Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-03-28
WASHINGTON CLAIM AGENTS.
The Snn Francisco EXAMINER" Els
tablishes n Claim Agency In
WQshtHgiOn.

The San Francisco Examiner is frequently in
receipt OF complaints from its subs ibers In all
arts of the Coast States and Territories that
legitimate ,laims against the Government for
indian depredations and land, postal and pension
claims intrusted to the Of various attorneys
and claim agents have not been properly prose
cuted or If So that the charges OF the agents or
attorneys 'or ices and alleged expenses have
been great to leave little or nothing for the
claimants We have been frequently urged to
make war upon these rapaciOus attorneys. but
ior many reasons it IL almost Impossible to DO
so in such manner a, TO benefit our subscrib-
ers. We might possibly succeed in driving, a
dishonest or over-greedy attorney out OF the
field, but his place would b. immediately taken
by another and the fight would be endless and
is results practi ally useless We have there
fore decided, as the best means OF curing the
evil to establish in Washington Bureau OF
matters and push them to speedy and. in all
cases where It is possible. successful issue. Mr..
John Wedderburn, our Washington correspond
ent. and up to the time of his death Secretary to
the late Senator Hearst. in which position he
pushing such claims. will have charge Of this
and w M
such charge for their services as Will cover the
actual cost and pay him reasonable price for
the time devoted to the work. Mr. Wedder bur,
congressional delegation. to whom inquiries as
| to his standing and reliability can be addressed
i he necessity tOr the estdDilSnMent Oh sucH u
bureau Is well shown by the following petition
which has been extensively circulated in north
ern California:
To the Hon. the Senate Of the Cnited Statas, IN Con-
| gres Assembled The undersigned
| petitioners would most respectfully represent
| that we are claimants against the Government
| for losses sustained by Indian depredat1ons
| committed in Humboldt county, California, at
different times since 1859; that we were induced
| TO employ an attorney here to properly prepare
| said claims, and another at Washington by
power of attorney to prosecute them there, that
| we have paid our attorney here for making out
| sidereble expense in attending with witnesses
| the Government commission here that exam
ined our claims: that now our attorneys at
| Washington (Messrs y are asking us to sign a
| contract giving them one-third Of whatever may
| be recovered from the Government As their fee,
besides requiring us TO pay all accruing costs
| for prosecuting said claims This we consider
| al extravagant and unreasonable charge.
| Therefore we pray your honorable body to SO
| amend the bill now pending before you for set
| Ting these claims that it will embody clause
| allowing attorneys such fees and commissions
| for attending to said claims as 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 Elk
alniner Bureau OF Claims. 70 Corcoran Building
Washington, d. C where Mr.. Wedderburn may
also be consulted in person.