Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-17
The Alabama Claims Commission.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE BY THE COrRT-oyER srv-
ENTY-FIvB PER CENT OF CLAIMS UNADJUDICATEp-
WHEN CLAIMANTS WILL BE PAID, &C
The court OF commissioners of Alabama claims
was first organized in 1874. for the purpose OF dis
posing of the award Of 600 paid to this gov
ernment by Great Britain. as indemnity for the
ravages perpetrated by British built confederate
cruisers upon our commerce during the war of the
rebellion. Under this court as first constituted
by the act OF Congress- damages were only paid for
the devaStationS done by three vessels the Ala
bama, the Florida and the Shenandoah and their
tenders. The gross sum paid by this court 10 the
claimants was In the neghborhoOd OF 5000. .OOO
leaving surplus OF about s9.OOOOOO on hand which
having increased in various ways now amounts TO
nearly slSeoo,ooo. By an act dated June s, 1882
Congress revived the court and allowed claims to
be prosecuted by persons whose property was in
1ured by the acts OF any confederate cruiser upon
the high seas The claims were divided into two
classes VIZ: First class for claims directly resulting
from damages done on the high seas, including YES
sells and cargOeS attacked on the high seas by the
confederate cruisers, although the loss or damage
occurred within four miles OF the shore: second
class, for claims for the payment OF premiums for
war risks. whether paid to corporations, agents.
individuals. after the sailing OF any confederate
cruiser. The court reconstructed by the last act
Of Congress, first met and organized July a. 1882
and the calendar was called In February 1888. The
total number OF cases. both first and second class
before the court, 577o. OF this number AS first
class and $50 second class cases have been decided
leaving 4.545 cases undispoSed Of
BY the terms OF the act OF Congress this court ex-
pres July 18th next, but 1t Is impossible meanwhile
10 perform the vast amount OF work necessary to
pass upon these unad judicated claims. the merits
OF which have not yet been examined, and which
cannot be presented in the stipulated time. A bill
was reported on the 5th of last February to the
committee OF the whole house on the state OF the
Union, In which 1t is provided that the court be ex
tended until the 3Ist OF December. 1884. and the
President is given power to extend 1t beyond that
any time not exceeding one year. What action will
be taken by Congress In the matter, however is
merely conJectured There is money enough it is
stated, to pay all 1rstclasS claims in full-even II
all are allowed as preSented-and the surplus Will
pay large per centage OF the second class AS to
the time when the claimants will receive their
money, question which has frequently been asked
prOmnet officer OF the court says: ave can't telf
anything about 1t. II Congress extends the court
without making any different provision than now
exists payment will be postponed, In all probabili-
ty, for over year. St as there Is sufficient money
to pay all StclaSS claims ii Is possible that action
may be taken by Congress empowering the court to
pay firStclasS claims within sixty days after tudg
ment Is rendered Ii seems unreasonable to detain
the money from the claimants when 1t Is now GER
tain that the lrStclaSS claims will be paid in full
But We can give no definite assurance whatever as
to he time OF DaymenLn