The Washington times., 1902-05-04

n JOTHING is more difficult than to
nj get the most Just claim against
Uncle Sam through Congress, and
people who say that he owes them
money are always swarming about Wash
ington when Congress is in session, while
thousands of others scattered all over the
! land a-e clamoring by letter for pay
| nent. OF course, some of these are
cranks and not few ere frauds, but
many are honest creditors. hopeful or
| despairinG CT a settlement. True stories
of lives ruined, fortunes wrec4ed. and
homes destroyed in the prosecution OF
| just claims against the Government would
fill a library OF volumes. Unpaid victims
haunt the legislative lobbies from Con-
gress to Congress. pursuing the delin-
quent de5tcr with ncver-dyins hopes,
while scores Of others are relegated to
the poor houses and the lunatic asylums.
Some such debts due from the nation
are handel down from the creditors fron
generation to goncrlticn-leracics usually
productive only OF misery and unhappi-
ness. ShCulc a Just claim ne fayorably
recommended by committee, the chances
ere enormously against its ever reaching
consideration by the House Suppose II
passes the House; miracle must inter-
pose to secure its approval by the Senate
and the Presidents signature II cnly this
last be lacking. tho clainsnt must begin
at .hc bottom in the next Congress. Just
as ii he had done nothing before. The
labor of Sisyphus. whose stone always
rolled down to the foot of the hill be-
fore he could get it quite TO the top,
was nothing to this.
Much Of the labor incident to the set
tlement Of claims under existing laws is
caused by claim agents. Many of them !,
are not very reputable persons. They |
send circulars broadcast to the uniform /
ed, suggesting that the latter are entitled /
to moneys from the treasury. BY way OF
fee for looking into the matter they de-
mand e. or SO in advance, with the as
surance that nothing further will be ox-
pected or demanded unless the claim is
allowed. Earring got the fee. their inter
est ceases in the claim, which in due
course is disailowed. Meanwhile they send
out more circulars soliciting victims. Con-
sequently. more than GO per cent of all
claims fled are found devoid Of merit.
Suits are to this day being brought for
slaves killed and stolen by the Creek In
dians during hostilities with that nation
in 1896, in Alabama, the value of the hu-
man chattels being estimated at $1,000
each. There are numerous claims out
standing against the Government for dogs
taken by Indians, their worth being reck-
oned at from s. to $50 each. woman in
not long ago applied for repay
nent for property destroyed by Indians,
who. on August I, ls64, burned her house
md carried her into captivity for eighteen .
months. Not very dissimilar is the case ,
Il lady at Davenport, Iowa. who was
aptured in 1865. in Southern Kansas, by
'heyenne dog soldiers, and kept by them
he was bought by an Indian trader for 4;
1000 and returned to civilization. Now 4,
he is suing for $4,000. which was stolen
n that occasion from her father, who !,
ad brought the money from England in :,
he shape of gold and notes OF the Bank OF !,
.nsland
ian depredations aggregate nearly s43.- n
DO. 600, ranging all the way from 1915 n
, 1881 ,250. A claim for s32 ,0O0 was filed b
y Capt. John NJ. Chivington for damages c