The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-07

This veto was sustained by the House
Of Representatives.
Nine years afterward, in 1855, another
bill was passed similar to the one laSS
mentioned and apprOpriating for the set
tlement of these claims ike sum q
money This bill was also vetoed, Fresl-
dent Pierce concluding a review OF It's
dement's with this: IF what has been
said be true, there would seem 70 pc no
ground on which to raise laDllty OF
the United States. unless 1t be the as
sumption that the United states are to be
considered tbs insurer and the gVarantor
of all claims of whatever nature which any
individual citizen may have against FOR
egn nation" This veto was also sustain
ed by the House Of Representatives.
think it will be found in all bills pre-
pared for the payment OF these claims
the sums to be appropriated for that pur-
pose did not exceed $5,GDOOO. IL IS now
estimated that those already passed upon Upon,
with those still pending for examination
in the court of claims, may amount 70
$25,OOO,000 This indicates either that the
actual sufferers or those nearer TO them
in time and blood than the present claim
ants underestimate their losses or that
there has been a great development IN
the manner of their presentation. NOT
withStanding persistent efforts 10 secure
pavnent from the government and the
importantly of those interested, no ap-
preparation has ever been made for that
purpose, except a little more than $l5.p,-
CO., which was placed in the general ue-
ficiency bill in the very last hour OF the
session of congress on March g. 1891. In
the long list of benehciaries who are pro-
two represent the owners of ships and
their cargoes and one hundred and eighty
six those who lost as insurers Of such
vessels or cargoes These insurers, by
the terms of their policy, undertook and
agreed to take upon themselves all the
risks and perils Of the seas, men-oi-
war, fire, enemies royers, thieves, -Jettl-
son, letters Of mart and counter mart,
surprisals, taEngs at sea, arrests, re-
strs ints and detainments OF all kinds,
princes or people of what nation, CONDITION
or quality whatsoever" The premiums
re riged on the policies were large and
the losses were precisely those WITHIN
the contemplation Of the insurers. 1t Is
well known that the business OF lnsuf-
rance is en- cred upon with the eXpecta-
ton that The premiums received VIII pay
all losses and yield a profit to the IN
surance in addition, and yet without
showing that the business did not result
in q profit to those insurance claimants
il 5 proposed that the government snail
indemnify them against the precise risks
tbey undertook, Notwithstanding the fact
that the money appropriated is not ia
be paid except by way OF gratulty-
payments as Of grace and not OF right.
The appropriations to indemnify against
insurance losses rest upon weaker
grounds ii seems to me, than those OF
owners; bu5. IN the light OF all the iacts
and circumstances surrounding these spo-
liation claims, as they are claimed mons
of them, in my opinion, should be pa-O
I by the government.
Another item in this bill which seems tc
me especially objectionable Is an appro
priation in favor Of Charles p. Chouteau
/ survivor, etc, of $174.445.75 in full salts
/ faction of claims arising from the con
4 struction of the iron clad battery Etlah.
The contract for the construction OIL
1 this battery was made by the govern
ment with Charles w. McCord during
! the war and he was to be paid therefor
/ the sum of 1886. 900. He was paid this
/ sum and $40 99l for extras, and IN May
! 1855. gave his receipt in full. The as
/ signee of McCord in bankruptcy assigned
! to Chouteau and his associates In 1853 al
/ claims of McCor1 against the UniteG
/ states for the precise extras for which
/ he had receipts in full two years before
/ Chouteau brought suit in the court O.
/ claims for such extras, and was defeated
! I cannot gather from the facts | have
/ been able TO gather concerning this ap
preparation that it is justified on AM
/ ground.
In 1891 my immediate predecessor vetoed
a bill allowing the matter to be examined
| again By the court of claims
/ If the additional payment proposed il
/ this bill was made, the cost Of the bat
{ terry in question would be almost doubi
/ that of the contract price
I have determined to submit this incom
plete presentation of my objection TO thi
bill in order that the congress may ac
| thereon without embarrassment or tn
interruption Of plans for an early ad
iournment Grover Cleveland
| Executive Mansion June 6, 1897