Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-23

Whole on the naval appropriation bill, Mr..
Ciymer in the chair.
The pending question was in relation to
the abandonment of certain navy yards and
retention of others. Mr.. Lewis, who report ted
the amendment, advocated it.
Other amendments were offered looking to
the retention OF all the yards now in use for
general purposes.
The Proposed Claims Com mission.
Editor Star: Permit me to offer one or two
suggestions in reference to the editorial In
your paper OF yesterday upon the subject of
the bill now pending in Congress providing
against the District of Columbia. You APP
rear to except to the proposed commission
on the assumption that 1t Is to be partisan
commission. Now i do not know whether
IL is TO be partisan or not, but it occurs to
me that if so, owing to the manner in which
IL is to be created, it will in that respect be
good deal like popular English drink,
for it will be about half and half. Your OBJ
lection to this commission on the assump-
tion that IL is going to drag up out of the
depths an appalling array of old corporation
claims and John Pope HOdnet pay-rolls, and
allow them, TO the further grief of the tax
pay ers, is not, respectfully suggest, at all
is nothing in the bill giving this commission
power to allow any claim. II understand
IL, they are TO examine all claims presented
and report each case, with the sworn testl
moDy supporting its validity, to Congress.
That bod y alone will have authority to allow
the claims so examined into. / presume
honest claimants among our citizens whose
claims because they were honest had hard
time of 1t before the late board of audit, aud
lis curiously constituted secretary, to the
tender mercies, the veXatious delays, and
the fees attendant upon suits in our courts.
These courts have with great uuanimity on
various occasions ruled that the government
of the District of Columbia is a part OF the
federal government, and cannot be sued. A
man with an honest claim caunot afford to
spend one half of IL in order TO save the other
n and no rrao n Hlrv l, 49,
matter under the late board of audit. And
il would seem 10 be but fair that such claim
ants should haverelief with as little expense
themselves as possible.
In relation TO one branch of claims, pamely
claims for damages TO real estate, think
you, perhaps, take q somewhat erroneous
view OF the matter. Ofall the various classes
% claims brought by citizens against the
District, none are more just or meritorious
than these, whatever may be the opinion of
the District Commissioners and their attor
leys. From time tmmemorial IL has been
held in The law courts, in the equity courts,
and in every species OF practice and legisla-
zion, that when the property OF the individ-
OF any enterprise which is designed for the
hSneht OF the whole community, IL is but
Just that the community so benefited should
make the citizen so despoiled whole, by
fair remuneration for his loss. This princl-
pie reaches back even to the days of semi
barbarism, and has been Invariably acted
on for the relief OF individuals whose posses
sions have been disturbed for the public
good. So far as relates TO the amount or
these claims, am well assured that the ag-
gregate is not more than quarter of a mill
lion.
Will you pardon me for the inquiry why
In the constitution OF the proposed commits
sion you apprehend that II is 70 be "an ire
spOnsible partisan body? Years ago, when
IL was first urged here that we ought to have
no politics in the District OF Columbia, IL
was said that II our people were TO place
themselves in accord with the administra-
ton and ignore craftsmanship, everything
would be lovely, and Congress would give
us hardly remember what extent of favor
able consideration. So we managed to get
rid OF the Bowens and Emerys. What fol-
lowed? The "feather dustersi" They were
In accord with Congress, and the conse-
queDce was a debt OF S23 900 900. This was
the result of being in accord with the fed
eral administration. The administration
gave us agents who saddled this debt upon
us. do not complain of the debt particu-
larry. II was what we had q right to expect
as proper reward for yielding up our right
10 have biennial mayoralty campaigns here.
But, Mr.. Editor, do you think there Is more
danger OF sided partisan action by q
commission appointed by q democratic
House and republican Senate, than there
ers?" do not.
j am sorry not TO be able to endorse your
ably-written editorial, but j don't believe
any body but knave will present fraudu-
lent claim, or allow one; and don't believe
acommission created, as this Is proposed to
be, OF our own people, and without any ref
OACbcC W duy DuJ Tue nOQ6sI exdnl-
nation OF the claims of our citizens, will be
the objectionable, political, campaign fund
intriguers you foreshadow In your editorial.
FAIR PLAY.
JAY GOULD AND E. 8. SroK Es-Wha, the
Prisoner intends 10 do on Re0ainilg his Free
dom Edward =. Stokes sleeps in the dis
secting room OF the hospital In Sing Sing
prison, and yet has plenty of air, as he does
not close the windows. On Friday night two
corpses were at his feet. and his rest was
broken. He Is afflicted with asthma and
the prison physicians say that his life would
soon be ended were he locked up In q cell.
Mr.. Chas. w. Brooke will go to Albany to-
morrow 10 argue before the Court of Appeals
for the release of Stokes. The prisoner hopes
TO be free this week. In speaking of what he
may do when he secures his liberty, he says:
"SOme persons think that it would be pru-
dent for me to go away from New York, on
account OF Jay Gould's ruffians. There was
time when my life was in danger from these
scoundrels. / didn't fear them then, aud
don't fear them now. Tney are notoriously
towards. They came TO me with queer
stories, and then reported 10 Gould and Fisk
all that said. The DULLES were always
r ady TO sell out 10 the highest bidders. They
so WORKED upon Fisk's mind with their false
Is concocted stories that he really believed
l intended 10 attack him, aud he arm "a him.
sell. III FISK mad been removed from the
evil influences of Jay Gould and his ruff ans
FISK and never would have been enemies
I'm going to stay in New York city attend
quietly 10 my business, and shall 90 ont of