Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-10-24
COURT OF CLAIMS.
The Work Done BY the Tribunal
During the Past Year.
JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERALS REPORT


Washington, Oct. 22.-The United
States court Of claims yesterday re-
convened after the summer recess.
During the year 1877 general jurisdic-
ton or miscellaneous cases growing
out Of government contracts. use Of
patented inventions, salaries and fees
Of United States officials, army and
navy, land entries, ETC., were deter
mined by the court. Judgments were
entered in 112 cases in favor Of the
claimants and in rs cases judgments
were in favor Of the United States,
the petitions being dismissed. One
hundred and seven other cases Of
this class were dismissed for want Of
prosecution. Judgments also were
rendered in favor Of the claimants
in AS letter carriers claims for over
time in excess OF eight hours a day.
Five hundred and ninety-nine Indian
depreciation cases were decided; in
31S cases the judgments were in ia
vor OF the claimants and the judg-
ments in 2s1 cases were in favor of
the government, dismissing the petit
tions.
Under the act OF March 3, 1888, en-.
titled IAN act to afford assistance
and relief to congress and the ex-
ecutive departments" and known as
the Bowman act" $50 cases, mostly
claims for stores and supplies alleged
to have been furnished the military
forces of the United States during the
war of the rebellion, were decided.
In 100 cases the findings of the court
were in favor of the claimants and
.41 cases were dismissed.
Last winter and spring the court
was engaged actively in the trial Of
what is known as the French spolia-
ton claims, Of which 210 cases were
decided. OF these, in 124 cases
awards were made in favor Of claim
ants and in So the claimants were I'm
able to prove their claims. The court
also practically disposed of all the
naval bounty claims growing out of
the engagements at Manila bay, San
tiago and other minor engagements
during the Spanish war, in all 3,9s7
individual cases, and they have been
reported to the treasury department
for payments Tbe entire NUMBER OF
cases disposed Of during the year
was $3.50.
Judge Advocate Generals Report.
Washington, Oct. 22.--Gen. George
=. Davis, judge advocate general Of
the army, has submitted to the sec
rotary of war his annual report for
the year ended June 30, 1901. It shows
that during the year there were $3.50
trials by general court-martial, being
500 less than during the preceding
year. OF these, 16 were trials OF
commissioned officers, of whom 10
were convicted. OF the enlisted men
tried 1906 were regulars and 1,167
we're volunteers The report says
that the number of men sentenced tn
lishonorable discharge in the regular
army was 1895, and in the volunteer
,rmy 1913, making a total. of 2,29s.
Death sentences were imposed by |
in six cases of enlisted
men, four of the cases on conviction
If murder and two on conviction of
lesertion.
The records Of military commits
lions during the year show that $50
persons were tried, of which number
80 were convicted and 2O2 acquitted.
The sentences in 40 cases were disap-
proved. Murder leads in the number
II charges before these commissions.
317. Violation of the laws
md usages Of war follows with 1877
aces, while the charge Of robbery
omes next with 1906 cases, Gen, Da-
is says that death sentences were
imposed by military commissions in
bout 242 cases, nearly all natives Of
he Philippine islands, on conviction
i more serious crimes, and the sen.
ences were exacted In about 1Ot
aSes.