Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-23
paid claims would come in from the real and
previous widows across the ocean.
A CLAIM FOR A WAGON.

CLAIM FOR A WAGON.
One Of the oldest claims was brought not
long ago by the sole survivor OF q massacre on
| the plains. Thirty years ago family OF emf
grants was travelling through Idaho on its way
to Oregon. when * was set upon by Indians
The father and mother, four sons and three
daughters were killed. but tho youngest mem
Der of the expedition. o male infant, was car
ried into captivity. Having grown TO man.
hood he demanded from Uncle Sam the value
OF tho wagon in which the eniigrant part: was
travelling when attacked by the savages. the
vehicle having been subsequently found by q
quar:ermaster In the army, who had applied il
TO his own uses. So the amount, SleO, was
paid by the treasury and charged against the
quartermaster.
To illustrate the difficulties which commonly
attend getting the most just claim through
Congress the case may be mentioned Of Col
3, who raised q regiment for tho Union
army IN pennsylvania He was made colonel
OF IL and was ordered to Washington. While
mere he was kidnapped and shut up for long
tlme In the old Capitol prison. The whole
affair is mystery which will probably mover
DC solved. At all events, tho unfortunate man
having disappeared, another officer was APP
pointed to his command and led the regiment
70 the Held. Investigation made years later
showed that Col. B expended 900 in
raising and equipping these troops. His petit
oon Tor reimbursement has never been granted
and he Is now pauper
there is an old lady in wost Washington
named hearney Her husband a Union
soiuter- During the rebellion the federal
troops encampod about her place and took all
hcr I'VE stock and other movable property
'aiuea at $4,000. She has been asking Con-
sress Tor repayment ever since, but she viii
never get It. though no dispute is made Of her
right to tho money
pr. Nary walker did good service AS a sur
8eon Ia the army during the late war. She was
pau ior Inc hrSt twelve months, but at tho end
~ that time the War Department discovered
'iAt' ~ MA no rieat to employ Il woman in such
o"p"city- Nevertheless. she kept Oh without
pay Ior tEree years longer, and for this she has
ss"ed the government to grant her 5000.
ner calm mas been fayorably reported in many
congresses. but has never been reached on the
calendar.
THE CELEBRATED MEADE CLAIM
Inc celebrated Meade claim is one of the
most remarkable known. More money has
been spent by the government in printing
documents relating 10 tho case than the entire
sum demanded which is $780, This
amount was lent to Spain by Mr.. Meade, father
OF the hero OF Gettysburg, to help buy Florida
When the United States purchased florida from
Spain tins country agreed part of the bar
gam to assume all deo.s outstanding on
i!oridas account. Of such debts that owed TO
Mr. Meade was the principal one. 1t has never
ben paid and never viii be paid, because, as
one Congressman frankly said. il WAS too much
cash % iana over in lump. No question has
ever Deea made as 10 tie Justice OF tie claim.
spain Is willing to Equidate il If Congress will
declare formally thGt the United States refuses
to pay, but Congress cannot deny the indebted
ness and viii not appropriate the money SO
the heirs remain defralded of their dues
immediately Alter every change OF admins
tration claims which were dIsallowsd BY the
outgoing power come pouring III By thousands
10 he once more coiislGercd and again rejected
Applicants evidently Imagine that what one
purity VIII not grant may perhaps be obtained
from the other. Their persistence i'll MANY
cases IL astonishing One citizen of Indiana.
who has not the shadow of right to back him
up, has written more than ,00O letters to the
treasury respecting his demand and has ex-
pended more money in postage than the gov
ernment Is alleged to owe him. lie has al
dressed his communications on the subject to
every pubic official i'll Washington from the
other foreign ministers.
Letters received by the Treasury in relation
TO claims are frequently abusive. One appli-
cant. being dened rehearing. informs the
second auditor that he can go 10 HI with his
red tape" and that he will get q private bill
through Congress. He closes by assuring him
that 1.-THE rascals Will soon 6e out. and he can
Just put ;liat bit OF information in his pipe aud
smokeH. One letter from u scldier's daughter
Deglns: There ls legend III our family that "a
Claim was nIed III your office by one OF my an
cestors. Communications to the second au Ii
'of come addressed sometimes to the second
oratorlo, While one Was received the other day
which bore the superscription, ''Sekun odor of
the treaser. Two million claims have been
entered at this ONCE alone since the war.