New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-05
PRIZE MONEY INJUSTICE.
THE HAWKS CLAIM THROWN orT-A "hAh
SYSTEM EXPOSED
lay rrtvGnAru TO TIE TRIBUNE

far TELEGRAPH TO TIE IRisuHE'l
Washington. Aug 4.--The Navy Department
occurred an opinion from the Attorney -Oeherai
to-day which exposes one Of the weaknesses W
the nrize-u money system. which has already CONF
- no looked upon hv every one outside OF inc
noval servce os q relic OF barharism. though
permitted 10 remain on the statute ooohs.
This incantiv. 70 naval effort hundred years
ago adopted by governments wnen n'N'e'
Temporary organizations. leads IN many '""''
IN tbese modern DAYS and has SHOWN " '-"
do,c,, IN docsIor ,ealouses among commanders
,.hicb arc altogether denoralizne During 'h'
rresant var nearly all the prizes h'"' ~
American Warshipz have been secpr'h 'i''DS'
wholly through the good luck OF the c'",STi
and gunbosts which have happened 10 Id" ~
,.,,h merchant steamers on the high seas ana
-ont them into port with prize crews "''"'"'
encountering any resistance NhNn' H""r''''
after tedious blockade duty naval Objects va
been rewarded by sighting vesseiS HFlhe '"
evada the Presidents proclamation ana nav
accomplished the purposes m the plo'N'"'
which however required In nearly every ~
stance the destruction Of their prlze-s'e'' "i7
e,tisf,ctton has resulted This IS particularly
shown in the cas-" NJ the auxiliarv >acnr h'"N'
which bod IN risk arnihilation b. the land bat
tories near Havana in order 10 preNen' me III
bahifants Of that hlockaded city from securing
q cargo Of food from Mexico. The sa'istacuoh
~ having we'll performed this duty Is all that
the officers and men Of the Hawk VIII SCOUT
while had the Alfonso XII been captured by
naval tucboat near Key West. without hring
shot. p verv Substantial reward would hav"
been forthcoming
ATTORNEY -GF,FRAL GRIGGS's pETIsioN'
ThA Attorney Generals decision is as follows
Department st,. Jn5'iG'i; s,,
The Hon The Secretary Of the raw. 49, ~ooa,.
Sir r have the honor TO acknowlsdse the reer aP}r
% ou afate FOR m1 si al pqrtGglags
assisted by the United States ship Csstne on ne
night Of Tuy and the morning OF SriI uova ana;
You state that the officers and men Of the ha%E
have presented claim for prize rm3heG o Sesira
AZ expression Of my views "a 10 the egah'v OF SUI"
che The statutes of the United states title LIy,
under the head OF prize. refer. with some 1e" tx
eeons to hs saDUs sno Tesse
nrizes bv authority Of the United States from
he r.Ci~ ,s 19ar serusy capred BY
United states warshlps. Tho boa; which tue corr
ma mon T a. s approach and had to retire The
Spanish vessel %as assist IN anSre Mater OF
fact was tine within the possession or
control Of The nsd States 1 o f2T s Morning r Of july
: last She was destroyed for the purpose Of pre-,
venting her cargo from falling into the hands or
the enemy. ....-- ..a.x -,,..b
tho claim is made In my Judgment, refers only 70
property actually captured, and not 70 properly
which has bee,i destroyed without ever having neen
actually seized or In The possession of the United
States forces.
THE CLAIM NOT SUSTAINED.
am. therefore OF the opinion that the claim OF
the officers and men Of the Hawk cannot be sus-
tained under the provisions OF Section i62o am
further advised by your letter that newspaper re-
ports and other information OF general character
Indicate that the Alfonso XII at the time OF her
destruction was in an auxiliary vessel OF
the Spanish Navy. although her precise status Is
not at present known to your Department. lf II be
true that The vessel the time OF her destruction
was shi or vessel OF belonging to spain OF
in her service then 1t is possible that under me
provisions of Section 4,G35 Of the Revised Statutes
The officers and crew OF the Hawk may be en-
titled to the bounty provided for by that section
Whether the officers and crew OF the Castlne would
he entitled TO such-bounty is also question which
I suggest to you. although express no opinion
thereon. Very respectfully.
JOHN W. GRlGGS, Attorney General