The evening times., 1900-06-14
OLD Claims IN CONGRESS
No Money Appropriated TO Pay Ger
tain Judgments.
Items FnyOrabiy Reported Daring
the Last Session Which Were
stricken From the Omnibus Bill OF
Is9o-StRtes That Seek Reimburse
ment for Civil War Expenses

The first session of the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress was not marked by a liberal treat
meat Of claims. this character of iegisla-
tion. together with public buildings and
river and harbor improvements, being
kept in the shade Of committee rooms. that
the aggregate Of appropriations on the eve
of Presidential campaign might be kept
as low as Republican policy would per-
r.it. There are on the files of the House
Committees on Claims and War Claims
many hundreds of civil war claims which
have run all the gantiets provided by law
for those claimants who are unfortu-
nate as to be unable to command legisla-
tion in their especial interests. and for
which awards have been made by the
Court of Claims Not dollar was appro-
priated for the payment Of these judg-
mentS-
In the Senate Mr. Teller presented
favorable report en- a large number OF
leftover claims inherited from the Fiji
ty-hfth Congress All the claims in the
buI on which his report was based were
part of the bill known as the Omnibus
Claims bill Of the Flfty-irst Congress
That bill was introduced in the Senate
during the Fffty-fifth Congress in accord
anoe with a provision Incorporated in the
General Deficiency Appropriation bill OF
the first session rf the lrifty-ffth Con-
gress. and was favorably reported. A bill
was also introduced in the House. known
as the Bowman Claims act which pass
ed that body during the second session of
the same Congress. and was referred 10
the Committee on Claims Of the Senate.
The Senate committee amended the House
bill by striking out all after the enacting
clause. and inserting the Senate bill,
which was passed by the branch Of Con-
gress in which il originated. A conference
was ordered and the report of the con-
ferees adopted.
The bill upon which NJ. Teller repor, ed
during the late session contained C aims
that were omitted from the Omn bus II
by the conference committee in order 10
reduce the amount of that BILL which car
ried an appropriation OF nearly S10.000.-
O00.
OF the claims contained In the bill re-
ported BY Mr.. Teller. if is said that each
one has passed either the House or the
Senate at previous session. and that some
Of them have passed many times.
A brief statement OF some OF these
claims follows:
ShipbuiIders' Claims.
Roach. deceased, the sum OF $S1, ,75251, IL
excess of contract price for work 6o1e
and material furnished in the construction
OF the United States double-ender gunbosi
Peoria
This provision is fer the allowances q
certain claims in cost of the construction
Of naval vessels during the civil war in ex
cess OF the contract price, and was IL oSedi
n he 81 al Il
o. tion:
ResnIv, d. That the Secretary Of the Navy be re
questcd to organize board Of not les than the
competent persons, whose duty II shall be {
enquire into and detcrTnine how much the vessel
OF war and steam machinery contracted for by IN
department. in the wears lSG2 and lSs3 cost tn
contractors over and above the contract price
and the allowance for extra work and report II
some 90 the SCnste al its next session: none hu
those who have given satisfaction 10 the depart
meEt Il be considered.
The board consisted Of the following
named naval officers: Commodore Thoma
o. SeIeridge. president; Chief Engiuee
Alexander Henderson,, succeeded By Chic
, Engineer Montgomery Fletcher. and Pay
master Charles II. EldTeTSe and convene
ct the Brooklyn Navy Yard June ; 1S6-
The board was in session for about ST
EOltEs. ard as q result CT its delibera
tions reported fC-ty-fOur vessels liza
winch tEtfe nau Deel an excess OF COS
over the contract price. amounting in tn
aggregate to 81, ,Z70, ,62714 Among the al
lCw2nces made is that for the woode
double-ender Peoria.
These claims grew out OF the hurry an
confusion incident to the building OF
navy during the war. and appear 10 b
directly due TO the fact that the Govern
ment vas not prepared at the time III
contracts were let to furnish specific plan
Of what IL desired. The shipbui'Ie-s wer
seen by Mr. \. c. Sinners. who had charg
Of the bureau OF construction in Me-
York, and some Of them. according t
their testimony, were practically i'm
pressed ilt0 the service Of accepting con
tracts upon such crude descriptions &
Mr.. Sinners could give them of what b
wanted. The Paul Jones was general
used by him as an illustration Of WIZ
he would expect in the way of vessel
whereas it appears that in all cases Z
the vessels contracted for the InaehineI
was heavier and more expensive than IN;
of the Jones. In the case of the Peori
for instance, the engines weighed near