The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-04-23
WASHINGTON CLAIM AGENTS.
The San Francisco EXAMINER, Es-
tabIishes a Claim Agency in
Washington.

Washington.
The San Francisco Examiner is frequently
In receipt of complaints from its subscribers
in all parts of the Coast States and Terrific
ries that legitimate claims against the Gov
eminent for Indian depredations and land,
postal ana pension claims lntrusted to the
care OF various attorneys and claim agents
have not been properly prosecuted, or, If so,
that the charges of the agents or attorneys
Tor lees and alleged expenses have been so
great as to leave little or nothing for the
claimants. We have been frequently urged
to make war upon these rapacious attorneys,
but for many reasons it is almost impossible
to do so in such a manner as TO benefit our
subscribers. We might possibly succeed in
driving n dishonest or over. greedy attorney
out of the field, but his place would be i'm
mediately taken by another, 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
Washington a Bureau of Claims, which will
take charge of all such matters and push
them to a speedy and, in all cases where it
is possible, successful issue. Mr.. John We'd
der burn, our Washington spondent,
and up to the time Of his death Secretary to
the late 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 necessary legal
and clerical assistance of the first grade,
making only such charge for theii services
as will cover the actual cost and pay him
reasonable price for the time devoted to the
work. Mr.. Wedderburn is known TO every
member of the Pacific Coast congressional
delegation, to whom inquiries as to his
standing and reliability can be addressed.
The necessity for the establishment Of such
bureau is well shown by the following petit
tion, 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 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 by
! power Of attorney 10 prosecute them there;
that we have paid our attorney here for max
| ing out all papers in said claims, besides be-
ing at considerable expense in attending
with witnesses the Government commission
here 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 requir-
ing us to pay all accruing costs for pros e.
cutting said claims. This we consider an ex-
travagant and unreasonable charge. There
fore we pray your honorable body to SO
amend the bill now pending before you for
settling these claims that it Will embody q
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 most thankful.
Parties having claims Of any kind against
the Government, will address all letters &c
The Examiner Bureau of Claims, N Corco
ran Building. Washington, d. c., where Mr.
Wedderburn may also be consulted In person