Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-13
MANY UNPAID CLAIMS
Report of the House Committee Upon Two
Classes
Those for Stores and Supplies Fur
nished the Union Army md the
French SpoliatiOn Claims.

Considerable information regarding the
French spoliation claims and those for
stores and supplies furnished the Union
forces by southern men who were loyal to
the Union during the war is contained in
an elaborate report recently submitted to
the House by Representative Bum of
North Carolina, from the committee on
claims. Some time ago there was referred
to the committee a bill to provide mode
for the payment OF those claims, and the
report made advances many reasons why
IL should be enacted into law. In BRIEF the
bill provides that the claims for stores and
supplies and for French spoliations
shall be annually estimated for upon lists
furnished by the Court of Claims. and
placed upon the sundry civil appropriation
bill; that for the first year the appropria-
ton shall not exceed two and one-half
millions-i.e.. 100000 on the first named
class and 100000 on the second class-so
as to pay OF those which have accumulat-
ed in consequence of no appropriation har-
ing been made by the last Congress- and
that thereafter the appropriation shall not
exceed $4,000 to each. The sums appro-
priated are provided to be paid on the
claims in the order in which the same are
allowed by the court.
Claims for Stores and Supplies.
THE claims for stores and supplies.
says the report, ARE those for necessaries
furnished the Union force by southern men
who were during the late war loyal to
the Union, whose claims have been duly
presented to the southern claims commits
sion, and, not having been finally acted
upon by Congress, have been referred 10
the Court of Claims under the Bowman
act where they are required to establish
their active loyalty by proper proof as a
jrrisdictional fact, and then establish the
use OF their property by the army and its
value. 1t is now over twenty-nine years
since actual hostilities ceased, ana surely
their payment should not longer be post
poned. The amount of these claims has
been greatly exaggerated, and on that an
argument has been based for their repudil-
ton, regardless OF their merits'
In this connection a statement from the
Court OF Claims is presented. which shows
that on May last 2,039 cases claiming
80. 2Si.26l. had been tried, and the sum Of
s. 239.3l3 found due thereon; and that there
remained 7.loG more to be tried, Claiming
81. Az. sos.
As to the Clafmants.
Regarding the claimants on account of
stores and supplies, the report says: They
have been compelled by stringent laws to
so to great expense in furnishing their evil
dence. They have passed the ordeal of in
vestigation by the court never before i'm
posed upon citizens of the republic. Many
have died in poN erty, leaving helpless fam
Hes. Most of them are poor. and in need
OF the actual necessaries of life. To refuse
TO make the appropriation to pay these
claims reported would be a denial of Justice
and rank reputation of just debts, wherein
the amounts have been definitely ascertained
ard fixed by a court of the highest honor.
ability and integrity
The French SpOltation Claims.
OF the French spoliation claims Il saws:
These were recognized 10y the French
ministers throughout the negotiations as
valid. The sole and only defense set I'D
was the discount of our national liability
for failure to meet our obligations under
the treaty Of HIS They We're released to
pay the national obligation. After eighty
nve years of entreaty for payment Con-
eresS sent them to the Court of Claims
The court has declared that some few of
them cor stitute valid obligations. and now
to refuse longer TO pay such as the court
has thus found is a reflection on the honor
of a great country, for II is in principle
as well practical repudia ton"
AS to the amount involved, a letter Is
presented from the Court of Claims, which
shows that claims for S23,.sre. $40 (Which
is more than half of the highest estimate
placed by any one on the amount claimeD
have been finally disposed of. and awards
made thereon for S3S2. POI, whereof the
sum of 81 .3o4095 has been paid, leaving a
balance of s2,O1Sl36.