The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-19
SATURDAY MORNING. JAN. 10.
Washington News and Gossip.
WAR CLAIMS.

WAR CLAIMS.
Early in the present session Senator Mat
thews presented bill to extend the time for
presenting claims for collecting, drilling and
organizing volunteers in the war of the re-
bellion: The Senate committee on military
affairs have the matter before them. The War
department is strongly opposed to the measure,
ana, as 1t would seem, on reasonable grounds.
Adlutant-G General Townsend says that it would
cause the department to be flooded with fraud
ulent claims. Assistant-Adj utant- General Vim
cent mas addressed a sitter on the subject to his
chief, in which he says that the time for pre-
sentlng such claims was considered closed on
tue 30th of June, 1874. The time up to that
date had been ample for filing all legitimate
claims, and the Off Gals in charge of the mat
ter then had opportunities which they will not
have now for testing the rightfulness of all
claims, slice, at this date, owing to death and
other changes that time has wrought, evidence
cannot be so readily obtained. If the PROPOSE
ton relates only to what are known as State
war claims that ara not yet reimbursed by the
government, that should be, General Vincent
suggests, so distinctly specified in the act that
no misunderstanding eau arise.
THE GENEVA AWARD CLAIMS.
The judiciary committee Of the Senate and
House have under consideration the various
bills presented in either branch of Congress
touching the claims of the war premium claim
ants under the Geneva award. The Senate
committee has referred the subject to sub
committee composed of Senators Davis, Chris
tlancy and Oonklng. The House committee
has not yet designated subcommittee in ex-
pectaten of the arrival of General Butler The
hon caleb Gushing and j 7. Manning from
Massachusetts, are here to present the case of
the wsr-premium claimants to this sub-com-
mlttee when it is appointed. 1t is now uncer-
tain when General Butler will arrive and the
sub com mittee may be named this week even if
he does not return. The several bills before
the committee in the interest of these claim
ants cover Substantially the same grounds, the
purpose of all being to revive the court which
passed upon the claims already allowed, and
give 1t jurisdiction to hear and determine
the amount due on these claims. There is at
least one other bil which the underwriters have
procured to be offered, the purport of which is
to turn the whole business over to the United
States court OF claims to settle.
VOORHEES, ON JEFFERSON.
The Evening Star of Washington publishes
the following significant anecdote: "Some of
the admirers of the Hon. D. W. Voorhees, are
endeavoring to make arrangements to have him
deliver in this city his lecture on Thomas JEFF
ferson. A request for its delivery publicly was
circulated in the House and Senate this morn
ing. When it was laid before Senator Eaton
OF Connecticut for signature he said No,
Will not sign it; don't agree with Mr. Voor-
hees's financial views But said those who
presented the document this lecture is to be a
literary effort only, Senator Il don't care
was his reply. L will not sign it. Mr.. Voor-
bees is the only Senator who ever in speech
in the Senate endeavored to array labor against
Capital.' -