New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-03
ENORMOUS SOUTHERN VAR CLAIM

ENORMOUS SOUTHERN UAR Claims.
The need of proper tribunals before which
all claims against the Government can be all
Indicated was never greater than now. There
are this early in the session of Congress ! 200
hills before the House Committee on War
Claims, 800 before the Committee on Invalid
Pensions and 900 before the Committee on
Claims. Each one OF these 1000 bills is a de
mand for special legislation. The aggregate
of these demands amounts to hundreds OF mill
ions of dollars, enough to bankrupt the Treas
ury. This method of aiiording relief to claim
ants is not only inadequate but is unjust to the
Government. The importunate claimants, or
those whose bills are skilfully handled are the
first paid and are often the least deserving. OF
the 1000 bills before the Committee on
War Claims probably only a few have
any foundation in justice. They are mostly
claims for property captured and aban-
doned during the war or destroyed by Union
troops. 1t is a striking fact that these claims
seem to increase rs we get further away from
the war period The Government is now less
able to protect itself against such claims. The
witnesses to prove the disOyalty of n claimant
are not SD easily found. indeed, prominent
Democrats in the House are already maintain
ing that the question of 10y Atty ought no longer
to be considered in such II matter.
Mr. WOlford, Of Kentucky, who Is second on
the Committee on Pensions, said in the House
on Friday that every person, whether loyal or
disoyal, who furnished anything to the Army
during the war, or who had any property taken
from him, was entitled to pay. Mr.. Culberson,
OF Texas held that under Andrew JOhnson's
pardon the question of loyalty cannot be raised,
which is in accordance with IN opinion given
by Attorney General Garland. To a pending
bin Mr. CulbersOn moved an amendment which
provided that every person. whether loyal or
disoyal, including those whose claims have
been adversely determined by the Court of
Claims, shall have rights of action against the
Government for property captured ard aban-
doncd during the war; and such an eStraordi-
nary proposition found many supporters on the
Democratic side. but was defeated on point of
order
If ever the time comes when the Nation is
called upon to meet such claims it will be
sorry day for the people of the North, who pay
the great bulk of the taxes. But the multiplied
ton of these claims comes largely from the he
lief in the South that such payment should be
made At the close of the war twO years were
allowed for filing claims under the provisions
of the captured and abandoned property act.
Now so many years aftt the statute of lmita
tons took effect Congress is constantly passing
upon similar claims. They are reported favor
ably from committees controlled by men who
believe that the dislOyalty of claimants sh ould
be no barrier against them. One bill passed on
Friday appropriated 500 l ,OO0 embodying 900
claims. AS Mr.. Butterworth declared, all the
House knew about the merits of that bill was
furnished in the way of testimony taken by
strolling agents sent out by the War Depart