The McCook tribune., 1891-04-10
WASHINGTON CLAIM AGENTS.
The San Francisco tsExa miners' Es.
tablishes q Claim Agency In
= WaShln0fnn.


The San Francisco Examiner is frequently
| In receipt of complaints from its subscribers
| in all parts OF the Goa t States and Terrific
ries that legitimate claims against the Gov
| ernment for Indian depredations and land,
postal and pension claims intrusted to the
care OF various attorneys and claim agents
nave not been properly prosecuted, or, IL so,
that the charges OF the agents or attorneys
for fees ami alleged expenses have been 70
great as TO leave little or nothing for the
claimants. We have been frequently urged
TO make war upon these rapacious attorneys,
but for many reasons 1t is almost impossible
to do SO in such manner us TO benefit our
subscribers. We might possibly succeed in
driving dishonest or over greedy attorney
out OF the field but his place would be I'M
mediatcly taken by another, and the fight
would be endless and its results practically
useless. We have therefore deciued, as the
best means of curing the evil, to esta blish in
Washington Bureau OF Claims, which will
take charge OF all such matters and push
them to speedy and, in all cases where 1t
is possible, successful issue Mr.. John We'd
der burn, our Washington correspondent,
and up to the time of his death Secretary to
the late Senator Hearst, in which position he
has had much experience in presenting and
pushing such claims, will have charge Of this
bureau and will employ all necessary legal
anu clerical assistance OF the first grade
making only such charge for their services
as will cover the actual cost and pay him
reasonable price for the time devoted to the
work. Mr.. Weddcrburn is known to every
member OF the Pacific Coast congressional
delegation, to whom inquiries as to his
standing and reliability can be addressed.
The necessity for the establishment of such
bureau is well shown by the following peti
tion, which has been extensively circulated
in northern California;:
To the Hon. the Senate of the United
Sf.%4 Ia,
MEN: The undersigned petitioners would
most respectfully represent that We are
claimants against the Government for losses
sustained by Indian depredatons committed
in humboldt county, California, at different
times since 1850: that we were induced to
employ an attorney here 10 properly prepare
said claims, and another at Washington by
power OF attorney to prosecute them there;
that we have paiu our attorney here for max
ing out al papers in said claims, sides be-
ing at considerable expense in attending
with witnesses the Government commission
here that examined our claims; that now our
attorneys at Washington (Messrs. y are
asking us 10 sign contract giving them one
third OF whatever may be recovered from
the Government as their fee, besides requir-
ing us to pay all ac:ruing costs for prose
cutting said claims. This we consider an ey-
travagant and unreasonable charge. There
fore we pray your honorable body to so
amend the Dill now pending before you for
settling these claims that it will embodv a
clause allowing attorneys such fees and
commissions for attending to said claims rs
shall be deemed just and equitable, and YOUR
petitioners will ever be most thankful.
Parties having claims of any kind against
the Government, will address all letters to
The Examiner Bureau of Claims, ~ Corco-
ran Building. Washington, d. C., where Mr..
.Wedderburn may also be consulted in person.
Two good listeners may be friends, but
two good talkers never