The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-20
=
CONGRESSES SEES
POIlN'.I ] AT |. L!AST
Will Il. Now y Pay Southern.
War Claims. Al n
VIRGINIA TO PROFIT:
Propertv Damaged bv.F ederaI Troops
Property Damaged byF ederaI Troops
Will be Paid for by Government.
ACTION AFTER THREE. d ECADEs.
House Acts Favorably on the Ashby
Claim aud Major Otey Confident Of s
Its Ratification Dy the Senate.
Court of Claims Finally De-
cides That the Sophia
Was an American.
Washington Bureau The Times,
No. SIS Fourteenth Street.

go -----
Washington Bureau The Times.
No. SIS Fourteenth Street.
WASHINGTON. March 1s.-Special.-
House Committee on War Claims has
favora bly, reported the bill introduced by
Representative Cooper, of Texas, author
izing the payment of all claims presented
on behalf Of churches. schools, libraries,
hospitals, and establishments conducted
for the benefit of churches. or for chari-
table purposes, arising from the use and
occupation of buildings, grounds and
other property injured, consumed, or de-
stroyed by the United States army DUR
ing the war between the States.
VIRGINIA CHURCHES.
Notable among the Virginia Churches
11aat win be benefited by this bill are: st.
Baptist; Fredericksburg, 5000; Braddock-
Street Episcopal. Winchester. S2,6co::
Methodist Episcopal Church, WiEches ter,
S1,3i9; 9;sH Hre stbltt erian, iLovettsville, s431;;
Church at Catlett, s2,l62.
Although it has taken Congress thirty
years to recognize the business Of these
claims, the following extract from the
report is of interest:
VIOLATION OF LAWS.
Ii Is uSGOttS5s SASdtloAos
Every authority on the law of nations
who touches this subject, frcm Grotius
to Halleck, agrees that the destruction
of property of this class is a violation OF
law. But It cannot be maintained that
:, the government Is liable for all injuries
committed either by is its authority or
wartonly by its troops, without orders.
upon property protected by this rule. But
There are many examples in history
Ah.- H.
Institutions Of learning, established by
funds given for public purposes. upon
grounds Of their own and give them n
peculiar title to repara ton when so in
$jured which is not possessed by the pub
slfc school or even by the church. The
funds or buildings Of the public school
are public funds belonging to the hostile
sovereign and appropriated to the ;ulf1-a5
ment of a frnc ton which that sovereign
undertakes to perform for the citizen
The funds of buildings of the church,
though consecrated to the highest objects.
are the property Of particular sects, and
are neither. within the control nor for
use of mankind at large. But, in the
Language of an eminent judge the arts
and sciences are admitted among all civil
lized nations as forming an exception to
the severe rights OF warfare, and as en-
titled TO favor and protection. They are
considered, not as the peculium of this
or that: nation. but as the property nf
mankind at large, and as belonging to
the common interest Of The whole spe-e
cies.
COOPER FEARS REPUBLICANS
Representative Cooper speaking of his
bill said to-day that he had every reason
!. to believe that the measure would become
Z a law at this session OF Congress unless,
owing to- the plan of Republican leaders
to curtail all possible appropriations at
this session., in which it will go over to
the short session, and without doubt would
then be favorabiy acted on.
ASTTBY'S WIDOW GETS CLAIM
0 The bill paying the widow of the late;
:Jchn Ashby. Of Virginia, s2,Soo. the amount
of one years salary as consul at Colon,
which has been passed by the House, was
introduced in the Senate to-day. Major
3Otey said he thought there would be no
doubt of;ifmmeIiate and favorable action
on the bill by the latter body at this ses-
sion of Congress.
SOPHIA WAS AMERICAN.
The Court of Claims to-day transmitted
to Congress the conclusions of fact con-
corning the illegal seizure of the schooner
Sophia, which sailed from Alexandria.
Va, December, 1877, bound for the Bar
BADGES, and which was captured on the
high seas by the French prtyateer LIE
Sanopariel and which was condemned by
the French tribunal of prizes on the
ground that master of the schooner
Sophia was an glishman. and ma turaliz-
ed since the war Of the Revolution. By
virtue of the action of the French tribu-
nal the vessel and her cargo became
total loss to the owner. It has been
proven that the Sophia was an American
vessel and register. and belonged to VII
liam Wilson, resident OF Alexandria, Va.
BY the decision of the Court Of Claims
the government will pay Wilson, s heirs
residents Of Virginia. 81. .2l3.
sTUNLAWF,UL SEIZURE CLAIn1. ess
Representa- tive Hay. of Virginia, will.
in few. days, introduce bill to carry
ont the findings of the Court OF Claims
in the case Of r. Pritchard set al The
amount involved Is $3.2g7.37 for the unlaw-s
full seizure of a dlstillery belonging to the
above named claimants in Page county.
Va ;sss
ABOUT VrRGrNIANS
& RepresentativeH Hay introduced q bill to-
day to pay the estates OF Henry NJ. Baker.
Of Frederick county.Sva $500 for sup {
5pEes used BY. the Federal army In 1866.
Recommended to Congress to refund GUS 1
tom duties to the amount OF S1325 to Her
bert Bryan. .gofsAIexandria.sbe being an over
charge on "a quantity OF plaster rock.
Captain Lamb returned ito the city to-
day from q visit 10 Richmond
The Board of Inspection and Repair Of ]
the Navy Departing ment& wil shortly visit
tie l,aSNorfolksEavy Yard for the purpose
Of Inspecting and surveying 4alI auxiHaryss
ships at the yard
sen senate, Pritciiarrd sof Norta Carolina,
I'd balL today. to pension Mary
:Fltsa at,e4hs 11oors. sof North CaroIina
aSEddreonsf has been appotntedp post-#I