by Chief Justice Drake, who, since h
q elevation to this distinguished post, III
abandoned the craftsmanship that cha
,, acterized his course as a politician, al
,, proved himself to be an able jurist ar
! an upright Judge.
% We sincerely trust that Mr.. Levy
> bill may become law. Our only lei
y is that it's liberality will endanger l
u passage in the Senate.