The evening times., 1899-05-31
CLAIMS FOR BOUNTY
and PRIZE MONEY
Erroneous Reports Regarding
Their Adjudication.
Statement Issued From the Navy
Department.
Efforts to Speedily Determine Ques
tiOns of Law and Fact Involved
I'm the Matter.

A great deal Of misinformation concern
ing the method to be pursued by oficiais
and men Of the navy in securing the adju-
dication Of their claims for bounty and
prize money arising out Of the destruction
and capture of Spanish ships has been in
circulation. Much of It is said to be due
to attorneys who desire to make money
out of the cases.
One statement circulated was that the
Court of Claims would have to pass upon
each case separately instead Of making
each decision cover the claims Of all the
officers and men Of an American war ves-
sel This would involve considerable ex-
pense to each OF the claimants. many OF
whom will get very small amounts in any
event.
To correct misapprehension In the mat
ter the following letter, sent by
Charles H. Allen. the Acting Secretary OF
the Navy, to the Chief Clerk Of the Court
OF Claims, was given out by the Navy De-
partment:
This department Is today In receipt Of com
muncation from the Attorney General, contain
ing the following suggestions: "Referring TO my
opinion Of September 2, lsos. relating to the
reference by your department TO the Court OF
Claims OF questions Of prize and bounty arising
during the late with Spain, learn infor-
maliy that it may be considered necessary under
your reference. dated January 20, 1888. for the
court to adjudicate and enter judgment upon the
individual claims of all parties interested where
as, ] understand your intent to be to obtain the
findings and opinions of the court upon the gen
eral questions Of fact and principles OF law fol
your guidance and action. lnasmuch as il ap-
pears that the former course will involve greater
dala mn a
claimants, particularly TO seamen, who should re-
ccive what may be due them with as light tax
possible, it seems TO me proper voluntarily TO
bring the subject again to your attention. and
10 suggest that the proceeding will be facilitated
in accordance with what / understand to be
your purpose, il you will inform the court that
you desire an authoritative and final determine
tion Of the questions involved, rather than of the
rights Of all parties interested"
The purpose which this department had in view
in transmitting to the court the bounty claims
referred to is correctly stated by the Attorney
General in his letter, above quoted. In the De
partment's original communication TO the court,
dated January 20. 1899, forwarding certain of
these claims for bounty, reference was made to
the fact that such claims were regarded as merto-
rous in character: that they were not viewed
in any sense in a hostile attitude, and that the
Department sought in referring them to the
court merely to secure the prompt judicial ascer-
tainment Of the rights 10 all parties concerned
by such ealy procedure In the matter the
II
the purpose Of the Department TO make the refer
ence in such form to limit the court to
any particular method Of procedure. such for ex-
ample the individual doeketing OF the claims
of all officers and Of the vessels claiming
to share in the distribution Of bounty. on the
contrary il was intended and desired to place the
matter in such shape that the court would be
wholly free 10 exercise its discretion to the
best and most expeditions method Of determining
the questions of law and fact presented With
this view, attempt made to formulate
the number Of questions which is assumed
would arise, the difficulty Of anticipating all of
them being at the same time recognized.
II the court, upon its own motion, al The
suggestion OF the representative of the Depart
ment Of Justice in charge Of the matter in con.
ference with attorneys interested. shall decide
select small number Of representative cases.
sufficient to determine all questions OF law and
fact which should be judcially ascer;ained be.
fore the payment of bounty can be made such
method of procedure would be regarded as en-
trey satisfactory. This department. in con
junction with the Auditor. could then conclude
the matter. in 50 far all cases covered by the
several rulings Of the court concerned.
The purpose of this letter is to state that any
method agreeable TO the court by which the
speedy judicial determination Of the questions OF
law and fact efecting the payment Of bounty
claims be reached, will he satisfactory &c
this department.