Mohave County miner., 1891-04-04
WASHINGTON CLAIM AGENTS.
The San Francisco Examiner Es-
tabiishesa a CImisa Agency
fa Washington

fn Washington
The San Francisco Examiner is fire.
quently in receipt Of complaints from It's
subscribers in all parts OF the Coast
States and Territories that legitimate
claims against the Government for In
dian depredations and land, postal and
pension claims intrusted to the care of
various attorneys and claim agents have
not been prosecuted, or, II 80, that the
charges OF this attorneys for fees and al
legged expenses have been so great as to
leave little or nothing for the claimants.
We have been frequently urged 10 make
war upon these rapacions attorneys, but
for muny reasons ii is almost impossible
10 do 30 in such manner as TO benefit
our subscribers. We might possibly sue.
ceed in driving dishones! or over
greedy attorney olt OF the field, but his
place would be Immediately taken by an
other, and the fight would be endless and
its results practically useless. We have
therefore decided, as the best means Of
curing the evil, to establish in Washing.
ton Bureau OF Claims, which will take
charge Of all such matters and push them
TO speedy, and in all cases where il is
possible, successful issue. Mr.. John
Wedderb1rn, our Washington correspon-
dent, and up to the time Of his death Sec
rotary ~ the late Senator Hearst, in
which position he has had much exper.
fence in presenting and pushing such
claims, will have charge Of this bureau
aud will employ all necessary legal and
clerical assistance oi the first grade, max.
ing only such charge for their services as
will cover the actual cost and pay him a
reasonable price for the time devoted to
the work. Mr. Wedderburn Is known TO
every member OF the Pacific Coast Con-
gressional delegation, TO whom inquiries
as to his standing and reliability can be
addressed. The necessity for the estab.
lishment Of such bureau is well shown
by the following petition, which has been
extensively circulated in northern Cali
iornia:
To the Hon. the Senate bf the United
States, in Congress Assembled - GEN
rLENEx: The undersigned petitioners
wolld most respectfully respectfully rep
resent that we are claimants against the
Government for losses sustained by In
dian depredltions committed in Hum
bolt county, California, at different times
since 1850; that we have employed 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 all papers in said
claims besides being at considerable ex-
Dense IN attending with witnesses the
government commission here that exam
ined our claims; that onr attorneys at
Washington (Messrs.----) are asking us
TO sign contract giving them one third
Of whatever may be recovered from the
government as their fec, besides requir-
ing rs to pay all accruins costs for pros
ecuting said claims. This we consider
an extrayagant an unreasonable charge.
Therefore we pray your honorable body
to so amend the bill now pending before
you for settling these claims that 1t will
embo1y clause allowing attorneys such
fees and commissions for attending TO
said claims as shall be deemel Just and
equitable, and your petitioners will even
be most thankful.
Parties having claims Of any kind
against the government, will address all
letters TO the The Examiner Bureau Of
Claims, 20, Corcoran Building, Washing.
ton, d. c., where Mr.. Wedderburn may
also be consulted in person.