Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-21
CLAIMS.
Their Present and Prehistoric System OF
settlement Compared


settlement Compared
The Railway Agents Journal has the fol-
lowing which will be thoroughly appreci-
ated by railroad and business men:
Claims are supposed by many to have
originated with railroads; this conclusion,
however, is certainly an error, ard one
which we think could he easily substan-
tiated, We're it possible 10 secure the o. 5.
~ D. of the agent for the Flood navigation
company at the Mount Arrarat Agency. In
order TO draw the desired comparison and
parallel. which will soon be developed, let
US assume that this A S. & D.. did show
damage TO the elephants trunk, and that he
filed with Auditor Noah a claim for relief.
Upon the receipt of this claim the auditor
authorizes the following Endorsement: mir.
E.-Tou.S of even date. with claim amount
ing To 81 for damage to your trunk re-
ceived. and should YOU desire to commune
cate with me further in regard thereto.
kindly refer TO my number, So I2g." A few
months roll by, and hearing nothing of his
claim. Mr.. E. begins to feel a little anx-
ious, So he writes to the auditor as follows:
What has become of my claim-your num-
Der 80 l29! ! wish You will please hurry its
payment, for il is just and correct, and
should be settled al once In the due
course of the mails the claimant gets an an
swer TO this letter, saying: Your letter
lSltIl " ptiI IldiHi my mum btT l-S.
just received. Enclosed herewith please lind
all papers composing said claim. Beg to
advise that i'll order to give it proper con-
SlderatiOn, IL is necessary that l should
have the original bill of !ading and invoice,
or duly certified copies thereof. Upon the
return of all papers, with these attached. l
will gladly take up same and assure you
of au early settlement" Mr.. F. scans
this letter with much apprehension
and with feelings other than of satisfaction.
yet submits to what he supposes to be the
ultimatun. So. calling up his shipping
clerk they begin together the tedious task
of resurrecting this almost forgotten bill of
lading, which IS eventually found, after
many hours of hard and dusty work. and in
the company of many unE;terable qualify
ing adiectiveS. His invoice book holds fast
to the invoice, so he copies this and hurries
off 10 some notary's office and makes atfi-
oavit of 1t being 4 true copy, etc. He is
now happy, for this completes the request
contained in the auditors last letter The
claim, with all the necessary documents,
are returned with 4 letter of this tenor:
Herewith please find claim, with bill of
lading and copy of invoice attached. as per
request in yours, etc. Trusting that there
will be no further delay. and that will
sooE receive voucher to cover, / am, etc.
Days, weeks and months pass. until thew
begin to measure years, when the thought
that the Claim Is still unpaid comes to him
like some 'specter of the night, and with
fury he roars, as no Bull of Bashan',
could. In this frantic and almost mad con-
dition of mind he -ushes to the commercial
agent OF the line and accosts him in this
Will you please let me see YOU
a mlnuten' Yes, sir; l am at your SER
vice. What can do for you?'' '.Will you
please tell me, why in the name of all
that is good above or below is the reason
your company don't pay my claim. This
thing Is becoming nuisance. Now can't
you help us in. this matteri | don't like to
appear impottuIate or unreasonable, for
have always got along nicely with your
line. but will say this much, that unless
ret my money at once Though il is only So
shall never give YOUR company another |
pound of freight" The commercial agents
yves are now filed with tears of indiena-
ion and he says: Il am SO sorry that you
nave not reported this neglect of our auditor |
before. and l assure YOU that viii take
his up at once. and in few days you shall
have your money" he at once writes the |
auditor a most pathetic letter, advising the 1
immediate settlement of this claim, etc To i
his he receives the following: 81 have |
Yours referring TO claim of SIR F., and |
!ote what you say in regard TO the immense |
oss tdIt our line viii sustain in case pay
nent is refused. but beg 10 call YOUR atten-
ion 10 the &. OF L., which contains the ..re-
ease clause Therefore kindly notify Mr.. |
g that his claim is decIined.'' This |
et:les II and this is the pre-. cnt system.