The Evening critic., 1882-04-07
ARBITRARY RULES,
which Amount 10 n Practical De-
Mai OF Justice-Thc War Claims
Committee Assuming Autocratic

Powers.
The House Committee on War Claims have
adopted by resolution n series Of rules for tho
government OF the committee that + not only
arbitrary, unjust and in violation Of law
ana welcstabllshod prccedens, but disgrace
ful TO the American Congress. Those rules
were adopted ON January 30, ana not only
deny justice to claimants, but the seventh
assumes that every citizen and Congressman
Is "suspcct" and not TO be trusted In tho
commlttcc-room. They are as follows:
Resoited, THAT the Committee on War Claims
VIII, in the consideration and disposition OF
claims referred to them, be governed 10y the
following rules:
First-Clalms audited by and reported from
any Department OF the Government, or other
tribunal authorized TO adjudicate the same,
VIII be reported favorably from this com
mittee, except whore error ls patent upon the
face of the papers, or upon special cause
shown against the same on behalf OF the Gov
ernment.
will not be reported favorably: 0l claims
over which any other tribunal has jurisdiction
while such joI,ss jorssic,9n Eh,c is mot not
wholly or in Iart rejected by any tribunal
having authority to hear and adjudicate upon
the same, unless clear showing Is made Of
manifest wrong or oversight; 90 claims over
which gny other tribunal had jurisdiction,
but which the claimant failed 10 prosecute
within the time fixed by law unless peculiar
circumstances eniitle the claimant to eaulta.
bic relief and lachcs be satisfactorily ex-
planned.
Third-An claims not included I'm any of the
foregoing classes viii be acted upon and de-
termincd under the rules of law which mry
lie applicable to each case upon the facts pre-
sCnted.
Every claimant shall be required to file n
statement, under oath, whether his (Or herr
| claim has ever been adiudicated by any trl-
hunal, and II so, by what and when, and give
the result, whether favorable or unfavorabla,
and whether the same has ever been paid in
whole or in part: also, whether the claimlut
Is now the bona fldo owner and holder OF the
claim.
Fourth-Oral arguments VIII not be allowe L
| except by request of the committee, but overy
claimant desiring so to do may submit briefs
| Of facts and law applicable thereto, either
written or printed, which will be filed with the
papers and considered by the Committee.
| Fifth-No papers filed with this committee
| shall be Withdrawn therefrom, or taken from
| the room of the committee, except by the
| member having the case under consideration,
| and while he Is Investigating the same.
| SiXih-No person, other than u member OF
| this committee, shall be permitted to inspect
| the journal, nor shall any person, excepting q
| Member of Congress, be permitted to inspect
the papers OF this committee, and they only In
| the committee room.
| Sevcnth-No person or persons, other than
| the members OF this committee, the clerks and
| employees thereof, and the person having
| charge Of the room under the direction OF the
| DooIkeepcr Of the House, shall be permitted &c
| frequent the room of this committee, nor shal
| the clerks of this committee disclose TO any
| claimant or claim agent TO whom any particu
| lar bill has been referred for investigation
| and report.