The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-22
WAR CLAIMS.
A BETTER PROSPECT FOR THEIR
SETTLEMENT.

A BETTER PROSPECT FOR THEIR
SETTLEMENT.
Virginia Legislation in Congress-A Num-
ber OF Ellis Of Local Interest Reported
Fs,orably-Another Negro Postmaster
for Georgia-Proceeding- of Congress.
WASHINGTON. ID. c., Feb. special
There is apparently a better prospect for
the settlement OF war claims By this Con-
gress than at any time in the past. Under
the new rules. as THE TINES has explained.
the rigid supervision hitherto maintained
over legislation is relaxed. and the Repuh-
Leans, or many Of them. openly ayOw tlem-
selves In favor Of distributing the treasury
surplus among the people in the shape OF
pensions. by the speedy payment 0f claims
against the government aud by the erection
OF public buildings. The House Committee
on War Claims has acted fayOrably upon
many OF the old claims that have been
coming before Congress for years. Among
those that have been endorsed coming from
Virginia are the following.
Directing the War Department 20 inquire
into and report upon the claim of ligh.man
Weaver. of fauquier county, for wood
taken by the United states army from his
property.
The new policy of the War Claims Conn
mittee cannot De better illustrated than hy
this little case. lt was disalOWed several
years ago, but this committee holds that lhc
claim was rejected upon insufficient eyi-
dence and again referred 90 the war depart
ment for Investigation. The committee also
reports fay0rably the bin % pay the NQl0il,
County Ferry Committee. This is an old
claim. and has been examined and approx
by the court of claims. I'm 1862 the
property OF the ferry. consisting Q
three steam icrrN-hOdts. WharYcs. buildings.
and other property incident and appurte-
nant 20 the ferry, was seized hN the United
States Government for the transportation of
troops. supplies. etc. II WH- held continue
Ously by the government from May 18th.
1862. tO April Zlst, 1866. with the exception
Of eight days. for which short period ir wa.
surrendered 10 the owners. The govern
meut not only used thc ferry for its own
purposes. bat charged and collected tolls
and ferriages from all persons not IN g0f-
crnmeni service. The amount thus collect
ed and paid over t0 the Quarierma,ier' De-
partment was 1890.
The Ferry Committee estimate that ihe
actual receipts off the icrri while held DIS
the government aggregated sNl.0l0. They
ask that and slU.WU damages on which Che
committee reports lN0rabii
The report in favor OF the heirs of MarA
DAVIS, Of PETERSBURG. mentioned boz tesler-
days dispatches. finds that they are enc
titled % Sgl.S2S..3 iOr the Use and Occupa-
ti0n of property ln Petersburg by the
United States authorities. Davis WAS an
Engiishman located in Petersburg when
tWenty-three years of age, and became "a
nafuralIIed citizen.
A favorable report is submitted 0n the
claim of M3linda Grimes for services as
nurse 40 tle Yorktown hospital during tne
war. The amount is S34.
In the senate the bin introduced by Mr.
Barbour. tO appropriate all.NN1. tO c0netruo
q macadamiled road, from -tauni0n o. Toe
National cemetery. has been inY0raDiy re-
ported from the Military Committee.
A RELIC or cARpEr-BAGGIsM.
There is an earnest fight being made by
the Republicans and Democrats from Ar-
kansas against the confirmation of W.
n. III. Clayton. brother OF Powell
CLAYTON for nited States district att0r-
ney of. the western Fort >mlihl district of
that state. Charges OF % very grave nature
have been filed with the senate Judiciary
COMMITTEES against Clayton. 10 is alleged
'Hat when oklahoma was opened tla' ton
procured am appointment as United States
Deputy Marshal. that taking advantage oi
theauthOrty thus conferred he went into
lhe neH territory boz advance oi settlers
seeking bona iide homes. and that hc acted
rs the paid agent Cf llnd-eraluer-
and corporations in -cZIn- upon lands that
were intended for bona ide settlers. The
United States officials were permitted io en-
ter the territory 10 advance oi settlers on
the ground that they must make arrange
10 ..fINI IIIT
charges by persons who claim tO have sui-
fered through ClaytOns unfair and unlaN-
fu exercise of the power conferred upon
him as deputy marshal.
Powell Clayton, WhOWa carpei-Oae No'-
ernOr of Arkansas, is here endeaforln- io
bulldOle Republican Senators into cOnirm-
Ing his brother lie haas threatened 90
smash the Republican party ia Arkansas 90
finders unless his brother Is 40 once
contin4ed/ lie was. informed that
the /chSfges had been referred 90 "a
subcommittee consisting of senators In
galls and Coke for investigation. and that
no action could be- taken until after they
shall have reported. Powell Clayton is
irving the same tactics with the senate that
he recently employed successfully upon
Republican members Of the House
committee ON Elections. As the Re
publican loss Of Arhanas he de-
manded that Feaiherston (kepunllcaW
shonld be- seated ln place OF Cato demo
craft from the First Congressional district.
Featherst0n and his attorneys, in oriel-
mating the contest and laying lt- iOunda-
ton. did not claim that featncr-l0n was
elected. Their allegation was that neither
candidate was elected; that in short the
whole election was rendered null and void
by fraud and violence.
Subsequently and after featherst0n's brief
had been filed. Powell Clayton underlo9A
10 cOerce the Republican majority oi tne
Elections Committee into awarding the de-
feated candidate the seat; and De succeeded
as the Rppublicans in committee have voted
solidly 10 Dust Cate and seat featnersion.
This is another evidence OF the manner ln
which contested election cases are decided
by the present House Ol Representatives.
Partisan considerations and influences OUT
weigh all sense Ot justice and all rules OF
law. Under these conditions 10 may Doe ace
cepted that very few of the Democrats
whose seats are contested VIII Oe pefmi iied
10 serve out the first session 0l tails Con-
gress.
ANOTHER NEGRO POsIMAsrEh.
Another negro was to-day nominated Tor
postmaster in Georgia. Among tle nnmi-
nations was that of Madison Daii, iOf post
master 40 Athens. the home of Representa-
tive Carlton. This action Ol the Admins
trati0n would seem t0 imply ihni there Was
"a lack of sincerity in ihe representations
made 20 Representative crisp by
the P0stma-ter-Gcneral in regard io the
appointment of Dullel. an isnnrin'
and depraycd negro as postmaster 20
Americas. Amer nomination WAS made SIR.
Crisp was informed lAIt the administration
had acted upon an erroneous understand
ing OF DudlCy's character. Now. in
the face OF the preieuse OF fairness
another Objectionable negro is fastened upon
"a Georgia community in position that
brings him. necessarily. into close relations
with the people There cam be 300 lletcnse
that there was q lack oi information ln lhis
0..a Tor Mr. Carlton having been nll Used