The evening times., 1896-06-06
DEFICIENCY BILL VETOED
Continued from First Page.

Court delivered soon afeer that time.
I'VE had certainly abrogated treatie
with France. and our cruisers and armed
ships were roaming the seas capturing her
vessels and property.
so also wien il is asserted that the
validity of these claims was acknowledged
in tine treaty negotiations by the representa-
tivcs of France. their declarations to a con-
trary purport are exhibited.
And when it is alleged that the aban-
donment of these claims against France
was in consideration of great benefits to
the government, it is as confidently al
legged that they Were, in point or fact,
abandoned because their enforcement was
hopeless and that even If any benefit
really accrued TO US by insistence upon their
settlement in the course of diplomatic ne
gotiation such result gave no prete1t !or
taxing the government with liability TO
the claimants.
HIS CRITICISM.
without noticing other considerations
and contentious arising from the alleged
origin OF these claims, brief reference to
their treatment in he past and the develop
ment OF their presentation may be useful
and pertinent.
1T is. believe, some W hat the fashion in
interested quarters. to speak of the failure
by the government to pay these claims as
such neglect Us amounts to repudiatioD and
a denial of Justice to citizens who have
suffered. or course the original claimants
have for years been beyond the reach of
relief; but. as their descendants in each
generation become more numerous the
volume of advocacy, importantly and ac-
cusation corrcspondingly increases.
If injustice has been done in the refusal
OF these claims, it began early in the present
century, and may he charged against men
then in pubic life, more conversant than
we canbe with the facts involved. and who Sc
honesty and sense of right ought to be
secure from suspicion.
LAS early as 1902 committee of the
House OF Representatives reported the
facts connected with these claims, but
apparently without recommenda tion. No
action was taken Cd the report In 1903
resolution declaring that indemnity ought
TO be paid was negaIived by IL vote of the
same body. A favorable committee re-
port was made in 1907, but it seems that
no legislative action resulted. In 1918
an adverse report was made to the Sen
ate, followed by the passage OF Il resolu-
ton declaring that the relief asked for
by the memorialists ana petitioners ought
not to be granted. In 1922 and gain in
1924 adverse committee reports were made
To the House, concluding with similar res
oiutions.
CRY OF INJUSTICE.
1ne presumption against these claims
arising from such uniavOrabie reports and
resolutions and frCm the failure of Con-
| ereSs to provide for these payments at a
time so near the events upon which they
| are based. cannot lie destroyed by the in
terested cry of injustice and neglect of the
rights of our citizeus.
Until 1S46 these claims were from
| time to time pressed upon the attention
! or Congress with varying fortunes, but
nov wit fc,- II
| In that year, however, a bill was passed
| for their ascertainment and satisfaction.
ana So,oO0,oOO We're appropriated for
| their payment This bill was vetoed by
| President Polk, who declared that he
| could perceive no legal or equitab BILE ground
| unon which these appropriations can rest.
This veto was sustained by the House OF
| Representatives.
IT WAS VETOED.
mine years afterward, and in 1855, an
other bill was passed similar to the one
last mentioned, and appropriating for the
| settlement or these claims like sum of
money. This bill was also vetoed, Presi-
dent Pierce concluding a thorough dis
cussion OF its dement's with these words:
In view of what has been said there
| would seem TO be no ground on which tn
raise a liability of the United States unless
1t be the assumption that the United States
are 10 De CONSIDERED the nSureIS and tn G
| guarantor of all claims of whatever ma
| ture which any individual citizen may
have against foreign nation. This veto
was also sustained by the House of Repre-
| sentatives.
| Il think it will be found that i'm all bills
| proposed for the payment of these claims,
the sum to be appropriated fer that pur-
| pose did not exceed five millions of dol
| lars. 1t is now estimated that those al
ready passed upon with these still pending
| for examination i'm the Court of Claims
may amount to twenty-five millions of
| dollars. This indicates either that the
| actual sufferers or these nearer to them in
| time aud blood that the present claimants
underestimated their losses or that there
| has been great development in the man.
| uer of their pre- esentation.
Notwithstanding persistent efforts TO
| secure payment from the government anC
the importantly of those interested, no an
| preparation has ever been made for that
purpose, except a little more than ST 800,
| 600. which was placed in the general de
| ficiency bill in the very last hours of the
session of Congress on March 3, 1891.
THEIRowN RISK.
I'm the long list of beneficiaries who are
provided for in the bill now tefore me or
account of these claims, 152 represent the
owners of ships and their cargoes, and 1Se
| those vino lost as insurerso of such vessels Oh
cargoes.
'.These insurers. by the terms of thei
policies, undertook and agreed "to bea