The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-04-04

NEw YoRE, April A special 10
the Tribune, from Washington, says:
Tho organization Of the Spanish War
Commission, which will be effected next
week with.eX-SeDator Chandler as presil
dent, is drawing fresh attention 70 these
Cuban claims. The total amount Of
damages asked now foots up 10 f3O, ,OO0,-
900, and though Elk months is allowed
for Cling claims after the Commission
organizes, II is no. Improbable that the
list will be greatly extended.
Nearly al the pend ng claims have
been taken tp by lawyers a. contingent
ones, the usual fees stipulated being 49, =
percent Of the amount allowed. One
drm which has large international
business has filed claims for various
clients 10 the aggregate amount Of 49,
900 900. A Washington lawyer who was
attached 10 the military government for
a brief period represents claims amount
ing 10 $4,000, 900.
There area number Of claims OF Cuban.
Americans which we're taken mp by the
State Department and pressed on the
Spanish Government for reputation for
injuries inflicted or for imprisonment.
In two or three cases OF this kind the
Spanish authorities bad agreed 10 make
compensation for the injuries Among
these is that OF Mrs. Ruiz, the widow oi
DR.. Ricardo Ruiz who, II was charged,
was killed In jail near Havana in
the last days Of President Clevelsnd's
administration. MRS. Ruiz filed a claim
for t75 900 damages aud since the death
Of her husband has been living in Wash
ington in poverty. Il is part Of the un-
written history Of the Spanish Ameri-
can War that the Spanish Government
had agreed 10 pay this claim when the
explosion Of the Maine ended all pos
sibility OF a peaceful settlement Of the
Cuban question.
Among the claimants for property
losses there are few spainards who
may get some compensation because
they managed 10 have their plantations
placed In American hands or had formed
American partnerships There are also
few Cuban planters whose estates
we're 10 heavily mortgaged that they
we're glad 10 let them pass into Amer
lean ownership. Some subjects Of Eu'
ropean pewers also managed 10 acquir,
American citizenship just as good
many Cubans acquired II, One OF these
classes Of naturalized Europeans has g
claim for nearly tl 900, 600 for damages
done his plantation.
A glance at the list Of ciaimants.showI
that about three fourtha Of them are
Cuban or Spanish names. One heavy
claim Ia made by Cuban planter who
was leadiag spirit In the insurreotion
and whose plantation was for time the
headquarters of Maceo. He was in
Havana all through the insurrectlon
aud while the Spanish authorities
suspected him OF completely In II they
never were able 10 catch him and hil
AmerioAA citizenship protected him
from arrest on mere suspicion.
Another claimant Ia an American citi.
zen who represented a number OF manu-
iacturigg concerns In the United Statel
and who had lived In Cuba Tor 80 or "a
years lie asks about $500 900 Tor dam
ages suffered through the interruption
ol his business. Several Of the bona6d,
American claimants may be emhar-
rassed by their action In the insurrec
tion. Asa rule the genuine Americ
citi1ens Who bad property interests Ia
Cuba though they dssplsed the Spanisl
government had no sympathy with th,
Insurgents.
Dupuy Do lone, when he Was M
Spenish Minister enlisted this class I,
show that there is no real insurrectioI
aud ,hs, the island vas paoided. The.
wrote letters declaring that eyerythin
vas moving smoothly and that thor
vas no interrupt on oi work on the plan
tations. One Of the most prominent q
this class male lrviaent visits 10 Wash
lngton tor pofsonal conferences viii
Congressman aud officials, Ito Noul,
cite hls own plantation a
evidence ot the pcric,t protecIio,
which was afforded by the spani-l
authoFiiies ahd la contrayontion OF th
stories oi the damages which tho iusur
gents were able 10 inh,cg, NotSithstaui
lag these assurances this America
planter has pat In heavy claim 70
lossos Ia HE property during the lnsuI