The evening times., 1902-06-02
Arguments Begun To-day
Before the Treaty
Commission.
MANY MILLIONS INVOLVED
Result of Alleged Damages Growing
Out Of the War for Cuban IndePend-
ence 10 Be DeteTmined-Ex-S -SecTe-
tary Carlisle Speaks.

One Of the most important cases of in
ternatfonal law ever brought before a
tribunal Of law. and involving an ag-
gregate sum of So, ,000. 600. is being
argued in this city today in the cases
the United States Government is the de-
fendant and the plaintiffs are claimants
in sixteen typical cases selected from a
list Of over 500 similar actions instituted
before the Spanish Treaty Claims Com
mission
Hon John G. Carlisle, ex-Secretary Of
the Treasury, appeared before the Span
ish Treaty Claims Commission this
morning in behalf of the petitioners. His
argument on international law. and
especially on vital points involved in the
controversy, whereby The Government
resists on technical grounds the payment
OF vast sums Of money to claimants
under provisions of the treaty Of Paris.
was listened 10 by many os the most
prominent lawyers Of the country. \
number Of attorneys were present from
New York and many local lawyers also
attended the hearing.
Hon. HAMS Taylor, former United
States minister TO Spain, and special
counsel for the Government, viii ad-
dress the Treaty Commission tomorrow.
He viii present the Governments side
OF the controversy at length Among
the attorneys present at the hearing this
morning were Messrs. Paul Fuller, VII
liam E Curtis and Prof Moore, of New
York: Crammond Kennedy. H. 4 Her
bert. c. 5 Walton and Benjamin MicOu,
OF this city
Or Appropriateness Of Things
All these claims are for damages
growing out Of the war for Cuban in
dependence. yet are less than one-half
the total sum Of all claims. It is some
what OF q coincidence that their final
adjustment should be begun within q
fortnight OF the actual proclafming OF
the Cuban republic as one OF the free
and independent nations OF the world
By that act the Cubans care into their
own after generations Of hitherto futile
efforts toward that end. BY -Ae present
legal proceedings the American Citi-ers,
whether native born or naturaIzed, who
sustained losses during the jnsuIar var.
seek to obtain financial redress from the
United States under the terms o. the
treaty Of Paris
The peculiar approPria a-sness OF the
United States showing at least as great
an interest in its own citizens as il an
alien people struggling for Iiber5y v!Ii
be urged. it may readily be believed, IL
the counsel for the claimants as 9 part
Of its general argument. apart from The
substantiation Of the justness OF the
claims represented But the payment
OF any damages whatever VIII be Ie-
sisted by the Government OF the Un1tcI
States on technical Doint of interna-
tionaI law, denying the liability charged
The Contending Lawyers.
While The accomplishments Of Mr..
CarIisle's official lie al home are popu-
lsrly known. Mr.. TayloT's similarly val
liable services 10 the country. because
OF having been rendered at a foreign
court. have not kept him so much in the
public eye His familiarity with the
history OF Spanish diplomacy during the
past half dozen years made his selee-
tIoa as special counsel a most natural
one. His emiucnce as an authority on
International law has been recognized
by the adoption by Oxford University, in
England Of his historic review Of the
origin and growth Of the English con
stituti0n-a recognition never before al
tanned By any American.
The struggle between such master
minds. IT Is predicted. VIII le followed
b. tle attorneys II attendance wiki as
great interest as is fcIe in the final de
termination CT these claims OF American
citizens, which stand as a large part
OF the Cnly Indebtedness still remaining
uusatisGed on Uncle Sans Cuban slate
History Of the Litigation.
When the treaty Of Paris was ueg9-
tiated, the United States agreed TO be-
come responsible for the satisfying of
all cla IS which American citizens
might file zgainst Spain because Of dam
ages to property or other pecuniary
losses growing out Of the war in Cuba.
IN consequence or that agreement
Congress authorized the Spanish Treaty
Claims Commission. which has been en-
gaged for more than year past 10 con-
sideriHg and classifying the claims filed
by those who suffered from the lnsulur
war The reru of United States Senator
William T. Chandler or NeE Hampshire.
expiring 10 GaTch. 1901 he was made
president Of the commission by Presi-
dent Mckinley, and the other members
named were Hon. Gcrrit J. Dieaema
Hon James Perry Wood. Hon. William
\ Maury. and Eon. william /. Cham
bers
Three Classes Of Claims.
The claims fled with TIE commission
aggregate the enormous sum OF SEQ. .oeo.-
COS. and for purposes Of convent nee and
the early adjustment damages have
been divided into three classes. as fol-
lows
Claims representing damages alleged
10 have been inflicted upon property in
Cuba Dr., the Insurgents Total SUN
claimed under this head. So. GOO Coo
Claims arising from the destruction
Of property ard other injuries alleged tg
have been Inflicted by the Spanish aFng
10 Cuba Total S25. COO 000.
Claims -a5e-iug 10 alleged LaIse i'm
prlsouuelf- .ag upou private prop
erIy. and reous matters. Total
EHs. 600