Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-04-17
WASHINGTON CLAIM AGENTS.
The san Francisco "Examiner, Es-
tabiishes Claim Agency In
MashiIlo TIM

The San Francisco Examiner is freoueptIv
IN receipt OF complaints from its subscribers
IN All parts OF the Goa I states and Terrific
ries that legitimate claims against the Gov
ern ment for Indian depredations and land
postal ana pension claims inirusted to the
cure OF various attorneys and claim agents
nave not been prol erly prosecuted, or, II so,
that the charges OF the agents or ATTORNEYS
Tor ices and alleged expenses have been so
great as TO leave little or othinV for the
claimants. We have been frequently urged
10 make war upon these rapacious attorneys.
put Tor many reasols ii is almost impossi BILE
10 DO so in such a manner rs to benefit our
subscribers. We. might possibly succeed in
uIFlng ulsnonest or over greedy attorney
out OF the field, but his place would be i'm
medlately taken by another and the fight
would De endless and its results practical ly
useless. We have therefore decided. as the
pest means OF curing the evil, to establish in
wa hlngton Bureau OF Claims, which will
lake charge of all such matters and push
them to speedy and, in all cases where it
is possible, successful issue Mr. John We'd
derburn, our Washington correspondent.
aud up TO the time of his death Secretary to
the late Senator Hearst, in which position he
mas nau inuch experience In presenting and
pushing such claims, will have charge OF this
bureau and will employ all neccs sary legal
ana clerical assistance of the first grade.
making only such charge for their services
AS VIII 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 congressional
deiegation, to whom inquiries as to his
standing and reliability can be address ed.
The necessity for the establishment OF such
a bureau is well shown by the following petf
ton, which has been extensively circulated
in northern California:
10 the Hon. the Senate OF the United
states, In Congress ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MEN: The undersigned petitioners would
most respectfully represent that we are
claimants against the Government for losses
sustained by Indian depredations committed
In Humboldt county, California, at different
times since 1850; that we were induced to
employ an attorney here to properly prepare
said claims, and another at Washington bv
power OF attorney 10 prosecute them there:
that we have paid our attorney here for max
ing out al papers In said claims, bes ides be-
ing at considerable expense in attending
with witnesses the Government commission
mere that examined our claims; that now our
attorneys at Washington (Messrs. y are
asking us to sign contract giving them one
third OF whatever may be recovered from
the Government as their fee, besides reauir-
ing us to pay all accruing costs for pros e.
cutting said claims. This we consider nm ex-
travagant and unreasonable charge There
lore we pray your honorable body to so
amend the bill now pending before you for
settling these claims that it will embody a |
clause allowing attorneys such fees and |
commissions for attending to said claims as !
shall be deemed just and equitable, andyonr
petitioners will ever be most thankful.
Parties having claims of any kind ag ainst |
the Government, will address all letters to |
he Examiner Bureau of Claims, 10 Corco- |
ran building, Washington, d. c., where Mr.. |
"edderburn may also be consulted In person. |