The evening times., 1899-02-16
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

I'VE vs. AlND uOCAJiTs
Cuban Claims at the State Depart
ment.-Under the terms of the Treaty OF
I'eace between the United States and
Spain each country assumes the liability
for damages sustained by its respective
citizens. Before the Peace Commission
ers started for Paris it is estimated that
claims for damages against Spain to the
amount of several millions of dollars had
been filed at the State Department by al
! legged citizens of the United States owning
property in Cuba. 1t is understood that
the number of claims of this character
have been accumulating very rapidly ever
| since and that the grand total up to date
| is almost startling. 1T Is believed that it
will come to more than the $4,000, 900 in
demnity which Spain is to receive under
the Treaty. The enterprising gentlemen
who make it their business to produce
claims upon the slightest provocation be-
lieye that they can reap rich harvest out
OF the present situation. If they are per-
mitted to have their way there will be no
danger of a surplus accumulating in the
Treasury for a good many years to come.
However, il is much easier to make out
claim against the Government than to
get ii paid, as any one who has ever had
any experience in that line can testify.
Il think" said State Department
official today, that commission
should be appointed to pass upon the
claims growing out of the Ameri-
can-Spanish war. There must be some
honest and just claims in the lot, but if
the claimants are compelled TO go through
the usual procedure in such matters-that
is, go TO Congress to get permission to ap
pear before the Court of Claims and then
go back to Congress for an appropriation
II they obtain favorable decision--it will
be years probably before any of the cases
are settled. The Court of Claims is over
worked at il is and should not have the
additional burden of these war claims put
upon it.
Naturally there are more claims from
Cuba than from Porto Rico, the Philippines
or any of the islands taken from Spain.
For good many years 1t was favorite
device of a large number of Cubans to run
over to this country and take out naturali
zation papers and then hustle back to Gu
ba to fight Spain. 1t gave them a certain
amount of protection, they believed, in the
event of their capture. | do not believe
that the citizens of this type have any
valid-claim for damages against the United
States"
Senator PrOctcr's Position.-The
consensus of opinion at the Capitol is that
should the army reorganization measure
fail the President will very promptly call
the Fifty sixth Congress together in eX-
ira session. He would probably take that
action on the 4th or 9Th of March. AT least
three out of FIVE Senators and Represen-
tatiyes appear TO think that much pressing
legislation will not be disposed Of From
the best information obtainable the Presi-
dent and his closest friends are not in
any humor TO accept compromise measure
relating TO the standing army. They are
said to want the Hull bill or something
very much like 1t, and that is what they
are insisting upon steadily.
The absence of Senator Proctor at this
time causes general comment. and the
greatest surprise is heard that there should
be any doubt as TO his support of the bill
so ardently advocated by the President.
Statements are going the rounds to the
effect that every effort is being made to
have the Vermonter return TO his post of
duty and join the Republicans on the Mill
tary Affairs Committee in reporting the
bill that Will suit the Administration. Mr..
Proctor, however, Is understood to be op-
posed to the Hull bill, though he is said
te- favor any reasonable compromise. The
| Democrats are putting up stiff fight
against the general plan, and they almost
solidly insist that nothing can be passed
this session that does not satisfy them
There is yet a possibility they may weak
en-, as quite number are no more anxious
TO have an extra session than the average
Republican. II compromise is reached
| finally II will be on the lines of the sue-
gestions of Senator Cockrell who wants
to have Fflipinos, Cubans, and Porto Ri
cans take the places of the American SOL
ha yorin, rl,
Senator Proctor has been in Cuba for
several weeks. He is expected back in
few days. The friends of the Administra
ton are confident that he will not lend
himself TO any scheme to defeat the pas
| sage OF an army reorganization bill at this
| session.
The Nicaragua Canal Project.-Tbe
House having declined by a substantial ma
lority to permit the Nicaragua Canal bill
TO be added as an amendment TO the sun
dry civil appropriation bill, the prevailing
belief now is that the project will have IN
be carried over to the next Congress. The
House Republican leaders are nearly all
known 10 be very much opposed TO the
canal because of the large amount of
money it will take out of the Treasury
and Speaker Reed does not conceal his op-
position. His power is great as presiding
officer and chairman of the Committee on
Rules. Ever since the proposition was ad-
vanced to tack the canal bill to the river
and harbor bill in the Senate there has
been fierce opposition, for the reason that
Senators and Representatives who have
items in the latter measure have been
afraid II would also fail if loaded down
with this scheme. They have, it is said.
persistenly begged Mr.. Frye and other
members of the Senate Commerce Commit
tee TO let the matter drop Upon the
whole, the outlook for the Nicaragua
Canal bill becoming a law at this session
is decidedlv ,nfavorahIe