New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-21
rpRNc0 SPOIT1TTON CLAIMS.


II Daniel Webster could come back In spirit
to his old place in the Senate, he would Dc
amazed to hear that Congress was still dis
cussipg the French Spoliation claims. Ihey
were old in his day, and they are still I'M
settled. They grew out of the difficulties be-
tween Franco and the United States lasting
from 1894 TO 1901. Nearly all the nations
of Europe had combined to crush the young
Republic of France Each side prohibited
neutral vessels carrying the trade Of the other
from entering each others ports. This was
without any justification in international law,
and it was admitted by France that the United
States had Just claim for the numerous YES
soils and carpoes seized and cOnfiscated by her
under this policy. But, in our treaty OF al
lance with Franco in 1873, we had agreed TO
give her privileges in our ports winch o'ner
nations did not enjoy, and to guarantee her
West India possessions to her. This latter
guarantee was beyond our feeble powers. Ne
quotations were begun in which these spoliatioh
claims were presented to France and as an
offset she demanded that we should renew our
guarantees of the Treaty of IT'S. All mention
Of both was finally stricken from the treaty
and the claimants, holding that this constituted
an admission by both Governments that the
one offset the other, asked our Government TO
pay the claims.
Since that day the claimants have been
begging in vain at the door OF Congress 1or
their money. Reports have been made In their
favor more than forty times, by such men as
Edward Everett, Edward Livingston, Danlel
Webster, Rufus Choate and Charles Sumner
No unfavorable report has been made by any
committee since the publication of the CORE
spondence in 1926. Three years ago Congress
passcd a bill submitting the entire subject to
the Court of Claims for investigation, expressly
stating. however, that the decision of the court
was to be advisory only, and not binding upon
Congress. The court has rendered its decision
in favor of the claimants, and the Deficiency
Approximation bill now pending contains a
clause appropriating money to pay such claims
as have already been adjudicated by that court
This has drawn from the opposition proposal
to send them to the Supreme Court for hnal
hearing.
Those who are convinced Of the justice oil
the claims contend against this as bitter In
Justice. It would mean years Of delay and
the jurisdiction Of the court, they insist, is
doubtful at best, inasmuch as the claim IS a
moral rather than legal one. 1t must be sald
that most OF the arguments used against the
nayment of these claims are the familiar ones
heard in every case where it is desired to evade
or delay the payment Of just debt III Is
urged that the amount will be very largo, some
putting it as high as thirty millions OF dollars.
Mr.. Webster put It at ten millions. and Mr..
Long. Of Massachusetts, who spoke forcibly In
favor Of pay ment the other day, thought the
true figure would be nearer seven minors
The claims carry no interest The real ques-
ton for Congress is, is It an honest debt? Inc
objection is also made that some of the men
pressing the claims are insurance agents. Yet
in the Geneva Award Congress recognized the
Justice of Just such claims. 1t is urged as
fact of great importance that in no Congress
except two has any bill ever been passed 10
paw these claims, ard then the bills were We
toed. No person who knows what injustice the
inertia of legislative bodies is capable OF, Will
he ouck to base his conclusions upon the in
action Of Congress. The vctoes, it is urged
have been completely disposed of by subse-
ouent discussion and by the decision OF the
Court of Claims
The whole of this singular history is an IL
lustration of the cruel indifference with which
claims against the United States are often
treated. Whether these were well or i'll found
ed the claimants have been subjected to mary
wears of needless suffering. The establish
ment Of the Court Of Claims was step in the
right direction, hut much remains to be done
to make it easy for men to get their dues from
the Government The burden Of business that
rests upon Congress grows greater every year
and the probability that claims will be dis
posed of within reasonable time becomes
steadily poorer instead of better