Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-15
WASHINGTON LETTER


ErCCldl 00lIetpOuQCINo % tAo A1Aaot-l
WASHINGTON, D. c., March a.
According to law the southern claims
commission expires tomorrow, when
its final report will be made to con
gress. The commission went into
operation Immediately upon its organ
~ization, March Sd, 1871, and during
the two years prescribed as the limit
when claims could be fled, the num-
Der presented was 22,29S, aggregating
over $50, 0O0, O00r which the govern
ment was asked to pay. During the
nine reports, annually made, Of its
action, allowances and disallowances,
the commission presented IL ,000cases,
involving over $4l, 000, 900, a total of
"a, 900 being allowed and about
$4,000 900 being rejected. There are
still on the files of the commission
5000 cases in which the claimants
have not taken any testimony, and are
therefore barred out by the act Of
congress. In its report to morr0w the
commission will embOdy a list OF these
remaining cases. There arealso about
400 cases in which testimony has been
taken that will be reported
upon. According to the report
there is a clean docket, as
all the claims presented have been
disposed of, except those for
rent and claims by bankrupt, which
are not of the jurisdiction of the
commission. 1t is important to note
the fact that with the completion of
the work Of the commission, all war
claims, except those now pending in
congress, have been finally and forever
disposed of. Since the organization
of the commission there has been no
change in the personnel Of its mem
bers, all of whom have been residing
in Washington. The members are as
follows: President, Judge Asa o..
Adds, of Vermont; ex-senator james
B. Howell, of Iowa, and Judge Orange
Ferriss, of New York.
The Fitz-John Porter case contin-
ues to attract attention, for it is daily
discussed in the senate. This Fitz
John Porter case is the thi d blunder
Of the democrats this session. The
6rst was the postoihoe appropriation
efficiency, regarding the star route
service, IN which Mr.. Key, with his
lieutenant, Mr.. Brady. won a decisive
victory over the majority in congress,
A more stupid piece Of work was never
lccomplished by any party, but it
lat the demoratic party is just now
iable if not subject to these blund-
RS. Postmaster General Key cOerced
congress into the measure. His de
uauds could not be refused. This
,lunder is due to some of our dis.
iuguished democrats who have more
ongue than Judgment, and a greater
mount Of physical appetite than
rains. After a repetition Of severe
nd %sorrowing lessons, the people Of
be south will finally realize the diff
erence between the HILARIOUS, blatent
nd fiery politician aud the prudent.
ilent and conservative representative
lay they vsiue the significance OF the
ssOn aud appreciate the difference
ietween the polished demagogue and
ne honest patriot. Another great
)lunder was the printing deficiency
I'll, whereby a man no larger nor
lore conspicuous than Defrees has
cen allowed to turn out of office a
aOusand dependent and helpless
q n and women, boys and girls, while
, stop the printing office would be a
,erious affair, however the suffering of
he printers thus thrown out of
york is of paramount consideration.
Upon the demand of Dir. Defrees; the
democrats now have to pass the re-
luired appropriation bill for the pub
lie printing house. Then comes the
Nitz-JOhn Porter case, the history of
which is too well known to require
repetition. The republicans, with
characteristic shrewdness, asslil the
democrats in this matter and put our
larty on the defensive. 1t is true
hat Grant and his party valued the
honor of the United States at only
$4,000 and for this sum was the
insult to a great nation resented and
its anger appeased at the time of the
atrocious Virginius outrage and mas
sacre. No wonder then that the re-
publicans think 100000 a monstrous
price to be paid for the vindication of
ex-General Fitz-John Porter's honor.
But it is remarkably wonderful that
the democrats did not postpone the
consideration of this case until after
the November elections. | am glad
to know that not a senator nor a rep
resentative from Tennessee has pro.
NOTED these stupid blunders, which
can be only less serious than the nom
nation OF Mir. Bayard, though not so
fearful fatal as would be the selec-
ton of Mr.. Tilden.
SALTUs MoHEGAN.