Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1891-04-01
WASHINGTON CLAIM AGENTS.
The San Francisco Examiner"
Establishes a Claim Agency
In Washington.

he san francisco Examiner Is ire
qnently IN receipt of complaints from
Its snbrcribers 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 intruslsd to the care Of
various attorneys and claim agents
have not been properly prosecuted, or,
it so, that the charges Of the agents or
attorneys for fees and alleged expenses
have been so great rs to leave little or
nothing for the claimants. We have
been frequently urged to make war
upon these rapscious attorneys, bat for
many reasons ii is almost impossible
TO do so in such n manner as 10 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 its results practically use
less. We have therefore decided, as
the best means of curing the evil, 10
establish in Washington Bureau Of
Claims, which Will take charge of all
such matters and pusb them TO speedy
aad, in all cases where il is possible,
successful issue. Mr. John Wedder-
burn, our Washington correspondent,
and up to The time of his death Secre-
lary TO the lac Senator Hearst, in
which position he has had much expe-
rlence in presenting and pushing such
claims, will have charge of Ibis bureau
and will employ all necessary legal
and clerical assistance of the first
grade, making only such charge for
their services rs will cover the actual
cost aud pay him reasonable price for
the time devoted to the work. Mr.
Wedderburn is known to every mem
Der of the Pacific Coast congressional
delegation, to whom inquiries as to his
standing and reliability can be adj
dressed The necessity for the estab-
lishment 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 Gentle
men: The undersigned petitioners
would most respectfully represent that
we are claimants against the Govern
ment for losses sustained by Indian
depredaIions committed in Hum boldt
county, California, at different times
since 1850; that we were induced to
employ mr. 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 expense in attending
with witnesses the Government com.
mission here that examined our CLAIMS
that now our attorneys at Washington
tMessrs.-) are asking US to sign con
tract giving them one-third of whatever
may be recovered from the Govern.
ment as their fee, besides requiring us
10 pay all accIuing costs for proSecut-
ing SAID claims. This we consider an
extravagant and unreasonable charge.
Therefore we pray your honorable
body TO so amend the bill now pending
before you for settling 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 thankful,
Parties having claims of any kind
against the Government, will address
all letters 10 The Examiner Turesu OF
Claims, 10 Corcoran Building, Wash
ington, d. c., whore Mr., Wedderburn
may also be consulted in person.