The evening times., 1900-03-17

Mr. Mahon. for the Committee on War
Claims OF the House OF Representatives
has returned a favorable report on the bill
TO authorize the Secretary OF War TO
cause to be investigated and to provide for
the payment Of all claims presented on
behalf OF churches schools. lib aries, hos
pitfalls. and establishments conducted Cor
the benefit Of churches. OF for charitable
purposes. arising from the occupation and
use of buildings grounds. end other prop
erty OF various kinds occupied. used, taken
away. injured. consumed. or destroyed by
the United States or its Aru-y during the
civil war. or for its benefit in any way.
The bill provides that the Quartermas-
ter General shall proceed to investigate
claims OF the character mentioned in the
same manner. and they shall take the
same course as claims arising under what
is known as the Fourth Of July Claims act,
that is he shall report the amount due in
each case. and certify the same to the
Auditor for the War Department for pay
ment who viii report t.em to Congress
for appropriations The testimony now on
nle may be used as evidence I'm the con-
sideration OF these claim.
There are sundry CLAIM before the com
mittee for the use and occupation Of
church college. and school buildings for
injuries to them by United States troops
during the late war. Claims OF this char
acter now before the committee aggre-
raate S2s5. .T26. .53-coIIege, and universities.
SlS7. .e27.gG; churches. S10S.OSS.66.
This bill is based on numerous prece-
dents In the Forty-frst Congress the
Kentucky University at Lexington Ky.
was paid S25 600 for the Use and occupa-
tion Of their buildings by United states
troops The Forty-third Congress paid the
East Tennessee University $1S.500 for use
Of its property. The Forty-eighth Congress
donated 46CSO acres Of public land 10 the
University of Alabama. To- De applied 10
the erection uf suitable buildings for said
university destroyed by ERE on April l.
1865 during military operations at Tusca-
Ioosa. The Fif5ieth Congress paid the fol-
lowing claims. Roman Catholic Church Of
s. Peter and ST. Paul at Chattanooeu-
Tenn SlN.72g.09, Protestant Episcopal
TheoIogieal Seminary and High School at
Alexandra Va 10000, First Bartlst
Church OF Smirhland. Ky $500. 81. Joseph
Commercial College Of ST. Joseph. 40.
settled I'M Treasury Department and Iuycs-
tigated by the War Department.
The Fifty-frst Congress paid the follow
ing claims. St. Cecilia's Academy OF Nash
willie. Tenn. 1890; Roman Catholic Church
Of Charles county. Nd. $4,o25.5o.
The Fifty-secOnd Congress paid To VIII
liam and Mary College. Of Virginia, Sea-
coo: and 10 First Methodist Cnurch AT
jackson. Tenn. S@.f5t.
The Fifty-thIrd Congress paid TO Wash
iugton College lnow known as Washington
and Lee University. located az Lexington,
Va, SI74S4. and 10 Presbyterian Church ar
Bethel Springs. Teun-, $500.
The total amount authorized TO be paid
by Congress TO churches and colleges since
the late war is S2oS. .l2S.5S-
The committee reports as follows:
Every authority on the law Of nations
who touches this subject. from Grotius 10
Halleck agrees that the destruction Of
property of this class is a violation OF this
law But 80 cannot be maintained that
she Government is liable for an injuries
committed either by its authority or wan
tOnly by its troops. without orders. upon
property protected by this rule. But there
are many examples in h story which seem
10 place the case of endowed Institutions
OF learning. established by funds given for
public purposes. upon grounds of their
Cwn and give them q peculiar title TO
reparation when so injured which Is not
possessed by the public school OF even by
the church.
The funds or bulldogs Of the public
school are public funds belonging To the
hostile sovereign and appropriated 10 tGe
fulfllmeut OF a function which that zovor-
eign undertakes 70 perform 'or the citizen.
The funds or buildings o. ,hC chul ch,
though cCuseCrated 20 the highest objects.
are the property of partie- lar sccts ald
are neither within the con, .,- nor for the
use Of mankind az large. But in the Ian
guaEe Of an eminent judge. the arts and
sciences are admitted among all civilized
nations as forming an exception to the sC-
we're rights of welfare. and as entitled TO
favor AND protection. They are considered.
not as the peCUlIum OF this or that nation
but as the property of mankind at large
aud as belonging to the common inter
est OF the whole species
Your committee are Of the opinion that
the Government should. in dealing with
churches and colleges initiate the frequent
examples which history furnishes where
the most highly civilized nations and the
most famous commanders have respected
their moral obligations by making v0uu-
tary reparation. at their own expense. Of
injuries inflicted on churches and colleges
aud kindred Institutions by the operations
OF war.
Your committee are Of the opinion that
100000 would pay all meritorious claims
OF this nature. As there are a number Of
these claims pending before Congress. the
committee are of the opinion thar Justice
10 the Government and to the corporations
is better assured in providing as this bill
does. a tribunal where all claims Of this
character may be investigated and deter
mineI. Your committee therefore recon-
mend the passage Of the bill.