National Republican., 1886-12-18
THE VENEZUELAN CLAIMS.
Some Old Cases That Are to he Retired
in Wnahinrton.

The claimants whose claims against the
Venezuelan government were rejected by
the Caracas commission in 1868 are greatly
concerned at Gen. Blanco's postponement
Of the ratification Of the convention for ro-
opening Lhe Caracas awards, and at the In
timation in the Presidents message that
further delay may be regarded as a RECESSION
OF the compact. The rejected claims,
which are to be tried over again, amounted
to more than $3,000,000 when they
were presented TO the Caracas commission,
and they now amount, with interest at 8
per cent. for eighteen years. which is
claimed under the convent,sn OF 1905, TO
moro than S6,000,0O0. One attorney In New
York, who has often been here since 1870
laboring for new convention, represents
over a million In amount OF those claims,
and has made no secret OF the fact that he
has contingent fee OF 80 per cent. This Is
rather Ominous, for II was quarrels between
attorneys and clients about their respective
shares of the awards that started the
scandals which have beclouded the Cara
cas- commission. One OF the largest OF
those rejected claims was for the alleged
discovery of a guano island. The amount
claimed In that the case was $l,0i5,000.
The claimant, who ia now abroad, has en-
ployed an able and well.known lawyer OF
this city TO see whether he cannot obtain
an award from the proposed new commits
sion, which is TO cit In Washington, and,
but for Gen. Blanco's tardiness, might now
have been well on with it's work. Another
OF the rejected claims, amounting with In
terett to $3.50, 900, is thought TO have an ex-
cellent chance OF success, for since IL was
rejected by the old commission claim OF
the same class has Ueen allowed against
Venezuela under one Of its conventions
with European government.
IL has probably been noticed In Veue.
zuela that prominent congressman-one
OF the most active In promoting the new
convention-has vouchsed, In an official
report on the subject, for the genuineness
and merits OF some Of the largest Of those
rejected claims, and 1t Is surmised that
Gen. Blanco, who reassumed control OF the
Venezuelan government last September,
begins to see what some OF the self styled
friends OF Venezuela who have been clam
oring in her name SO long for justice are
really driving at. Their claims, with inter-
est-from ali Of which Venezula was for
ever discharged by the Caracas commission
amount to more than three times the sum
total OF the Caracas awards, and may be
allowed In whole or part In the proposed re-
adjudication. Those claimants have been
preparing, ever since the convention was
signed by Mr.. Bayard and Senior Soteldo
last December, to lay siege to the new COM
mission.
1t is also remarkable that the holders OF
the Caracas awards, who have so persist
emily maintained their validity and finallty,
seem now to be as anxious for the new COM
mission as the disappointed claimants,
probably In expectationn that those awards,
many Of which have been recognizad by
Venezuela as Just, will be confirmed and
their payment enforced by our government.
Consistency requires Gen. Blanco TO rat.
ify the pending convention and send on his
commissioner without further delay, but
he may prefer TO add to his success in evad-
ing obligations rather than to be consistent
In fulfilling them. At all events, In view Of
its past history, the conduct Of the Vene-
zuelan government need not occasion sur
prise when the risks which new commits
sion involves are carefully considered.