The Labor enquirer., 1886-01-30
cz.A1ns AaAIHsr rnn eovEnnnnnr
viAuals - Pay Debts, but VIII Net
Pay the Hatien's Oblfgatisns.

Congress Makes Lawn - Conpel IAdi-
viAuals - Pay Debts, bat VIII Net
Pay the Hatien's Oslisatisns.
For the Eng uirer.
Amy onehould suppose that govern
ment Of &. 100000 of people with SO
much wsalth and resources, making laws
for the people to paw their debts, would
pay its own debts if justly due. Some
people have staked not only their lives
bat property in behalfof the government
believing it to be the safest and most re-
sponsble. But in this city and all over
the Union scores can be found who now
know better and would be very careful
if they had it to do again:
The government did and does yet OBJ
tain the services and sometimes property
of some people. and ID, so far as the paw
ment of just claims is concerned. the
poorest paymaster in the land. In fact,
the payment Of claims against the gov
ernment does not depend 80 much upon
its Justness as upon the ability of the
claimant to have his claim put through
the various ramifcations Of the govern
ment. This ability consists either of in
fuence or of fees. So that it is safe for
any man creditine the United States gov
ernment, in having his claim adiudicated
either by congress or the departments,
to either calculate the influence or the
4pile" he,can expend in getting what is
due HIM.
Now. while the government makes
laws that one person can sue another in
court for the payment of debt, and
while the government itself does sue in
court either individuals or corporations
for the payment Of debts, vet when the
government owes you, it says, "I cannot
be sued in court for debts whether thev
be just or not, except by the consent of
congress. Strange, you can go into court
for almost anything, but to sue the gov
ernment for Two will saw just debt
you must first obtain the consent of con-
gress to do so. The objection to this is
almost self-evident. It takes as much
and much more time, monev or trouble
to get the consent, than it does to estab-
lish the claim, but it gives an lepportu
nitv for the tricks that are vain. and the
ways that are dark, A bill must first be
introduced, 1t is referred to a com mittee
which may report favorable, unfavorable
or not at all, upon it. If not reported,
it dies with the expiration of the ses
sion, and is then kept out from year to
year until the witnesses scatter. the
papers are lost, and the claimant has
gone to the place where it is to be hoped
just claims are adjudicated in different
manner. But if the bill be reported
favorably by the committee it may take
months before it is acted upon by the
house. 1t has got to 60 through the
same process in the senate, and being
finally passed on both sides and ap,
proved bY the president, have known
Door claimants to have to wait for their
money until they pawned all they had.
because no appropriations had been
made for Its payment, though the treas
ury was filled to overf owing.
will cite one case that came under
my personal observation and is fair
sample of what l speak. A man with
the name of James F. Hogan, carpen,
ter by trade, whose enthusiasm and
patriotism led him to enlist in a Massa-
chusetts volunteer regiment during the
late war and serve his country for four
wears, during which time he saw many
battles and carried awav some wounds,
without applying for any pension,
worked for the government IN this city
for many years at his trade. Z In March,
1882, while 80 employed he fell from the
roof of building and no one supposed
that he could live. Yet skilled medica,
attendance, paid for in part by charita
BILE people, saved his life. He fingered
for years and is forever incapable of fol
lowing his trade or any other manual
labor; during which time, being a poor
man and having family on hand, moi
only all he had, was consumed. but
whatever he could borrow and receive as
charity from those who knew HIM. Being
confined to his bed in such condition
no one doubted for moment but what
the great and good government, in
whose service he was thus injured
would. with an oyerfowing treasury al
Its command. pay the man at once the
damage he incurred.
! A bill was introduced at once for his
relief, but having neither Influence mol
money to push it, ,S2, 'S3. 'S4 and 'S5 ex
pired and the bill is still unpaid. 1t was
referred to a committee but was never
acted upon. He has the best indorse
ments from responsible parties as to hi
character. certificates establishing hi
claim against the government as clear al
sunshine, but yet this deserving mar
with noble and devoted family mus
suffer because congressman getting $2(
day cannot find time or will power tt
adjudicate this claim, which could bt
done by just looking over the papers
So outrageously wrong is this lodging
that few congressman and a few prom
inent people have promised to see to it
I Nov, if it be considered thatever sinct
| Iohn Sharnanls tima the nnparnman