The Washington times., 1902-12-21
A'CORD CLAIMANTS
AGAIN SEEK RELIEF
Bill Favored by One Presi-
dent, Vetoed by Another.
SUIT DATES FROM CIVIL WAR
Loss 70 Contractor Of the Monitor Elijah
Grew Out Of the Rapid Change In
Prices-RevOlutiOn in Navy.


gress by representatives OF the unfortu-
nate contractor. Charles W. McCord. the
builder OF the light draft monitor Etlah
one Of the first Of the ironcIad vessels to
be constructed by the United states
after the famous fight Of the Monitor
and Merrimac Ga Hampton Roads
The matter has been considered at al
most every session since the Fifty-Grst
Congress and has been favored by one
President and vetoed by another. Thus
far at the present session q bill proyid-
ing for relief has been introduced and
has just received consideration by the
House Committee on War Claims. which
has reported it with q recommendation
for favorable action by the House
Loss to Contractor.
The loss 90 the contractor grew out o.
the rapid change I'm prices caused by the
close OF the civil war. The invention by
Ericsson created a revolution in naval
construction. and after tho duel between
the Merrimac and Monitor I'm Hampton
Roads it was clear that all future war
ship building was 10 De on entirely new
lines.
Accordingly the Navy Department. in
the latter part Of 1862 and early in 1868.
contracted for twenty light draft moni-
tors Knowing that many changes we're
likely to be- made. the new armorclsds
having just been invented. the Navy De-
partment reserved the right TO make
changes, the contractor 10 De paid for
any extra cost resulting therefrom.
McCord secured the contract under
these terms for the building OF the Elijah
IN 1868. Owing 20 delays the vessel was
not completed until two years later. in
stead Of within eight months. as was at
first believed possible. So many changes.
in fact. were made that the cost OF the
vessel when complete was about double
the contract price. The result was that
the contractor was ruined. soon after
the vessel was completed he went lnto
bankruptcy. His assets were sold and
among them was claim for the extras
on the Elijah.
The purchasers OF the claim brought
suit in The Court Of Claims. While it
was pending McCord died. and it was
commonly reported that death was
caused largely by grief over business
losses.
Negative Decision.
When the case was heard the United
States as the defendant. produced
receipt which purported 20 be for
S26.652.l7 as final payment for all
extras. The owners Of the claim had
no knowledge OF the existence or mean
ing of the receipt. and McCord having
died il has never yet been explained.
The court was Of the opinion that there
were certain equities in the case. but in
view Of the receipt decided against the
> claimants.
Following this decision a bill was in
PRODUCED and passed by the Fifty-hrst
Congress providing for the submitting
OF the claim again to the court and Civ
Ing the court equitable jurisdiction.
When the bill reached President Harri-
son be returned it without approval and
with a message that he did not see anv
need for a retrial in view OF there being
no new evidence and that action by Con-
gress was she real method for relief.
I'm the second session Of the same
Congress bin making a direct appro-
priation Of S174,445.75 was favorabIy re-
ported 20 both houses and passed by the
Senate. Later the House passed the
measure. with slight changes. but the
conference committee could not agree.
Again I'm the Fify-fourth Congress a bin
was introduced in both houses. The Sen
ate committee reported f. favorably but
the Senate bin was not taken up by The
House which inserted an item FOR the
appropriation ia the general deficiency
bill.