Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-08
HELD ITS FIRST MEETING
OF SPANISH WAR
CLAIMS COMMISSION.
Demands Must BE Filed Within Six
Months From Today-Immense
sum Involved.

The first meeting of the Spanish war
claims commission was held at the Depart
ment OF Justice today at IL o'clock. The
commissions quarters on II street near
14th street, will be ready for occupancy by
the latter part of the week.
This is the commission appointed by act
of Congress to adjudicate claims of citizens
of the United States against Spain growing
out of the Cuban instruction Claims to
the amount of about $50, 00o,0 900 have been
filed with the State Department and viii
ultimately be brought before the commits
SIGN.
When the commission met this morning.
it was In the presence of a number Of men,
bers of the Washington bar, attorneys who
will prosecute claims before the adjudicat-
ing body. Those present were introduced
to ex-senator Chandler, president of the
commission, and his colleagues, Mr. Gerrit1
J. Diekema, Mr.. James Perry Wood, Mr..
William A Maury and Mr.. William l..
Chambers. Mr.. William E. Fuller. assist
ant attorney general, and Mr.. William E.
Spear. clerk to the commission, were also
present
the Attorney General calling the meeting.
Mr. Chandler announced that all the
members of the commission were present,
that a rule for the filing of petitions would
be promulgated Immediately, and that other
rules of procedure would follow.
And" added Mr.. Chandler. with half
smile at the attorneys, the six months
limit for the filing of claims Is now run
ming" Whereupon the attorneys heaved
sigh of satisfaction.
Mr. Chandler then invited suggestions
from the attorneys for the expediting of
business. Several members Of the bar
made suggestions, urging the early adop-
ton of rules to govern all procedure be-
fore the commission and relating to the
disposition of papers in the claims.
The commission then went into execu-
md q -or.f iccY,n he al
lowing rule for the filing of petitions:
"All claims of citizens of the United
States against Spain which the United
States agreed to adjudicate and settle by
the seventh article of the treaty with Spain
must be fled within six months from the
date of said first meeting of the commits
sion; that is to say, before - o'clock mid
night On tire Sth day of October, 1901 and
every claim not filed within such time will
be forever barred; but the commission may
receive claims presented within six months
sfter the termination of said period If the
claimants shall establish to the satisfaction
of the commission good reasons for not pre-
SentinS the same earlier.
Every claim prosecuted before said COM
mission shall be presented by petition, set
ting forth concisely and without unneces-
Sary repetition the facts upon which such
claim IS based, together with an itenized
schedule setting forth all damages claimed.
) lid petition shall also state the full name,
the residence and the citizenship of the
ella mant. and the amount of damages
sought to be recovered. and shall pray
judgment upon the facts and the law It
shall be signed by the claimant or his at
torney or legal representative, and be veri-
fled by tie affidavit of the claimant, his
agent, attorney or legal representative it
shalt be sled with the clerk of the commits
Sion- ana the prosecution of the claim shall
he deemed to have been commenced at the
date of such filing. Section 9, act of March
2 1901"
The commission, accompanied by the Sec
rotary and attorney Maid off ciol
Call on the President today, the members
being presented by ex-senator Chandler