The sun., 1894-01-04
Mr.. EGANON GILLIAN CLAIMS.
NOW THE RULES AND Mr.. eRESnAN's
CONDUCr THREA7EN a kTIScO.

An the Comuissisuers UrEss the Secretary
TO Get More TIas-Bat H4 Delayed Az
piyinR for n, and CIai~s Anouatisg to
MIiions May suHsr ~ Consequence.
A reporter Of THE Sun called yesterday upon
sx.Mlnister to Chill Patrick ERsn. who Is tenn
porarily staying In New York. to ask for some
explanation regarding the alleged flasco aris-
Ing from the refusal OF Chill to extend the
term OF six months fixed by treaty for the ex-
animation and decision OF all pending claims
before the United states and Chllian Claims
Commission now sitting In Washington.
Mr. Egan at first did not care to be inter-
viewed on the subject. but upon having hia at
tention called to the published statements
that the Harrison Administration is response
bic for leaving some OF the claimants In the
lurch aud that the last Administration Of the
state Department is being severely criticised
for the manner iu which II negotiated the
treaty. he consented to make the folio wing
statement for publication:
when negotiated this claims treaty with
Chilli under tho direction Of Mr. Secretary
Foster, In July. 1892. the total number Of
claims on file at the legation In Santiago was
about thirty. Of which estimated that not
more than twenty were likely to come bt,iore
the Arbitration Com In those tw enty
cases the proofs on the part Of the claim ants
were nearly all already on file. and was In
formed By the Chlian Government that The
proofs In sustainment VI their defence were all
ready for use.
Having those Q facts 10 mind, aud being uri;od
by the Chilian Minister Of Foreign Relatio as
Don lsdoro Erriauriz to accept as short time
as possible in order to save expense to both
Governments. consented to the term OF NIX
months for the examination and decision Of
the several claims. which term. under .he
han air nrnnarlV ntiiit,f.I
would have been amply sufficient
only about the estimated number Of the
claims OF which then had knowledge have
been actually fled before tho Com mission, but
a number OF other claims which were on fle
in the Department OF state In Washing ton
were brought forward. bringing the total n, M
Der Of United States claims placed before Ine
Commission up to thirty-nine. while th0se
fled on behal. OF Chilians against our doveEn-
ment number only three.
When the Com mission m ct en- Aug. Z last for
the adoption OF rules to govern its proceedi ugs
1t discussed the question o; the time fixed for
the decision Of the cases. and unanimou sly
agreed that, In view OF the estimated nun Der
Of cases that were to come before 1t. the per lod
OF six months would not be sufficient. and he
Shlan Minister In Washington, who is a lso
the Ghilian member OF the Arbitration Go N
Chilli. undertook to recommend to their &c W
ernment an extension OF the time fixed frosn
said there would be no difficulty in arrangin q.
Upon the strength OF those promises on ae
rules were adopted. the provisions OF whic i,
in the matter OF time. considering that the Il is
nesting Tor business we're. to say the ieai It.
somewhat remarkable For instance. the Coz O.
meeting for business, and the rules provid, Vi
that claims could be filed any time before De c;
Y; the responding Goyernment was allow, Il
allowed ninety days TO complete his proof >.
and after the completion OF the claimant o
proofs the responding Government was a l.
lowed ninety days to complete its testimony ia
defence In addition to those terms the 20
could occupy time for decis ions OF demurre IS
and allow time for re6uttalS. pleading :.
days SO that. assuming a case to be iiied n
Dec. 4. In accordance with the rules, and Il 10
sides It could not come up for decision befo 70
stood and as Il still stands will expire by lin V
do not know who may be held accountabl
for this tinsco. but | believe | am correct III
by the Harrison Administration as counsel and
law agent to represent the United States be-
fore the Commission, entered upon the min
utes OF the Commission proceedings his solem
protest against the adoption OF those rules.
Ihose time rules have been somewhat mo, J.
ifed-the thirty days given the respondin x
GovernmeDt TO file its answer being reduced %
fifteen days, and the ninety days given to ee' Ii
side to complete Its proofs being reduced ~
sevonty five days but this oes not In the lea st.
help the uniortunate claimant who only, file
his CLAIM on the last days. say from tho LIST Q
the Sth OF December and who may require o
take his full time to complete his proofs.
gust last, made a visit to pay my respects 0
Mr.. Secretary Gresham at the Department I
nifty to call his special attention 10 the fac
that the rules adopted by the Commission pro
evidence' %c.. Witch INV Would run away % beyon,
the life OF the treaty and that would make
'hs1 M ,hs 81 the Ss
Many u the claimants also. ! understand
sailed The attention st Of ths
se1uently. at the first business meeting o 7
the Commission, on Oct o; resolution wa
opinion OF the Commission the term
q six months named 10 . the tresty e
several cases was not sufficient. an,
recommending to the two Government
Twelve months This resolution was duly for
warded the same day to tie SECRETARY es.y Of stat
stsd fates .e by t6. a19 G5
and United States counsel. and by the hill
an and United States seers;aries 2t the Com
ceipt OF tho eOmmunication from the Commls-
been acknowl edged by the Secretary of state
and it was only In the month OF December
journ and when there was no time lett for ne
gotiatlon. that our Government, under re
ufNou from ut tno Claim
ants made a tArdy request for the neeessar.
and the promised extension OF time.
Two or three months ago Chilli was quit
ready tn agree to the extension; in tact sh,
felt honOrably committed to II. because II wa
In consideration OF the promise Of extension
that her representatives obtained the adop-
tion OF the time rules | have mentioned, hut
now, hnding the Government OF the nlted
States apparently apathetic In the matter she
refuses her consent and 1t seems as If an at
tempt Is about to be made from certain quar-
ters to saddle the responsibility upon the Har-
Tison Administration.
With a full knowledge OF all the facts. ] :
think the claimants before the Commission 3,
aud the American people will have no DIM
culty In placing upon the right shoulders the .
rssponsibillty toI any miscarriage OF Justice
that may occur"
Mr.. EgAp. upon being asked what he consid- =
cred could have been the reason for the course Il
which he had described on the part OF the Sec
rstATy OF State, replied that he iii not care to .
discuss the Secretary motives. but moment T,
later he said that the treaty being Harrison
one he supposed ths present Administration
considers that on general principles il ought 4
to lie killed on II possible. lie added that The 4
amount Of claims actually rilsd before the .
4 Commission the mart Of American citlTanA