Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-01-13

DAILY
p0ST LLIGENCER.
woxpsRvgL COMMISSION.
In January, 1880, treaty was made
h.kvsen the United States and France
bv which . joint Commission was
formed, consisting Of q representative
Of France, selected by that republic a
representative Of the United States, 80
lectsd By our own Government. and a
third Commissioner nsned by the En-
peror Of Brazil. To this Commiss'on
vas 70 So referred for final sdjudica-
ton al claims of citizens OF france
acainst ths United States, and OF citi-
xens of the United 6tates against
France.
France named for it, Commissioner
N. L. Do Gsofroy, the United states
named . chronic onaoeholder from Yer
mont, An O. Adds; and the Emperor OF
Brazil named Baron do Arinos, who
vss. of course, made the President OF
the Commission, although it would
sesm he il 70 only nominally. Each OF
the Commissioner receives 5000 q
year. The treaty provided in article 8
that the Commission should expire IN
two years after it's first meeting. Dur
inc this time it was 'bound TO examine
and decide upon every claim submitted
10 it.n II was also provided that the
..usriod shall not be extended except
only in case the proceedings be inter
ruptsd BY death, inoapacity, retirement
or cessation Of the functions OF any ono
Of the Commissioners"
Well, the Commission met and organ
lied ON Dec. 20, 1880. Under tho treaty
this made it obligatory upon it to exam
inc and decide all cases submitted to II
by the 10th Of December, 1882. Its
time was up last month.
The Commission has rented and 90
cupied handsomely furnished house,
almost adjoining the Arlington Hotel,
IN the sristocratic part Of the city. The
whole Of large mansion has been tax
en- for the use of the Commission and
m extensive staff Of expensive clerks.
George 8. Boutwell, Of Massachusetts
was appointed agent and counsel for the
United States, at salary Of 5000. Jno.
Davis, who has the honor to be the SON
in-law Of Secretary Frelinghuysen, was
made assistant counsel, at salary OF
$500. He held tho place until his
distinguished father in-law called him
mp higher, a. Assistant Secretary OF
State, whom he was succeeded by w. II.
Edwards. Washington F. Peddrick is
the secretary Of the Commission on be-
half Of the United States, at salary of
$1,000. There are several clerks, whose
salaries. together with "sundries," in
oluding, perhaps, under that stereo-
typed head. lunches from the Arlington,
have required an expenditure $500.
The French republic named as it's
agent n. Grimsud de Caux, whose name
recalls some unpleasant "reminiscences
Of former Commission; a. counsel an
other gentleman, whose name il also
familiar TO the public, N. Charles
Adolph do Chambrun, and as assistant
counsel, A. p. Morse. What these gen.
tlsmen are paid by the French Govern
mont u unknown. But the expenses Of
the Commiasion, az known, amount to
$4,000 year. and. as it is safe to as
sumo that France does not pay smaller
salaries than the United States, We may
put down the cost at $4,000, making
total Of $4,000 year, or $l2O.0O0 from
Dsoen bn 20. 1880, I'd the 10th Of last
month-with what pitlful results We
shall now 80.
There have been fled with the Com
mission 726 claims against the United
6tatss, and 10 against France. These
claims aggregate between go. 000, 600
and ea0,Ooo.O00. Out Of the aggregate
Of rs claims only ID awards have been
made, amounting all told to $4,000. A
few have bssn rejected. This il the
fruit Of two ysars' labor.
The claimants have been represented
b. able lavysys who have spent much
tine and money in collecting tho testi-
mony in each case, and who have of
course lively interest in securing a |
spesdy adjudication Of the cases. Bat |
thsss attorneys have been met by dis |
position upon the part Of the Commits
siou 70 delay matters in every possible |
way. Proorastination is and has been
The order Of the day. The men who are |
aseutsly working this out are Messrs.
Boutwell, and Aldia, who are practically |
W Commission. Mr.. Boutwell,. il may |
b remembsrsd, passed from revising |
Ne United States Statutes at 5000 per
yeaf. 70 place on the Commission at |
e50O also.
The expenditure of $4,000 TO adju- |
dioate "a. 100 would seem to be enor-
nous. but that sum does not represent
moro than ons-third Of tho amount al
ready gpsnt BY the Commission. Spe-
eial agents, those peculiar employees
who are nppossd 10 BE- . cross between
. detsctivs o6iosr aad . judge, have
been snployed 10 hunt up testimony
and take evidence. The expenses for
thsse agents have been about $3.50, 900.
Al Of this b paid out Of the United
States Treasury ~ vouchers already
Allsd with The Fifth Auditor attest.
On Nevember 90th the Commission
met, - was expected, for 6ne of its last
seaatons and TO render it, judgments.
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