The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-11

lone in the refusal of these claims il
began early in the present century ana
nav be charged against men then III
public life more conyersant than we can
be with the facts involved, and whose
honesty and sense of right ought 10 De
secure beyond suspicion.
house of representatives reported the
facts connected with these claims, but
apparcntly without recommendation, no
action being taken.
In 1903 a senate amendment declaring
that the claim should be paid was mega
lived by vote of the same body. In
| 1908 an advese report was made 10 the
senate. followed by the passage OF
resolution declaring that the relief asked
by the moralists and petitioners ought
not to be granted. In 1S22. and again
in 1924, adverse committee reports on
the subject were made to the house. CON
Guiding with similar resolutions. Inc
presumption against these claims, arising
from such unfavorable reports and from
the failure of congress to provide Tor
their payment at time so near the
events upon which they are based. can
not be destroyed by the interested cry OF
injustice and neglect of the rights OF our
citizens. Until 1916 these claims were
from time to time pressed upon the at
tention of congress with varying for
tunes, but never with favorable legis-
latvc action. In that year, however, a
bill was passed for their ascertalnment
and satisfaction. and S5OOO.OOO were APP
prOpriatcd for their payment. This bill
was vetoed by President Polk. who de-
clarcd that he could perceive no legal
or equitable ground upon which this
appropriation can rest.
This veto was sustained by the house
of representatives. Nine years after
wards in 1850. another bill was passed.
similar to the one last mentioned. and
approprating for the settlement of these
claims II like sum of money. This bill
was also vetoed. President Pierce con-
Guiding Il thorough discussion of its de-
merits with these words
"In view of what has been said, there
would seem to be no ground on which to
raise liability of the United States I'M
less it be that the assumption that the
United States are to he considered the
assurer and the guarantee of all claims
Of whatever nature which any individu-
nj citizen may have against a foreign ma
ton"
| think that of all bills proposed for the
payment of these claims the sum to be
appropriated for the purpose did not eX-
cecd S5.OOO.O00. 1t is now estimated
that those already passed upon, with those
still pending for examination in the court
of claims, may amount to SO, 100000.
This indicates either that the actual suf-
ferers or those nearer to them in the line
of blood than the present claimants, I'M
dcrcstimatcd their losses or that there has
been great development in the manner
of their presentation. Notwithstanding
persistent efforts to secure payment from
the government and the importantly of
those interested no appropriation has ever
been made for that purpose except little
more than Sl,300,GQ0, which was placed
in the general deficiency bill in the very
last hours of the session of congress OF
March 3. 1891 In the long list of bene
fciarics who are provided for in the bill
now before me ON account of these claims,
1J2 represent the owners of ships and
their cargocs, and 1856 those who lost as
insurers of such vessels or cargoes.
These insurers, by the terms of their
policies. undertook and agreed to bear
and took upon themselves all risk and
perils of the sea. fire, thieves, jcttisOn, let
tiers Of mark and countcrmark. surpris-
ais, arrests, restraints and detainments
of all kings, princes or people of what
ever nation, condition or quality whatso'
ever.
The premiums received ON these policies
were large, and the losses precisely as
contemplated by insurance. 1t is well
known that the business of insurance is
entered upon with the expectations that
payments received will pay all losses and
yield profit to the insurance in addition,
and yet. without any showing that the
business did not result in profit to these
insurance claimants, it is proposed that
the government shall indemnify them
against the precise risks they undertook,
Notwithstanding the fact that the money
appropriated is not to he paid except by
way of gratuty payments, as of grace and
not right"
The appropriations to indemnify inSur'
ancc losses rest upon weaker grounds. it
seems to me. than those of owners, but
in the light of all the facts and circum-
stances surrounding these spoilation
claims. as they are called, none of them,
in my opinion. should he paid by the gov
eminent.
Another item in this bill which seems
to be specially Objectionable is an appro-
pration in favor of Charles Choteau, sur
vivor. etc, of S174.445.75 in full satisfac-
ton of all claims arising out of the con-
struction of the ironclad steam battery
Elijah.
The contract for the construction of
this battery was made by the government
with Charles w. McCord, during the war,
and he was to be paid therefor the sum
of $3.50 600. He was paid this sum and
S210,991 for extras. and in 1856 gave his
receipt in full The assignee of McCord
in bankruptcy assigned to Choteau and
his associates in 1883 all claims of Me
Cord against the United States for the
precise extras for which he had receipted
in full two years before. Choteau brought
suit in the court of claims for such extras
and was defeated.
can not gather from the facts | have
been able to collect concerning this appro-
priation that it is justified on any ground
In 1891 my immediate predecessor We
toed Il bill allowing the matter to be eX-
amined again by the court of claims. II
the additional payment proposed iii tins
bill was made, the cost of the battery IN
question. it would be almost double the
contract price.
have determined to submit this incom-
plete presentation of my objections to TINS
bill in order that congress may act thereon
without embarrassment or the Interrupt
ton of plans for an early adjournment.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, June u, 1876,
Washington, u. c.. June 6.-(Special.)-
Post mortems are being held daily over
| those uufortunates who would not avail
themselves of sewerage privileges. Sewer
age is II certain health promoter.