The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-02-24
A Big Granite Claim
Before Congress that is of Interest to Bel.
fast People.

Before Congress that Is of Interest to Bel
fast People.
WASHINGTON, d. G., Feb. 15 Especial
to the kennebec JournaD T. House COM
mittee on claims reported, last week, on
the claim of Stout, Hall and Bangs, for
granite furnished from Maine with which
to build the walls of the cellar of the new
| congressional library in this city. This
| firm includes Col Isaac S. Bangs Of
Watervilie, Me. Cyrus j. Hail of Bel
fast; and W. II. B. Stout of New York.
The Senate bill appropriated 81, S02 81,
providing that this sum of money Shall be
paid SO that Mr. Stout and Col Bangs
shall receive 81, S02. 81 and M. Hall
| SIS, 600 There is a provision in the bill
also that a Mr.. j. NJ. Vale shall receive
| 50, 600 The House committee, however,
favor sending sending the claim again to
the secretary of the interior to be adjudi-
Gated by him. With the rigid policy of
economy instituted in the House and en-
forced ,rigidly against claims, wherever the
| Republican managers are able to have their
way, there is some doubt whether the bill
would pass at this session of Congress if it
| carried any appropriation. 1t should be
remembered that one large claim of
4
| recently and, when so many others have
been Shut off Speaker Reed may not be SO
kindly disposed towards another. The
House may vote to allow the secretary of
the interior to examine the claim. The
history of this claim is another instance
of what harsh creditor the government
can be. 1t was way back in April of 1888
that the gentlemen, mentioned above as
members OF the firm, contracted to furn-
lsh the dimension stone for the wall of
/ the cellar OF the congressional library for
the sum of S251, 16O. They entered at
once upon the work of filling their con
tract. They continued in the successful
ana satisfactory prosecution of that work,
without interruption or complaint, until
by an act of Congress, approved October
Z, 1888, their contract was annuled That
act OF Congress, which was rider to an
appropriation bill, provided that until
otherwise ordered by Congress no work
should be done in the construction of the
lib rary of Congress and all contracts for
work or materials not necessary for the
execution of the work were rescinded.
The bill provided, however, that any loss
or damage occasoned by these contracts
should be adju sted by the secretary of
theinterior and paid out of sums previous
by change of plan for the building and,
notwithstanding the liberal provision
made to indemnity contractors, Messrs,
Stout, Hall & Bangs were for time
almost completely disabled by the stroke
inflicted upon them in the recession of
their contract
They had incurred large debts in pre-
pairing to execute their contract and had
large force of men at work filling it.
For time creditors and employees requir-
ed their entire attention. Their claim
was hurried before Secretary of the In
terror Villas and finally report of $50,
34S. 35 was returned in their favor. They
filed objections to this finding on the
ground that certain items had been omit
ted, but this was about the time of the
| change of administration for the inaugu-
ration Of President Harrison. Not wish
ing to annoy their creditors further by
allowing delay, they referred the claim
to the court of claims, hoping for an ex
peditious decision AS matter of fact,
1t was four years, lacking one month, be-
fore a decision was returned, and that
court reduced the amount by SIS, 46S. 10.
This large discrepancy between the find
ing of the secretary of the interior and the
court of claims was occasioned by the
| restricted its consideration to claims for
loss or damage of a strictly legal nature,
SO distinguished from those of an equit-
able nature. This amount of S66, SS5. 25,
| awarded by the court of claims, was SUBJ
sequently paid, and the claimants were
| constrained by unavoidable circumstances
to abide by the judgment Of the court and
accept the payment. They had become
exhausted financially by accumulation of
interest on their debts and by expenses
incurred in the prosecution of their claim.
| They did not enter an appeal from the de-
cision of the court of claims, because of
their financial inability to do SO, and be-
cause, also, of the probability that the de-
csOn of the court Of claims declining to
consider claims for loss or damage of an
equitable nature would have been affirm
ed on appeal