The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-20

A recent Washington dispatch stated that
the United States and Chilean claims COM
mission has finally concluded its work by
allowing s2s,O62 out of American claims
against Chile a~ggregating 50, 400, 900. The
great disparity between the amount of
claims filed and those allowed indicates
that government claims of this kind are
largely manufactured, though in this case
the commission seems to have exercised
unusually severe scrutiny. If the commits
sion to pass upon the claims against Spain
growing out of the Cuban war, which have
been assumed by the United States. exer-
cises equal scrutiny there should be a
great ~shrinkage from the claims fled TO
those allowed.
The dispatch says the last claim passed
upon by the commission was that of the
South American Steamship Company
against the United States on account OF
the seizure of the Chilean vessel Itata in
1891. This affair created quite an excite
ment at the time. During the progress of a
civil war in Chile. the Itata. an armed YES
sci. commanded by a naval officer of the
llSuIStHl uttl, mdUIcu DN It's sailors ana
with soldiers on board. was seized under
process of the United States Court at San
Diego, Cal. for violation of our neutrality
laws. While in the custody of an officer
of the court the vessel was forcibly taken
from his control and put TO sea. The whole
proceeding was so clearly illegal that the
junta of the insurgent party at Iquique.
Chile. whittier the Itata was bound. adj
dressed to Rear Admiral Brown. omman
ing the United States naval forces, a COM
munication. from which the following is an
extract:
by the cablegramS of the Associated Press
that the transport ltata, detained in San
Diego by order of the United States for
taking on board munitions Of war, and in
the possession of the marshal. left the port.
carrying on board this official. who was
landed at a point near the coast, and then
continued her voyage. . " > II this news
be correct this government would deplore
the conduct of the ltata, and as an evidence
that IL is not disposed TO support or agree
TO the infraction OF the laws of the United
States the undersigned takes advantage of
the personal relations you have been good
enough to maintain with him since your
arrival in this port 10 declare 10 you that
as soon as she Is within the reach of our
orders this government Will put the Itata,
with the arms and munitions she took on
board in San Diego. at the disposition Of
the United States.
Meanwhile the United States cruiser
Charleston was ordered TO give chase TO the
Itata. which had a long start. and whose
course was unknown. There came near
being n fight between tho Charleston and
the Esmeraida. a Chilean insurgent vessel.
which was waiting in Mexican waters TO
convoy the Itata. The latter reached
Iquique ahead of the Charleston and was
surrendered 10 Rear Admiral Brown and
returned to the custody OF the United
States Court at San Diego. She was finally
released under a decision OF the court that
IS the provisional government OF Chile had
not been recognized as a bclI!Sercnt the
acts done In It's interest were not a viola
ton OF oEr neutrality laws.
The claim which has Just bceu disposed
of was flied by the owners OF the Itasa.
who had chartered 1t TO the provisional
government OF Chile. The commission held
that there was probable cause for the
seizure of the Itata. that her surrender to
the American authorities was voluntary,
AM