New-York tribune., 1885-01-15
THE FRENCH SPOLlATION CLAIMS AGAIN.
PASSAGE OF THE BILL FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF
THEM BY THE HOUSE.
Ir1.n. pLI 10 IRIHINE.l

lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-For the third time
the House has passed bill providing Tor the ascertain
mcnt and adjudication and looking to the payment OF
the French SpOlaton claims, which were nrsl Drought
TO the attention Of Congress February D. lsO2 For
elghy.three years they have been the football of Con
rressiona committees although nearly fifty years ago,
i'm the administration John Quincy Adams, the evil
dence upon which they based was fully presented 10
Congress since that time the claims have never been
the subject OF adverse report by commit
tee of either House. and more than fifty reports
in favor OF the claimants have been submitted
In s6l the number of petitions and memorials to Con
gross I'm favor OF the claimants 3293 besides which
thirteen States had presented resolutions In their behalf
Among the eminent statesmen who prepared ana SUD
mited reports favor OF the claims were Edward Law
ingson John Holmes Edward Everett, Daniel Webster
Caleb Gushing, John NJ Clayton, Rufus Choate and
Charles Sumner Among the men who opposed them In
the House to-day were such eminent lawyers aud states
men as Burr W. Jones' of Wisconsin, S. s. Cox, OF New
York James II. Bount. of Georgia and W. >. Holman
OF Indiana In 1916 President Polk by his veto killed
Senator Caytons bill for the settlement OF the claims
and In 1855 like measure was vetoed by PRESIDENT
Pierce The report Senator sumner 1854 presented
an exhaustive review Of the subject and set forth
formidable array facts and arguments in favor OF the
payment OF the claims. II rec0minended an hpprOpfa-
tion OF $5,OOOOOO 10 DO dNlueu pro rata aioHs 'H'
The bil which passed the House to-day after long
may apply by petition to the Court OF Claims within two
Years from the passage OF the act All claims embraced
by the OF 1903 with the French Republic or
allowed and paid whole In part under the provisions
of the treaty of 1919 between the United states and
spain or above ed in whole in part by the treaty OF
July 1881 between the United States and France are
excluded from the benefits OF this act The Court OF
Claims Is to all necdful rules and regulations for
executing the provisions OF the act IL 10 exam
inc and determine the validity and amount OF
each claim together with its present ownership ana
y an assignee the date OF assignment and the consider
ation paid therefor Section requires the American Minis
ter nj Paris forward the Secretary OF state al ey
dence and relating TO the claims that can be
ATTAINED abroad. On the first Monday In December OF
each wear the courts to report to Congress for hna
action In cases, the finding OF the court being
morely advisory to the law and facts
Nothing I'm this act is 10 be construed as committing the
| United states to the payment OF any claims
The friends Of the bill had altogether the best or the
discsslon Mr. Cox OF New York, who had charge OF IT,
presented an historical review Of the case which was
nnplemented by interesting speeches by Messrs Rice
Ernadhead and others. "A five minutes speech which
| attracted much attention William Walter Phelps
summed up the cOnclusiyely in favor OF the
| claimants.
The amount OF the claims to be presented s variousy
estimated at $S.0O0,OOO TO $l3OOO,OOO without
any allowance account OF interest According TO the
Summer report OF 1854 il estimated that the agge
gate amount OF the claims after all deductions would be
$l2676,3SO.
There seems doubt that the bill passed to-day
will receive the approval Of the President.