Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-26
WALKER BLAINE ADRIFT.
HIS ALABAMA CLAIMS BERTH
TAKEN AWAY.

The Office aud Several Others Equally
RemuneTative Never Authorized by
Law-Ths Lazy Commission Sure to
ASK Another ExtensiOn-Gen. Palmer
for Minister to Austria.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-First Comp
troller Durham has discovered and
checked the extravaganza of the Court
OF Alabama Claims. AS a consequence
Of this action Walker Blaine, the eldest
son of James G. Blaine, looses the 81, 900
salary of the position of assistant counsel
for the United States before this court
which he has been permitted to retain
under the present administration. The
present Court of Alabama Claims owes
its existence to an act passed in 1882 in
subsequent legislation continuing its ex-
istence until Jan. l, 1886.
THE BENEFICIARIEs.
The law Of 1882 organizing 1t provided
for three Judges at $6,0 900 per annum each
now ex-senator James Harlan OF Iowa,
Asa Wrench of Massachusetts, and An
drewW. Draper OF New York., one clerk
at $4,000 now DIV. Fessenden of Maine J,
one stenographer at $1,000 (nOw ii. Con
quest Clarke OF Louisiana, formerly
stenographer to William Pitt Kellogg,
and counsel for the United States at
$4,000 (nOw ex-Postmaster General j. A.
5. Cresswell of Maryland).
UNAUTHORIZED OFFICIALS.
In a recent examination of the accounts
OF this court the first Comptroller discOv-
cred that the court was carrying on its
pay rolls a number of officials not author
ized by law, including Assistant Counsel
Walker Blaine and others, designated as
experts, assistant experts, clerks, etc,
whose salaries aggregate $34,500 a
year. AS there WAS no warrant
Of the law for the employment
Of these officials First Comptroller Dur
ham had refused TO pass these accounts.
he will not pass anY accounts of the same
sort in the future. The Comptroller also
discovered that $l5, 900 had been paid dur
ing the six months ending April /, 1885,
upon the approval of the presiding Judge
OF the court, to other special counsel,
among whom were Hamilton Fish, Jr.,
George +. Frelinghuysen, and r. r. Hunt.
PAYMENTS CUT OFF.
AS there is no warrant of the law for
the employment Of such special council,
no further payments will be permitted by
the First Comptroller on such accounts.
The action of the First Comptroller has
the unqualified approval Of Secretary
Manning. The court Of Alabama
claims has been eXtraVagant of
the peoples time as well as
of the peoples m ney. 1t is extremely
probable that it will not have finished
the adjudication OF pending cases by
Jan. next, aud that for the reason 1t
will ask another extension of its existence
from Congress. II might have gotten
through with its business by Jan.1 next
if its members had worked harder and
taken less vacation this summer
THE LAST STRAW.
Andrew H. Allen, dsbursing agent of
the court, recently made a requisltion on
the Secretary of the Treasury for $1,000 to
meet the current expenses of the court.
In the usual course OF business the requi-
sitiOn came before the First Comptroller,
and he decided 10 make an investigation
Of the affairs of the court before authOriz-
ing the issue of the necessary warrants.
His conclusions are summarized in a
statement prepared by him for publica-
ton.
The Court of Commissioners Of Alabama
claims was created in 1874 to hear proof
OF the claims to be paid out of the $15,-
500,0 900 awarded by the Geneva commits
sion, and was continued by various acts
until Dec. 81.
The court was reorganized in 1882 with
the same officers and salaries as before,
except that the number of Judges was
reduced to three.
CLAIMS OF PALMERs FRIENDS.
Illinois Democra of prominence now
here claim that when new minister to
Austria is appointed. Gen. John NJ.
Palmer, of Illinois, will be the man Sc
lected.
GEORGIA INVENTIONS.
The following patents were issued to-
day: Walter and johnson, at Columbus,
Ga, tucker for sewing machines; b. b.
and A. c. Grant, Of Hamilton, Ga, gu
ano distributor.