Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-05

been lodged with the State Depart
ment."
The article also suggests that the
President will ask. suggest, or expect,
to be authorized to appoint "a COM
mission" to examine. adjust and dis
pose of these claims, which 1t says
are yet represented in large amounts"
adding:
NOW, however, by an article in the
treaty OF Paris the United States has
assumed liability for all claims pre-
ferred by its citizens on account Of
depredations, or in fact. on any proper
score"
The Star offsets this by a vague al
fusion to the claims of Spanish citizens
against the United States (never before
heard of which Spain assumes" to
pay. Yes; assumes! The article con-
ciudes that Congress will, of course.
provide by law for the payment of
these claims of our citizens against
Spain and authorize Mckinley
Hanna-Day commission, and says of
Congress-:
THE latter cannot withhold its sane
ton of some such arrangement after
t9e ratification of the treaty, because
the convention itself binds the govern
ment to the obligation"
1t is evident that in these treaty pro-
visions, as Interpreted by the inspired
STAR we have a meal-tub slightly con-
cealing a cat of huge dimensions and
Voracity. According TO the Stars semi
Official construction of the treaty, 1.-The
United States has assumed liability for
ALL CLAIMS prepared by the citizens
on account of depreciation, or, in fact,
ON ANY PROPER SCORE"
But Article XVI. shows that we not
only assume all claims of our own citi-
zens against Spain, but all claims of
anybody against Cuba, con any proper
score" as interpreted by this admins
tration; with only this limitations:
Whatever obligations are accepted
under this treaty by the United States
with respect to Cuba are limited to
the period Of their occupation of the
island, BUT at the end of such occupa-
ton they viii ADVISE the government
that may be established in the island
that it SHOULD ACCEPT the same
obligations"
That is, as n condition precedent to
concluding such occupation, the Uni
ted States viii instruct any government
it allows in Cuba that it MUST ac-
cept such obliga tons as 1t chooses to
Impose! Here are grand advantages
for somebody. but hardly for the Uni
ted States and Cuba. Every possible
claim Oncluding the blood money"
Spanish bonds. falsely called Cuban
bonds) will now become a claim of
American citizens against Spain, which
the United States is expected to pay
What limitation is there to claims ION
any proper score? None at all; for, If
they demand money. that is surely the
most sacred of scores,-none higher.
IF the claims of our citizens against
Spain. assumed by the United States,
had been limited to the SCI. 1000, 600 prom
ised to Spain on Philippine account,
and to be paid out of that money, 1t
might, indeed. be a job put up on Spain.
but limited, while as it is, we have an
unlimited job put up on ourselves, to
make our rich richer and our poor poor
er by an easy process forth former, who
always know how to claim everything
in sight. while all the poor can hope
is to escape some eXaction now and
then. Another war, with Spain, or all
Europe. would be n cheap escape from
the obligations" this Day treaty fas-
tens upon us. If ratified as It Is, 20 be
interpreted by this Hanna trust and its
administration.
And there is no use to tell any in
telligent person, with any hope of be-
lief, that that claims provisions were
deliberately designed to bear the Wild
est and loosest possible construction
and to cover every sort of rascally
claim that can be devised. or that per-
jury and forgery can make show for;
and 1T is still less incredible that any
and every possible claim will not he
presented, even If 1t has no show. nor n
leg to stand on, save through the guilt
OF every infamy. And $4,000, 900 now
on file in the State Department Is a
mere printing to what is coming. and
with a Hanna-McKinley commission to
pass oi ti.eih tiele VIII oe no emu 10
these claims. The claimants. attorneys
and lobbyists for the commission can
not escape the lobby. even II 1t be not
constituted OF lobbyists). probably in
GLIDING the commissioners. or some OF
them, and their kin and friends, will
form Il trust. Unsuitable. indomitable.
But unless the people are aroused to
these things. and swear by the Eternal
that they shall end, why. argue? The
very reasons we submit against the
trentY may cAnsa It's IN tificc lion. fnr