The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-10
WASHINGTON GOSSIP,
Tribune Bureau,


Washington. Jan. Q.
The court of claims has work enough
ahead of it to keep it busy for the next
fifty years at the rate cases are disposed
at present, to say nothing Of the new
business that Is daily accommodating. 1t
is said there are now more than %, 900
cases on the docket, 5000 Of which are
Indian depreciation and 1000 from Pennsyl-
vania known as the Border Raid claims
From the snail-like manner In which busi-
ness before the court OF claims Is con-
Quoted no one knows when this large num-
ber of claims will be adjudicated. Under
the rules of the court it is impossible to
hurry cases. All that is necessary to de-
lay Il case is for the attorney for the gov
ornment to tell the court that he is
not ready to proceed. That Is sufficient
cause for pigeon -holing the claim whether
just or unjust one. Many person has
spent a fortune and the better part of his
life trying to have his claim adjusted.
There was one case. of which have per-
sonal Knowledge, that required nearly
thirty years hard work on the part of
the claimant to get it through the court of
claims. 1t was that of Nathaniel c. Me-
Kay, whose father furnished vessels to the
government during the rebellion. To use
Mr.. Mckay's own language. II came to
Washington thirty years ago red-headed
boy to get my fathers claim allowed,
and am now an old gray-haired man,
broken in health and purse" Mr.. Mckay
two years ago succeeded In getting about
one-half of his claim allowed but he spent
fortune and thirty of the best years Of
his life in doing 1t. Uncle Sam is mighty
slow in paying his debts when he once gets
you into court.
Secretary Carlisle's popular loan scheme
threatens to be Il fizzle. While he is daily
receiving plenty of offers he fears that
when the time comes for issuing the bonds
the fellows who hold the gold, when
they thoroughly understand the provisions
of the plan. will not ante-up. The
majority OF the offers so far received at
who are not aware of the fact that they
will have to pay premium of 12 to Is per
cent; and instead Of getting $4,000 worth
Of bonds on the face for $4,000
get about sS,5OO. OF course they will be
worth all they pay for them, but their
face value will not show 1t. For that rea-
son Secretary Carlisle is a little dubious
about his popular loan being success
Kentucky Democrats now in Washington
are of the opinion that the present legis-
lature of the Blue Grass state will be un-
able to elect successor to Senator Joe
Blackburn. and that Governor Bradley
until the meeting OF the next Legislature
The wish Is. no doubt, father to the
thought. The Democrats, of course, ex-
pect the next legislature to be Democratic
be of that political complexion.
EX-Congressman Hines, of Luzerne, was
here yesterday on business before the
postofilce department. There are a few
Republican postmasters in his district
whose terms have either expired or will
expire shortly whom he wants succeeded
by Democrats.
Il \ \
Congressman Leisenring will shortly IN
troduce a bill in the house for d new pup
lie building at Wilkes-Barre. He hasn't
yet made up his mind as to Just how
much of an appropriation he will ask for.
He thinks $5OOOO0 would put up a building
in keeping with the ideas and tastes Of the
average Wilkes-Barrean. but he will be
mighty lucky II he gets one-tenth OF that
amount.
An immigration bill which will mean
something will likely be passed by the
present congress. Senator Chandler says