The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-26
LOYAL CLAIMANTs.
Nine Hundred Millions of Dollars of Claims
Now Before Congress.
Washington Letter to New York SUM-


Washington Letter to New York Sum-
When the Republicans had possession of
every branch of the Government, after the
close of the Civil War, they paid out of the
Treasury more than 500, GOO, 600 tc. so-called
loyal claimants" who professed to have
furnished supplies to the Union Armies,
and to have suffered injury from them in
the South. tits notorious that large part
OF these claims had passed into the hands of
a ring of jobbers ana spectators, and that
no scrutiny worthy ofIhe name was exer-
cised In the accounting Offices where they
were audited and allowed. The whole leg.
lslatiOn was stnpendOus job.
After the Democrats got the House of
Representatives in 1876, the utmost care was
used in examining these War claims, under
the direction of Mr.. Eden, then Chairman of
that Committee. The record shows that
very few of this class were favorably report
ed, and those that Mr.. Eden recommended
were rarely contested in the House, not only
from confidence in his character but be-
cause of the general belief that every claim
was thoroughly sifted.
In the last six or eight months over g 600
of these claims have been presented NEST of
them doubtless fabricated, and aggregating
many millions of dollars. TIE law is about
expiring under which they conld be receivea,
by an organized movement. Half genera
ton has passed away since the War terru;n-
2ted in which thes' claims are alleged to
have originated. DGsing all these years
nothing was heard of their existence The
Ring did not dare to go before.S Democratic
House for fear the franns might be exposed.
But when the Republicans got control thou
sands of claimants Suddenly swaTmedi
around Congress, and have been Vehemenfly;
dem esding millions.
The private,claims now before The House,
of ReprSseD tat yes are estimated 10 foot up,
nine hundred millions df dollarsl And
they are still coming in by the CARLOAD
Some .cusxous facts ere diaesos d tTring the
recent debate in the House on tie PROPOSE
ton to send these claims to the Court of
Claims, instead Of adjusting them at the
Quartermaster Generals Office
Mr. BLACK burn charged that clG mants
had been regularly blackmaileS by clerks in
the offices who audsted the CLAIMS, and he
stated that some sixty odd evidences were
in his own hand, /" showing this outrageous
extortion. lie read receipt from one of
the blackmailxs, who had been "Chief OF
the Examining Diviso7 of the Department"
for five per cent. on awards made in this
official capacity
This practice has long been otoriou&y
common on almost all claims before the de-
partments. Anoutsider is the usual iaterme-
Oldfy 0cbWeeu the SfdllllAfI u dilu TIC cleTAs
But in the cases cited by Mr.. Blackburn the
insiders appeared to have carried on the !
business directly without ANY form Of inter
vention.
In opposing reference to the Court of
Claims. Mr. Reed cited an illustration where
the Government had been swfudled out of
S296. 064 by the collision of its own officers |
with the claimant. In commenting upon |
the case, the Court said:
~
aIz ounted to only 6.000 bales thereAbout, and 4
IL seems most improbable that this firm of Bel
locQHe. Noblorn Co. could have been the owners
or factors of more than two thirds of il. But the
law officers of the Government. who are re-
sponsible for the Defense AID who have access TO
Colonel ltolabirds accounts, which the Court
bias not. are satisfied upon this point; and the
Court. therefore. has no for interposing to
recovery doubts of his own.
Here is almost a specific charge by the
Court against tie law officers of the Govern