Arizona republican., 1902-02-24

to prevent the consideration oT cer- tain claims for rent. usc and occupa- I tion of schools. churches and other buildings. and on March 2. 1887. an act vas approved. known as the Tucker act. which broadenad the Bowman act, and gave the court of claims juIisdic- tion to investigate any claim which might be referred to it by congress. II is under the Tucker act tha+ most of the bills introduced in congress for claims are now adiudicated. Included among them are the claims for churches and schools. The total amount of these claims authorized to be paid by congress since the war is Sz41. 1.GzS.5J. The claims still pending az gregate over s1G0,000. and are mainly for rent and damage to property occu- pied by troops during the war. Claims aggregating upwards of S500.000 have been disallowed by various congresses since the war. and undoubtedly many Of the claims now pending will be re- jected. Some of the larger allowances since the war have been: William and Mary college. Virginia. S64 GOO: Ken lucky university, Lexington. Ky. S2O.- GOO; Roman Catholic church at Chatta- nooga. lS.729.09; Episcopal seminary Alexandria. Va, S20. COG: Washington
 
 The claims of various states against the general government aegreEa te S9.0Co.00o- Thesv include advances, and expenditures made by various states and the city or Baltimore in the war Of 1912 with Great Britain. these claims amounting to S3O0.499.37 claim of the state of Florida for suppressing the Seminole Indian outbreaks amounting to S716.G6115; the Nevada state claim. nl advanced in aiding in the suppression of the rebellion in the civil war; claim of the state of Wyoming for protecting the Yellowstone National park. $7 900. The remainder Of the state claims are for furnishing troops to the general government in aiding in suppressing the rebellion.
 The French spoliation claims which aggregate Sl.OOO. eco. are claims against the government for losses incurred through the depredations of French privateers in 1890. Under the acts of March 2. 1891. and March 8. 1899 French spoiliation claims are not pay able if held by assignment or by in surance companies. Of the claims now pending over three-fifths are owned by insurance companies. The French spoiliation claims properly payable by the government amount to upward of S5G0.0o0
 Claims under the Selfridge board findings are for accounts against the government of buii,-rs or naval yes sels during the civil war. Changes in 1. contracts on the part of the govern | Uent the rapid rise in cost of material and rates of labor during the war ! caused many contractors to lose heav- l fly in carrying out their contracts with ! the government in constructing war
 
 congress created the Selfridge board l consisting Of Thomas O. Selfridge. ! cti-ef engineer United States navy. and , other 0fIi, CTS with power to investigate i. the claims Of the contractors and de- ! termine the amounts. if any. properly 1. due them. The findings of tl,is board 1 still unsettled by congress, aggregate l SSCO.09
 The personal injury claims are few 1 in number and amount to but SlS.OS0. l These claims arose from injury and ] death of persons in the government ] employ where death or injury was i caused by the careIcssness of other ! employees.
 The miscellaneous claims against the | government aggregate S1.5GO.00O and l are for every variety of cause imag- ! inable They include a large number of claims for revenue taxes hIegaliy 1 to4lttl-u lIeln owners CT l'-lNdlt uleS ] bv the revenue bureau. these claims . aggregating Sl53,526.S7. A large claim . included iu this classification is that of Smithmeyer S- Pelz. the ar, hitects ct the library of congress building. the amount being S11I.2co.
 T. is the intention is is stated, Of the claims Coruittee- Of the present ] congress to eliminate all of the bills which are without merit and to in- !.  pared all claims which should be paid l. congress. II is thought this procedure | will result in reporting q bill carrying an anpropri9 tion of about S3.00o. coo . leaving the big state claims for sub ! sequent legislation. and if the bill thus . framed is passed the books of the gov ernmeut will be cleared up and a new l set can be opened for consideration of ]. subsequent claims.