Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-17
THE ORA CT Al M
Attorney Paige Protests Against the Settle
ment Without Interest.
Secretary Olney Declines to Talk on
the subject-Rough Estimate of
the Probable Distribution.

Mr.. Nathaniel Paige, one Of the attorneys
for Antonio Mora in the claim which has
just been settled, has protested to the State
Department aguinst the non-allowance OF
interest, but it is not believed at the de-
partment that the protest will amount to
much.
1t has been known all the time that Mr.
Paige advocated holding out for the full
million and a half, with interest, which
would have brought the claim up to about
s., 5000 but there were reasons which
induced Mr.. Olney to recommend the set
tlement Of the claim on the basis agreed
upon. He Is said to have taken the view
that If the Cuban insurrectionists should
succeed in getting possession of the island
Spain probably would repudiate the entire
debt.
A Formal PrOmise.
Secretary Olney has promised Mr.. Paige
that he would consider his protest, but
this promise is regarded as formal and OF
small Importance. The claimant himself
and all his attorneys, with the exception
of Mr.. Paige, agreed to the settlement be-
fore the draft was deposited at the State
Department. Mr.. Paige, when seen today
gress might reopen the question in view OF
the resolution Of last session instructing
for the collection OF both principal and IN
terest, but declined to say to what extent
he would press the point.
Mr.. Paige was cne of Mora's original at
torneys. He has been in the case for
twenty-five years. He says it is impossible
to state the amount covered by the assign
ments, all of which are on file in the State
Department, but he thinks that after all
the assignments are paid Mr.. Mora will
have about 100000 left Paige. also says
that unquestionably some of the assign
mentS made for services
ed. but he could not say what proportion
was included in this class. Mr.. Paige
claims to have spent $4,000 of his own
money In prosecuting the claim.
Secretary Olney Declines to Talk.
Secretary Olney declines to say any
thing about his plan OF action for the col
lection or the disbursement of the Mora
award. Although it is known as a fact,
he even refuses to admit that Moras attor-
ney. Paige. has protested against the ac-
ceptance of the award without interest.
It is understood that the draft secured
from the Spanish minister Saturday in sat
isfaction of this claim will be forwarded
to Ambassador Bayard for collection. 1t
is drawn on the Spanish hscal agent in
IL Is pretty well understood that Secretary
Olney will not turn over any of the award
to Mora or his counsel or to any person
holding liens upon it, until he has had
the legal questions involved in the matter
Probable Distribution.
Roughly stated, out Of the amount re-
ceived, S1,4DOOO, Mora, the claimant, will
receive about 100000. his principal attor-
neys, Paige & Rodriguez, about the same
amount between them, leaving about
$4,000 to be distributed among a host of
minor claimants. Secretary Olney hesitates
to pay any of the claimants until he has
established the rights of all. A record has
been kept at the State Department of ev-
cry reported assignment.
Other Claims to Come Forward.
The settlement Of the Mora claim will
undoubtedly bring to the front several
other claims against Spain held by citizens
of the United States. Chief among them is
that of the heirs of Don Antonio Escoto y
Fel rando. amounting to more than $1,000
COO.
The present holder of this claim, which
is sixty years old, Is Don Jose r. Escoto
Hernandez, a citizen of New Jersey. II
is said that he Is about to demand vigorous
action in pressing his claim by the United
States government.