Omaha daily bee., 1892-01-10
A CiSE For PROMPT ACTION.

Procrastination is generally understood to
be the thief of time, but there are cases in
which it is still more emphatically the thief
OF money. The man who delays cashing q
check on a solvent bank loses merely the use
OF his funds for the time, but the one who
keeps a check on asbaky bank until it breaks
loses everything he might have drawn. That
is the situation that will confront sufferers
by Indian dcpredations who are too slow
In putting in their claims for re-
dress. 1t is not merely a CUES
ton OF delayed returns. but one Of total loss.
The governments solvent, but so far as
these claimants are concerned it might as
well be bankrupt. After the 3rd of March
1894 a man might,prove that Geronimo had
used a stableful OF 2:10 ~trotters for SOUP and
he would have no chance of collecting u cent.
Ihe act OF March 3, 1891, expressly requires
that all claims shall be filed within three
years from the date of its passage.
We have no hesitation III advising all per-
sons who have lost property by Indian
raids to takeoa advantage of this law
while they cap.3 This is not q case of en-
couraging greedy forays upon the treasury.
The law is based upon the principles of poetic
justice. 1t requires the Indians who have
wreaked damage to pay for it. The amount
OF every judgment is charged against the
tribe that committed the depreciation and
is deducted from the annuities, if any, to
the tribe is entitled. In default of
annuitles 1T is taken from any other funds
due to the tribe from the United States
arising from sales of lands or
otherwise. If there are no such
funds available. it comes out
of appropriations for the benett of the tribe.
Finally, in the absence of appropriations, it
Is paid out OF the treasury of the United
States, charged against the Indians and de-
Quoted from any sums to which they may be-
come entitled in the future.
The Court of Claims is now prepared to
deal with all cases under the new act. OF
course an attorney is necessary, and few
people at a distance from The Capitol knowso
much as the name of u Washington lawyer.
1t is a risky business for IL man to in
trust bis claim which may represent his all
to an attorney with whom he has no &C
quaintance whatever, apd may be reputable
or disreputable, u man OF ability or a fool.
Fortunately for the claimants it is no longer
necessary TO take these chances. A means
has been provided by which the man on the
frontier is placed on an equality with the
resident of Washington. The San francisco
Examiner, the st. Paul Pioneer Press and
The OMAHA BEE arc known throughout the
entire western country, and when they
establish a bureau for the protection
of claimants, the whole west knows
at once where to go. A critical knowledge of
The comparative merits of Washington at
torneys is no longer Indispensable, or even
useful. THE BEE Bureau of Claims DC.
cupies a posieion which is not held by the
best of them. With the reputation and pop
ularity of three great newspapers at stake IL
cannot afford 10 do things that oven reputable |
lawyers do not hesitate to do. II makes no
charge except for %servicee carried to compile |
tlon and then only a moderate ona 1t never
takes a claim that it does not consider Just,
and when it does take one IL puts 1t through
with celebrity.
We can easily understand how a person |
entitled to recover under the Indian Depre- |
dation Act might hesitate before putting his |
claim into the hands of an unknown attorney |
who might wreck his case. But there is no
longer that excuse for delay. March 3, 1894 |
seems a good way OFF, but it will be here be- |
fore some people know it. When it comes |
the lucSy claimants will be those whose in |
terests have been cared for by Tue BEE
BUREAU OF CLAIMS.