New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-12
ONE OF GRESHAMS BLUNDERS.
HOW HE PLAYED DIRECTLY INTO THE
HANDS OF THE GILLIAN GOVERNMENT
THE ARBITRATION CLAIMS COURT PRACTI-
CALLY FAILURE. RESULTING IN bo''
OF MILLIONS To AMERICAN CITIZENS.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrSE.l


+ Wsshinr,on April 1.-THE failure OF the Gillian
Claims Commission is generally recognized here
s due 70 the Indifference and neglect of Secretary
Gresham lie was informed when the Arbitration
Court was organized that 1t would be impqsSpie
to complete the business within the SIN hloh'hs
specified and on October he received formal
request from the three members Of the court ana
all the ATTORNEYS engaged for the extension OF the
term of arbitration from six months TO n year n
similar application was made TO the Chiliah "oN-
eminent which promptly slgnifed It's assent put
Secretary Gresham has never answered the pe'i'loh
He did not give It the slightest attention uh''
| January although in November ex-Judge Johh
Goode the arbitrator representing the United States
called at the department urge immediate ac-
tIon The Secretary thought he shifted desire on
the part Of the arbiirators and the other onicerS
Of the court extend their salaries for another SIX
months and he could conceive OF no other excuse
for their asking extension.
In January. however. when william H. trace
and other claimants saw that their cases were GO
ing 10 fail they appealed to the President VINO or
dered Secretary Gresham TO give the matter ms az.
tcnon; and the latter reluctan,y nytension Of
time. In the mean time chill hal learned thh. Tne
could save several millions OF dollars by aIneiIhg
TO the original terms OF the treaty ana decHhe'i
TO renew her original assent. II Mr.. Gresham hhl
acted as promptly as chill dld in October there
would have been no trouble but now the Commits
sion has terminated its labors by limitation 81 tie
treaty leaving eighteen OF the most important clS"s
undisposed Of which represent claims Tor hP P
Claims Which were submitted by evidence and argi
ment' but which the commission had no time 10
thrrpngh the neglect OF Secretary Gresham. lost all
chance OF recovering the damages they claim from
edditlonaI expense OF securing evidence TO sustain
their claims and paying attorneys to prepare ana
In the mean time the Government Of Chlll Ia
laughing in It's sleeve at the way In whicn secre
tary Gresham has been playing into its hands ana
r & hr" ~ The commission have been
he
been presented and TO occupy the time OF the ar
btration with them while the sir9ngest Sa rs as
prHsenird forty-two claims for arbitration. and
tyentv-four Of them were acted upon. aggrega ing
Sl5JslGS. and the total amount awarded uhaer
these claims only s2io66l ...-..
The newspapers Of chilli which arrive by every
mall Invariably contain insolent illusions 70 the
American Secretary OF state and the American
members Of The commission. Some Of the articles are
written in Washington. evidently by persons ascot
CATION and they all tell the same story that the
Government OF Chill has been protected AGAINST
hlunders OF Mr. Gresham The claimants who have
Of the secretary ~ state propose To bring me ma
ter - the attention ~ Congress. ana memorial
- de- ciaparfie' the swiss Minister who was some
time ago appointed by his Government As rs repre-
sentative I'm Vienna. and who viii leave Washing
ton FOR his now post as soon az ross.nr ina.e use
OF certain significant remarks ~ closing the hiHhn
His speech contained illusions 10 the Administra-
ton which taken In connection with other facts
n
complimentary the secretary ~ State. ana Il II
therefore Just well that VI. lie Clapar"i" IL on
tho point - leaving he might expect scant cou
tesy in the future although hts stay here for nearly
eight wears has heretofore been without ilsagr'cah"
incident In declaring sessions closed. he raid
I'VE have arrived at IN" point established hJ
Article VIII. ~ the convention Of Santiago. for
bringing the work % our commission % n close
without having succeeded In obtaining the extension
OF It's life which We felt r was necessary 20 Re-
quest on the day 81 our nrst meeting Tor business
We Mnd now speak for rnyscln regret to be
Obliged state that what We then anticipated AMI
expressed - the two contracting Governments hh-
been realized. ana eighteen claims. which were
n!el IN due season. ana upon = part Of which
have already pronounced Judgment on demurrer.
and others. VIII remain unsettled We regret II
greatly not only for the claimants, but FOR the
two contracting Governments whose Intention was
TO settle finally and amlcdhy all the claims exist
ing between the citizens Of either party anl th-
Government - the other.
We express here the hope that the Two contract
ing Governments VIII. hy a futir" unlrrstandins.
afford the ciaimante whose claims have not heeh
settled opportunity 90 obtain Judgment therroh
In harmony with ~" generous ana peaceful in'"h-
tons which animated the framing Of the conven-
ton ~