The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-29
CEREMONY AT TRINITY
EARLY LEGISLATION ON CLAIMS
FOR DAMAGES.
PRESIDENT WILL ASK IT OF CONGRESS
These Claims, Amounting to 26, cOO,000
Lodged with The State Department by
our Own titz-ns in Porto
Rico and Cuba.

Asheville n. G., Dec 2S.-The conse
as Bishop of the missionary jurisdicA
tion of Asheville, occurred at Trinity
Church, this city, this morning. The
church, which was filled to its capacity,
was handsomely decorated with Christ
mas evergreens.
Holy communion was celebrated at
7:30 O'Clock and morning prayer a. 3
o'clock. Conservation services proper
began at IL o'clock with the entrance
of the officiating Bishop, jurisdictioual
and visiting clergymen. Rev. III. s. Me-
Duffy, pastor of St. Matthias Church,
Asheville, leading, bearing a gold cross.
The service was begun by Right Rev.
Joseph Biount Cheshire, sr., Bishop of
North Carolina. The sermon was
preached by Right Rev. Ellison Caaars.
ID. d., Bishop of South Carolina Bish-
op-elect Horner was presented 20 DIR.
Cheshire, the presiding Bishop. Dy Right
Rev. A. A. Watson, Bishop Of East
Carolina. and Right Rev. Robert A.
Gibson. Bishop Coadjutor, who conduct
ed the examination. All the Bishops pres
ent laid hands upon the Bishop-clect,
after which the presentation testimonials
We're read by Rev. Churchill Satteriee,
Of Morganton, n. c., and the order Ter
conservation from the presiding bishop Of
the Episcopal church in America, Bishop
Williams. of Connections. After Inc
delivery of the pastoral staff by the
presiding Bishop the services were
closed. when Holy Communion was adj
ministered to the clergy and meInhers
of the congregation. The following
Bishops and clergymen were preseni
Right Rev. Joseph Blount Ckcshne,
.Ir., Bishop of North Caroline: Right
Rev. A. A. Watson, Bishop of East
Carolina; Right Rev. Ellison Capers,
Bishop of South Carolina; Right Rev.
Robert A. Gibson, Bishop Coadjutor of
Virginia; Rev. A. Z. Porter, d. D., of
Charleston, s. c.; and number of
State and local clergymen.
CLAIMS OF OUR CITIZENS.
Washington. Dec. Immediately
upon the ratification of the peace
treaty by the Senate, the President will
recommend to Congress the enaction of
legislation looking to the settlement of
claims of American citizens for damages
sustained in Cuba, Porto Rico, and other
Spanish possessions which formed the
seat of war. These claims, to the
amount of S26,000,000 on this score
have already been lodged with the State
Department. 1t is true that an unknown
portion of these are claims based on dep
relations committed by Cuban insur.
gents for which it is questiona bic
whether the Spanish Government could
be held responsible. On the other hand.
it is believed that there are many
claims for large amounts that have not
yet been presented owing to the inability
of the claimants to secure the necessary
corroborative evidence during the
Spanish occupation of evacuated terrific
ries or because Of the belief that it
would be frilitless TO present any claim
maintained. Now, however, by an article
in the treaty of Paris, the United
States has assumed liability for all
claims preferred by its citizens on ac-
count of depredations, or in fact on any
proper score. In its turn the
Spanish Government assumed liabiIi-
~ for any claims that might
have been made on account of Spanish
citizens or the Spanish Government itself
against the United States. What such
claims would have amounted to cannot
be estimated. None were filed with the
United States Government prior to the
declaration Of war. But it is recalled
that there was much criticism on the
part of high Spanish officials of the al
legged failure of the United States Gov
ernment to observe the requirements of
the neutrality laws and more than one
statement to the effect that the Spanish
Government intended to present n claim
for round number of millions on that
score.