New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-10

now pending or hereafter to accrue. During the
war our officers, following The universal prac-
tico of armies operating in an enemy's country
seized upon and appropriated for The sub
sistence of the troops all kinds of stores ana
supplies which they came across. IL was
customary to give to the owner of such property
receipt pledging tho Government to pay its value
upon proof that the holder had not given AID OF
comfort to the enemy. The wealthy people OF the
South, those who had supplies to be selzed' were
nearly all rebels and of course no one supposed
that the Government would ever pay for supplies
taken from them The Presidents amnesty now
ever, having cancelled the requirement. OF loyalty.
all these transactions become by this accident VAIN
contracts, and will be payable whenever court
shall be opened for their adjudication. Moreover.
the seizure of property without the formahty OF
giving receipt may be considered an "Impiicd
contract. and thus this new field Of enterprise be
greatly enlarged.
Not content with these liberal provisions, the
trainers of the bill have devised still another
method of approach upon the Treasury. This Is
found in the provision that any bill or petition may
by vote of either House be referred to the Court OF
CLAIMS for examination, and then returned TO Coh-
gress with its findings and RECOMMENDATIONS
Every one familiar with Congressional proceedings
knows the ease with which bills and petitions may
be introduced "for reference only" often even
without being read Neither political party has yet
avOwed a willingness to pay war claims. the owners
of which were disOyal. and none such have received
favorable consideration from the committees OF
either House but if the principle should be estab-
lished of referring them to court which was
especially debarred from considering the question
of loyalty and disloyalty and before which the late
rebel may demand the same consideration as II he
had fought OF suffered in the Union cause, these
claims must be returned to Congress bearing the
prestige of favorable decision by one of the high
est courts in the land with their pma face validity
established and the burden of contention removed
from the claimants to the Government.
AS thousands of the constituents of every Southern
Congressman are interested IN or more of these
claims who can doubt the result tif the Democracy
should ever gain the ascendency) of the pressure
which would thus be brought to beari
On the whole this measure seems to be device TO
make unsuccessful rebellion profitable If it should
become law it would take hundreds Of millions
from the Treasury certainly, while its possibilities
will only be limited by the ability of the Govern
ment to pay. 1t is known that Mr. Christiancy,
anxious only to relieve Congress of burden which
II is untitled to bear, consented to introduce the
hill; without mastering its far-reaching effects. II is
not likely that he will ever become the advocate
of sucn bill and still less likely that it can ever
PASS a Republican Senate. But the frequency with
which attempts of this kind are being made, the
immense value of the prize commended lot, ana the
surprising lack Of information the subject which
q little inquiry among Congressman discloses,
makes very apparent the necessity for great Nlgi-
lance and Tor some action when shall SUMMARY
and forever clear away these unjust and fraudulent
claims