The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-12

1
LOYALTY Of the claimant, and that the
stores were sctuslly furnished for the
use of the Army it was made his duty &c
report the case to the Third Auditor oil
the Treasury.
The third section OF the act conferred
upon TIE Commisssry General similar
jurisdiction rs to subsistence actually
furnished.
Mr.. Chairman, l do not complain that
the jurisdiction of the Court OF Claims
wss thus restricted, nor do l complain
that the Qusrtermsster-General end
Commissary. General were restricted to
allowing and granting only claims to
loyal claimants, citizens of States not IN
rebellion. l am quite content with this.
The scope OF the act is perhaps WIDE
enough. But what l do complain OF and
what my people complain of is that these
lust claims of loyal citizens have
not been paid, and if the law shall not
be changed tina they never can be paid;
that this class OF creditors have been sp-
pealing in vain for the payment OF their
honest demands against the Government
that their claims have been practically
repudisted. They are an honorable class
OF public creditors; they fed the Union
soldier and furnished him shelter and
transportation; they strengthened the
sinews of war of the Government, and
next TO the gallant soldier who fought
for his country, her liberty and her laws
should have been frat paid, but it has
not been so.
While every act OF Congress touching
Government bonds has been in the inter-
est Of the bondholder the execution OF
the law has tended to refer and ultimate
" wear out and defeat the claims OF the
soldier and the citizen who fed or fur
nished him supplies. The cry comes up
from all over the country from our
MANNED and wounded soldiers that their
pensions have not been paid. The PEN
sion officer explains that he has mol
clerical force enough to keep up with
the demands upon his office, and yet, te
the disgrace of that Department be II
said that clerks in the Pension Oihce,
and paid out OF the pension fund
were for months at time running about
over the country IN the Interests OF the
Republican party, its candidates Tor OIL
ticc, and doing no work in the office IN
which they were paid. The country will
remember thst an agent, who was sent
from this city in the interest of General
Bsbcock when he was indicted and about
to be tried IN st. Louis for completely in
the whisky frauds, was paid out OF the
pension fund.
l was q member of the Committee on
Invalid Pensions during the last Con
gresg when these frauds were exposed
This much for the soldier. Now, sir, how
has that other class of government credi'
tors Jared who furnished supplies to the
army, turned over to the government
their horses, mules, wagons, grain, beet
cattle, and all the variety OF supplies
that an army marching through the
country would require? How has the sys'
tenn that conferred jurisdiction upon the
Ouartermsstor- General and Commissary'
General TO pay these claims worked?
regret that have not by me the report
of the Commissary-Genoral. A reference
to the report of the Qusrtermaster-Gen'
eral will give some idea. In that oae
Department alone at the close OF the last
fiscal year, 1880 of these claims re
NAMED undecided; they represent little
over $7,G0OC00 due to our loyal iarmeri
and others who furnished the supplies
Why shall they not be provided Tor Al
wali qe thn hOndhOlier2
Bv Whist rule of Justice or right is tht
bondholder TO have his interest paid II
gold every six months and this othei
more meritorlous class of creditor TO get N
interest at all2 These supplies were furn
ished more than thirteen years ago, anC
vet the Quartermaster-GonersI tells u
that he cannot dispose OF the cases OF
hand for thirteen gears TO come. Thest
claimants are generally poor men, snC
in these times of contraction and depres
sion It is shame that mantles the cheel
of this Government that no suitable pro
vision has been made for
final disposition and settlement o
these claims. Under the rules b.
which the Quartcrmaster is governed h
does gross injustice in many cases; claim
are rejected which in any of the court
of the country, IN suits between man ant
man, would be sustained. Gen. Melgs i
not to blame. 1t is the system ths
works the wrong and the outrage. IL
is an honorable man, who, doubt not
desires to act honestly ~ d conscientious
IL. He. toe, sees the inefficient working
of the system, ard he is calling upOI
Congress to take the clsims away from
him, to provide some other tribuna
where they can be more readily dis
posed.
Many cases where justice has beer
denied and honest claims have been re
iectod have fallen under my observation
/ beg to be permitted to cite ono. Majo
Bowen, q brave and gallant soldier, IN,
nejghbor and constituent, furnished tn
ARMY ouartermsster with span 0
horses to carry supplies for the army int
the interior OF what is now West Nir
GINA. They were captured by the en-
envy, and notwithstanding his case ha
been proven with sufficient certainty t
| warrant and sustain the NtTulCI oI
Jury in the case were it tried il
court, his claim has been rejected ard tn
Government TO the extent of tho valu
of that property has avoided the pay
ment of just liability.
Mr.. Chairman, to correct these abuses
at an esrly day in the session l Offered
a resolution having for its object the re
movsl of the claims shout which l hsv,
been speaking from the Qusrtermaster
General and Commisssry Department
to some tribunal hon.existing or 10 b
created, where the trial of them nigh
be fscilitsted so that honest and poo
men should be paid the amount du'
them by this Government. And OF
December l. 1871, offered the follow
! INC bill in this House;
A bill TO define the meaning OF certain
legal terms.
BE 4 enacted. de-, That the term loyalty
! or 'oval citizen, wherever used IN any lay
! oftnS United states, shall b. Cpustru&t /
! include any and all persons who vo!un
| ,aritv committed no gCt in aid Of the lat
T..a nit tod -