Arizona silver belt., 1891-04-18
WASHINGTON cEAin AGENTS
The san Francisco "Exapiner' Establishes
 a Siatn Agency tn Washington.

The San Francisco Examiner is ire quently in receipt of complaints from its subscribers in all parts of tho Coast States and Territories that legitimate claims against the Government for In- dian depreciation and land, postal and pension claims intrusted to the care of various attorneys and claim agents have not been properly prosecuted, or, if 10, that the charges of the agents or attor- neys for fees and and alleged expenses have been so great as to leave little or nothing for the claimanis. We have been frequently urged to make war up on these rapacious attorneys, but for many reasons it is almost impossible to to do 30 in such manner as to benefit our subscribers. We might possibly succeed in driving dishonest or over greedy attorney out of the field. but his place would be immediately taken by another, and the fight would be endless and it's results practically useless. We have therefore decided, as the best means of curing the evil, to establish in Washington Bureau of Claims, which will take charge of all such matters and push them to Il speedy and, in all cases | where 1t is possible, successful issue. MT. John Weddcrhrrn, our Washing ton correspondent, and up to the time of his death Secretary to the 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 nec- essary legal and clerical assistance of the first grade, making only sneb charge for their services as will cover the actual cost and pay him reasona- i ble price for the time devoted to the work. Mir Wedderburn Is known to every member of the Pacific Coast con- gressionnl delegation, to whom inquiries as to his standing and reliability can be addressed. The necessity for the es- tablishInent of such bureau is well shown by the following petition, which has been extensively circulated in northern California:
 To the Hon. the Senate of the United States, in Congress Assembled Gen tlemen: The undersigned petitioners would most respectfully represent that We are claimants against the Govern mellt for losses sustained by Indian depredations committed in Humboldt county, California, at different times since 1850; that we were induced to employ nn 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 ont ! all papers in said claims, besides being at considerable expense in attending with witnesses the Government com mission here that examined our claims; ] that now our attorneys at Washington 1 tMessrs --) are asking us to sign q contract giving them one-third of what ever may be recovered from the Gov ernment as their fee, besides requiring us 10 pay all accruing costs for prose- cutting said claiins, This VIC consider aa extrayagant and unreasonable charge Therefore We pray your honorable body to so amend the bill now pending be- fore you for settling these claims that if aill embody q clause allowing attor- ueys such fees and commissions Eor at- | tending to snid claims as shall be deemed I 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 ClaiIns, 79 Coreoran Building, Wnsh- i ington, D. C., where Mir Wedderburn may also bc consulted in person.