Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-24
SECRETARY GRESHAMS TROUBLE.
1t Took the State Department a Long
Time to Pay u Bill.

1t Took the State Department a Long
Time to Pay "a Bill.
From the Chicago Record.
The Secretary of State is finding great
difficulty in organizing commission that
was authorized by Congress at the last
session for the adjudication Of claims Of
American citizens against the government
of Venezuela. There was a similar COM
mission sitting here for a similar purpose
about four years ago, and most of the
claims that are to be considered by the
present one grew out of the recent revolu-
ton in that country. The representative
of the United States is Noah L. Jeffrics, the
representative of Venezuela is Jose An
drade, and Mr.. G. De Wickherlin, the min
lister resident of the Netherlands at Wash
ington, was invited to act as the third men,
Der, but declined with thanks An invita-
ton has since been extended to Baron A.
Won Saurma-Jeltsch, the German ampas-
sador, but it is not probable that he will
accept either. Secretary Gresham will find
great difficulty in filling this position, be-
cause of his treatment of Mr.. Alfred G.
Claparede, the minister of Switzerland,
who served as arbitrator in the Chilean
commission, which sat in Washington last
winter.
The commission organized November ..
ard sat almost continuously hVe or SIX
hours a day until it adjourned April 3.
There were an unusually large number OF
cases to be consdered-in fact, so many
that the term of the commission expired
Def IRE 1T could hear the arguments and evil
dence on more than two-thirds OF them
Mr.. Claparede was exceedingly Industrious,
painstaking and impartial, and practically
devoted his entire time to the duties of the
commission for six months and to the sat
isfaction of both governments, but when
the government of Chile proposed to pre-
Canf hiroy wi a foe
Judge Gresham objected on the ground
that Mr.. Claparede was not serving In a
personal capacity but was representing his
government in the performance of duty
that 1t owed to friendly nations. Nor did
he think that it was proper for interested
lls tons to pay money to an arbitrator I'M
der any circur1s tances He said the Pres
ident of the United States had served as
arbitrator In the settlement of great
many international disputes. but he had
never accepted or expected any compensa-
ton. Just at that time President Cleve-
land had undertaken to settle a controversy
between Brazil and the Argentine Repub-
lie over their boundary line, which would
require a great deal of labor and study,
and in case of such Importance lawyer
would be entitled to very liberal fee. But
Mr.. Cleveland was doing friendly service
for two friendly governments, and he did
not expect and he would not accept any
compensation for his time and trouble. He
said too, that he did not think the Swiss
republic would want its ministers to receive
pay from foreign governments, and called
attention to the law which prohibits officials
of the United States receiving compensa-
ton of any kind or any article of value, or
even a decoration from any foreign nation
without the consent of Congress.
The Chilean minister endeavored to con-
vince Judge Gresham that it was always
customary In other countries to pay a fee
to arbitrators in such cases, and suggested
that the United States and Chile unite in
having Mr. (l3narpIe SotNO which was
the sum paid by the United States to Judge
Goode, its commissioner but was met with
refusal. Then Mr.. Claparede, by the ad-
vice and with the consent of his govern
ment, made a formal application to Sec
rotary Gresham for compensation for his
services, but his letter remained unanswer-
ed. During the time he was sitting in the
commission he was promoted from Wash
ington to Vienna, where he now has charge
of the Swiss legation. After his departure,
by order Of the Swiss government, the
charge d'afaires here renewed Mr.. Clapa-
rede'S claim for compensation in the name
of his government, and finally after long
discussion and correspondence the Secre-
tary OF State agreed to pay it, and during
the latter part of October check for
5000 was sent to Mr.. Bayard, the am
bassador of the United States in London,
with instructions to inform the United
States minister at Vienna to inform Mr.
Claparede that the money was deposited to
his credit in a London bank. There has
been no explanation of this awkward and
roundabout method of payment. The
$500, the share of Chile, was deposited
with the disbursing officer of the State De-
partment here long ago, and 1t would have
been simple and easy to have sent a draft
direct to Mr. Claparede, through the
United States minister at Vienna, but
Judge Gresham has queer ways of doing
things. 1t is not known whether Mr.. Clap
arede has yet received this Testimonial"
although the commission adjourned April
., and all its Judgments have been paid