The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-29
WORK FOR COURT OF CLAIMS.
SPECIAL COMMISSION NOT LIKELY
TO BE APPOINTED.

Members of the House Think That
Court should Adjusicate the Amer
lean Claims Against Spain Which
the United States Have Assumed.
Committee Instructed to Report n
Substitute Lassiter of Virginia
Svydrn in.
Washington, April 2S.-The House pass
ed a number of bills Of Importance to-day.
Tie major portion OF Ike session was
devoted to the Senate bill to create a
commission to adjudicate the claims Of
the citiz5n rs Of the United S ates agains,
Spain assumed ny this country by the
treaty of Paris. The bill developed consid-
cradle opposition ana was finally recon-
mitted TO the Committee on War Claims
with instructions to report back a bill
TO refer the claims TO the Court Of Claims.
The Senate bills TO recognize the SER
vices CT Lieut.. Newcornb and the officers
and men of the revenue cutter Hudson,
which rescued the torpedo boat Winslow
at Cardenas. Cuba, by ccnferring gold and
silver medals upon them and to retire
Capt Hodgson of the revenue cutter Hugh
McCuloch, were passed.
Francis r. Lassiter, who succeeds the
late Representative Sidney Epes from The
Fourth Virginia district. was sworn in. In
connection with the presentation of his
credentials a communication was read
from James selden Cowdon protesting
against the seating of Mr.. Lasslter and
filing notice of a formal contest on the
ground that the vote by which Mr.. Lassi-
ter claimed election was paper VOTE
not actually cast.
Bills were passed to authorize the Caro-
lima Railroad Company to construct a
bridge across Lumber river, North Car
DINA; to provide for the revision and cod
fcation of the general laws of the United
States; to authorize the construction of a
bridge across the Back bay al Biloxi, Miss.
Claims Against Spain.
At o'clock the Senate bill to create a
commission to adjudicate all claims OF cit
liens of the United States against Spain.
which the United States, under the treaty
with Spiain, agreed TO adjudicate and set
tie, was taken UP.
Mr.. Ray of New York opposed the bill.
He argued that there was no necessity for
such a commission. 1t created, he said,
thre commissioners at $500 annually; a
chief clerk at SO, 900; an assistant Attorney
General, an unlimited number of as sistant
attorneys at 500 a month and a b & corps
OF clerks and stenographers.
Mr.. Ray contended that the Court of
Claims should do this work They had
ample time, and this additional labor
would not break them down. The only
excuse and justification for the enact
ment Of this bill, Mr. Ray declared, was
a desire of certain senators TO get good
berths for their constituents. He demand
ed to know how many claims had been
filled and what they amounted 10.
Mr.. Mahon of Pennsylvania replied that
he did not know how many claims had
been filed. but that the legislation was
recommended by the President and Seere-
tary Of State. Mr.. Mahon later said the
claims for Cuba aggregated $50, 900, 000 and
those from Porto Rico S4,000.0O0. He Of
fered a substitute providing that the COM
mission shall not exist over eighteen
months; that all claims not filed within
six months shall be forever barred and
that the awards shall be final.
After further debate the bill and substi-
tute were recommitted TO the Committee
on War Claims, with instructions to re-
port back a bill TO refer che claims 10
the Court of Claims.
At 4:2O p. m. the House adjourned.