The Evening critic., 1884-02-21
rNE pEcuLlAR pRAorIoEs
OF tho AIabnmn claims Commits
sion.


sion.
"ono moro unfortunate" cam, to CRITIC
reporter to-day with his grievances arising
from his treatment at tho hands OF tho Ala
bama Clnims Commission. Tho gentleman
seemed to have very good cause for complaint,
ana tho reporter aesurod him that TIE CRITIC
readers were interested In the peculiar prac-
tfcea OF which he accuses tho Alabama Court.
"lt ie a matter Of interest to everybody that
10 friend OF right and Justice and an OPP
ponentof unfair determinations and specu'
latiOne," he said. "ro bo more specific
Icomplain for one thing OF the erroneous con-
structlon OF the court on Section D, OF tho act
OF Juno 3, 1882, and which has caused 30
much expense TO tho claimants, who are now
driven TO Congress for relief; whereas, had the
Iaw been correctly interpreted, no such neces,
etty would have occurred, and In order that all
may understand tho question at ISSUE will
quote the law IA II is, viz:
".rhat the irstciass shall be for claims d.
rectly resulting from damage done on tho nigh
seas by Confederate cruisers during the late
rebellion, "inci0din0' vessels and cargoes at
tackled on Noht0h seas, although the loss or dam.
age occurred "tCtftin" four miles OF tho shore.'
You must remember that by far the larger
portion OF our planet Is covered with salt
water and different localities OF II are marked
on maps under different names, such as North
and South Pacific Oceans, Atlantic ocean,
China Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and numerous
other such names, but In speaking OF 1t az an
entirety lite proper name is tho high seas, and
Its natural boundary Is of course where 1t
washes the shores Of the land from the high
water to low-water mark, and It's bays and in
let's are as much a part and parcel OF the main
body as Is mans arms and fingers part OF
his body. You will notice that the second
mention of the phrase H,gh seas in
section o Is but repetition, thus: 'Attdcksd
on ne h,gh. seas The law docs, not
say on the high seas beyond Me neutral hne,
or beyond Me marine league, or beyond an I'm.
d0tndry line drawn four miles from the shor !;
put on The contrary Il says plainly, 'on the
high soas, aud without any qualifications
whatever, and the concluding paragraph, that
directly follows, viz, Although tho loss or
damage occurred "1cihin" four miles OF the
Shore clearly 'inciudeS (and not excludos) all
loss and damage that occurred anywhere on
tho high eeas aud 1ctMtB mot without) four
miles from tho shore as clearly as 1t is possi-
BILE for words 10 express IT. and this ia the true
and legal Interpretation put upon those words
OF the statute by all the legal advisers OF the
claimants who sustained loss and damage on
the high seas and whose claims for such loss
come under tho head OF the
First Class.
'It was this plain, legal Interpretation OF the
net that induced the partieswho have filed their
claims 10 60 searching over tho world for por.
sons and papers TO prove their losses. Many or
them were Obliged TO neglect or abandon their
other business FOR that purpose. 1t has takou
| year and a. half OF their time and the outlay
| OF large sums OF money TO mud the necessary
| witnesses, and on account Of the death OF 80
| many persons ana the destruction OF papers,
II has proven perplexing and difficult task,
and now, after having proven their claims In
| compliance with the law, YOU may judge of
| the surprise OF those first.class claimants at
| tho arbitrary act Of the Court In changing tho
| word OF the act including 10 that OF 'eTclud-
| n0,' and thereby rendering judgments
| against all claimants whose losses occurred
| 9ctthin four miles OF tho. shoro-in direct con-
| nict with the words OF the statute,
| and hence n palpable miscarriage OF Justice In
court from whence there is no appeal except
| TO Congress"