The Portland daily press., 1898-02-25
SOUTHERN WAR CLAIMS.
They Are Pressed With Some Success
This Session,
South One of the Most Important to
Pass.

The Claim of the Methodist Book Agents
South One of the Most Important to
Pass.
Washington, February 24.-Tne South
ern war claims have been pressing to the
front at this session of Congress with
great persistence and some success. 1t is
a curious fact that Republican Con-
gress is always more favorable to such
claims than Democratic, although the
chief movers for their payment may be
said to he on the Democratic side. Hith'
erto the extreme Southern members, who
always control the Democratic party in
the House when it is in power, have set
their faces against these claims. This
has resulted in the encouragement of the
claims when their party is in power. But
in this Congress the Democratic side 81
generally pretty solid in favor of the pay
ment of the claims, MIR. Bailey, of Texas,
their leader, leading off with the rest OF
his party. They undoubtedly do this
with the idea that, as the Republicans
are responsible for the expenditures, it is
ID ~~~'sS
ter out of the way as much as possible.
Moreover the recent successes of the Re-
publicgus in the border States has
brought in on that side considerable
number of members from the regions
where the claims are most numerous.
There is also another element. The de-
felt which has existed in the Treasury
for so long now, has enforced upon Con-
gress most rigid ecnomoy, and therefore
the claius have had to stand back gener-
ally. Thus there are many Northern
members who have constituents pressing
them, and some of these have Joined the
movement to favor claims generally in
order to get their own acted on. The
claim of the Methodist Book Agents
(South) has been the most notable one so
lar to pass, and it has precipitated con-
siderable of parliamentary struggle.
Iris bill was to pay large sum to rec
on,pense to the Southern branch OF the
Merhadist church for the confiscation of
its property at Nashville during the war.
Not long after the war this claim was re-
iected by committee Of the House on
tie ground that the establishment was
nest of traitors, and that its plant was
used to publish reasonable matter. The
report was not partisan, SO prominent g
Democrat as William Il. Morrison having
been among its signers. Trusting to the
healing influence Of time, the South ern
Methodists waited, and this year brought
the whole strength Of their organization
to bear in favor of it. They also enlisted
most OF their Northern brethren, al
though one of the largest and most infiu-
eDtial organs of the denomination in the
North denounced the bill. Nothing could
stop q bill with such influence and urged
with SO much sentiment. 1t passed tri-
umphantly, and cheered on by this the
advocates of the war claims have been
messing on with vigor. The next move
is to get the government to pay for the
school and church buildings occupied by
Northern troops during the war. This is
urged also on the ground for sentiment,
for on no other ground could any one
propose that government should pay for
an enemy's property destroyed In the
course of a war. The only thing, appar-
eptIy, that will prevent large numbers Of
bills of this kind passing will be the
difficulty of getting at them.
The rules for many years have allowed
only one day week for private claims.
The evenings of this day have been al
lowed for private pension bills. lie mas
been habit of some of tho Democratic
members to obstruct these pension piiis,
forcing many of them to come over from
the evening to the day sessions. In this
way they got in the way of the southern
war claims. Finding that this was
providing out their claims the Democrats
have ceased their obstruction Oh pensions
in order that their claims may have
free field This new policy will force
direct issue on the question of the war
claims every Friday. Hitherto the older
and more careful members Of the House
have prevented the passage of many OF
the claim bills by availing themselves OF
the short sightednegs of their advocates /;
but for the rest Of the session it is prob
able that there will have to be more fire.
quent tests OF strength between the two
sides. Friday Of this week will probably
witness struggle between the friends of
the claims and the other side who will try
to 20 on with the Sundry Civil appropria-
ton bill on that day if they see any show
Of SUCCESS.