Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-21
COURT OF CLAIMS RESUMES
RECORD OF CASES HEARD LAST
YEAR.
Nearly 6.OOO Claims Concerning Bat
ties of Manila and Santiago
French SpOliation Cases.

The Court of Claims opened its session
today. During the year 137 general juris-
diction or miscellaneous cases growing out
OF government contracts, use of patent ed
inventions. salaries and fees of United
States officials, army and navy pay, land
entries, etc, were determined by the court
Judgments were entered in 112 cases in ia
vor of the claimants and in twenty-five
cases in favor of the United States, the
petitions in the latter cases being dis
missed. One hundred and seven other
cases of this class were dismissed for want
of prosecution. Judgments were also rem
dered in favor of the claimants in AS let
ter carrier claims for overtime in excess of
eight hours day.
About GOO Indian depreciation cases were
decided. In 31S cases the judgments were
in favor of the claimants and in PSI cases in
favor of the government.
Under the act of March 3, 1888, known
as the Bowman act $50 cases, mostly
claims for stores and supplies alleged 20
have been furnished the military forces of
the United States during the war of the
rebellion, were decided. In 109 claims the
findings of the court were in favor of the
claimants and in 241 cases were dismissed
Last winter and spring the court was ac-
lively engaged in the trial of what is known
as the French Spoliation claims, of which
cases awards were made in favor of the
claimants and in eighty-siX cases the
claimants were unable to prove their
claims.
Manila and Santiago Cinims.
The court also practically disposed of all
the naval bounty claims growing out of the
engagements at Manila bay, Santiago bay
and other minor engagements during the
Spanish war, in all 1887 individual cases,
and they have been reported to the Treas
ury Department for payment
During the progress of the trials of these
cases many novel questions were presented
to the court and disposed of. 1t was held
that the shore batteries with their forces
at Manila bay should not be taken into
consideration in determining whether the
enemy was of superior force to that of the
United States vessels engaged in the battle
Another interesting question decided in
the matter Of the battle of Manila bay was
that the collier Nashan and the supply ves-
sci Zafiro were not entitled to share in the
bounty. it being held that their crews were
merely hired and not enlisted, and that the
vessels were not fitted for participating in
naval engagement.
Those Entitled to Bounty.
Other questions decided were that the
Resolute. Fern and Harvard were entitled
to share in the bounty, they being within
signal distance. although they were re-
quired to withdraw to point of safety at
the opening of the battle. The Harvard
was at considerable distance, but the court
found that she was within signal distance
of the commander-in-chief. Also that
battalion of marines attached to the Reso-
lutte. but on shore forty miles away at the
time of the battle, were not entitled to
share. 1t was held that officers who were
entitled to examination and promotion on
the day of the engagement and were sub
sequently promoted were entitled to share
according to their promoted rank; that Of
fcers and men of the United States ship
Massachusetts serving on board the Iowa,
although not borne on the rolls of the
Iowa. were entitled to share; that enlisted
men who deserted after the engagement,
and that those temporarily in the hospital
were not entitled to share, although men
temporarily detached elsewhere on active
duty were entitled to bounty.
The entire number of cases disposed CT
during the year was 1888.
When the court took its summer recess
there were eighty cases which had been
submitted and were awaiting decision,
thirty of which were French spolia ton
claims.
During the summer these cases were
made ready for conference and report so
that the court is now up to date with its
work.