The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-06-14
War Claims Commission Be
comes Just This.
CHANGE MOST UNUSUAL
"1t Makes All the Difference Whose
Ok Is Gored.'
SPANISH CRUELTY IS JUSTIFIEo
Chairman Chandler Says He Doesn't
Care for the Opinion of the
Secretary of State.
New York su. sssoraI Service.

Washington, June 1.-THE Spanish war
claims commission has placed itself in
remarkable attitude. BY its official rul-
ings it has become the advocate of Spain,
aud has repudiated the United States.
In the treaty of peace with Spain the
United States agreed to assume the pay
ment Of all claims for damages on the
part of its citizens for the violation O.
treaty rights by Spain while in posses
sion of Cuba. Most of these claims arose
during the Cuban insurrection, and have
been passed upon by the department of
state. Ex-senator Chandler OF New
Hampshire is the chairman of the COM
mission and in his present position he is
reversing his record made while United
States senator.
The commission, in considering the
claims that were pasesd upon by the state
department, has refused to accept the
conclusions Of the secretary Of state, and
in most instances has taken the position
which Spain occupied when it contested
the claims. The secretary of state in
each instance made a thorough investi-
cation and after being satisfied that treaty
provisions had been violated, took up the
prosecution Of the claim against Spain.
Claims Thrown Out.
The commission has thrown aside all Of
these Yoluminous records and Mr..
Chandler has repeatedly announced Off
cially, as chairman of the commission,
that he did not care rap what the secre-
tary Of state thought; that the question
was before the commission, which had
right to reach its own conclusions.
Where claims were sustained by the de-
partment OF state against Spain for treaty
violation the commission has precipitate-
ly thrown them out on the ground that
the claimant had violated the neutrality
laws.
The department Of state, before the
Spanish war, by volumfnous correspond
ence and direct communication with the
Spanish minister at Washington attempt.
ed to collect claims against Spain, giving
them the official stamps OF this govern
ment The same claims are thrown out
by the Spanish war claims commission,
which In substance says that Spain was
right in refusing to pay them and that our
government was wrong in trying to col
lect them.
The sentiment which resulted in the
declaration of war against Spain was
kindled in part by the infamous action Of
the Spaniards in Cuba, who, without re-
Americans, conflscated their property and,
in numerous instances, tortured them.
Americans were taken prisoners by Span
ish guerrillas, submitted to all sorts Of
indignities, and then hacked to pieces by
machettes, without trial or an opportunity
to make a defense.
Spanish Cruelty Justified.
Now the Spanish war claims commission
takes the broad ground that the citizens
got no more than they deserved; that
Spain was justified in cruelty treating
them; that they violated some law in
going to Cuba and were not entitled to
protection, and that our secretary of
state was exceeding his authority in at
tempting to hold Spain responsible. The
ruling which has aroused so much indig
nation in substance holds that Spain was
right and that the United States, in
going to war for humanity's sake, was
wrong.
The trouble Is that, whereas formerly
the United States was trying to collect
the claims of American citizens against
Spain, the United States is the defendant,
and It makes a great deal of difference
whose OK is gored.
Another ruling of the commission which
is being discussed is the determination
to conduct the proceedings under rules
of practice prevailing In our courts of
justice instead OF under rules similar to
those followed by the department of the
state in the matter of claims All prev
ious claims commissions adopted them.
The ruling makes a vast difference in the
prosecution Of cases, as an entirely diff
ferent procedure is necessary in preparing
the briefs and in submitting evidence.
In short, the rulings of the commission
to date warrant the interference that it's
purpose to avoid the payment of dam
ages wherever it is possible by recourse
30 technicalities.