Evening star., 1902-01-06

north shore of Cuba at the time. This
was the law. for which the Navy Depart
ment is in no wise responsible. Much ad-
verse criticism of a general kind has been
indulged in on this subject. based upon
want of knowledge of the real import of
the prize laws, which this department and
the courts alike had to take as they found
them.
1T is proper to add, however, that the
Navy Department itself was the first to
realize the inequities arising from these
provisions of law, as applied to modern con-
ditions, and recommends to the naval COM
mittees of Congress the enactment of re-
pealing clause, which was favorably re-
ported upon and passed by Congress, March
s. 1889, as follows:
"'And al provisions of law authorizing
the distribution among captors of the whole
or any portion of the proceeds Of vessels,
or any property hereafter captured. con-
demned as prize, or providing for the pay
ment of bounty for the sinking or destruc-
tion Of vessels of the enemy hereafter oc-
curing in time of war, are hereby repeated
GO Stats, p. 1007)
"A rather amusing feature of the at
tacks made upon the Navy Department In
this connection lies in the fact that the
newspapers making such criticisms nave
suddenly discovered that there is inequ1ty
in the application of the prize laws, and
are blaming this administration for such
inequity more than two years after the
matter has been cured by the repeal of the
Objectionable features of these laws, which
were the enactment not of the Navy De-
partment, but of Congress, such repeal
having been made at the instance of the
department they are accusing, and for the
very purpose of remedyng the evils Of
which they complain.
1t is believed that the foregoing state
ment answers your several inquiries in so
far as the data available to this depart
ment will admit.
Delay in Payment.
In conclusion ask your attention to the
following extracts from the annual reports
of the auditor for the Navy Department,
for the year 1900, page 4, and for the
year 1901, page 4, respectively:
THE distribution of prize money and
bounty for the destruction of enemy's ves-
sels accruing during the war with Spain
is still delayed awaiting action by the
courts. This office has prepared the dis
tributive lists for sixteen prizes, in which
twenty-four vessels of the navy are inter
ested, and all prize money claims capable
of adjustment have been settled. 1t is
probable that during the fiscal year 1901
the prize money work of the office will be
heavy, but it is confidently expected that
it will be promptly disposed Of and that
a year hence most Of the claimants will
have been paid.
Nearly twice the number of prize claims
were settled this year as there were last.
The distributive lists of twenty-five prizes
nave been prepared, in which fifty vessels
of the navy participated. These claims are
well up to date
Judgments, bounty for destruction of
enemy's vessels have been received from
the court of claims for Manila bay, May 1,
1898: Manzanillo, June 30 and July 1S,
1s9S; Nipe bay, July 81, $685. and Mariel,
Cuba, July and ), 1898, in which twenty
four vessels are interested. The list of the
hrst has been prepared for distribution,
the remaining ones are being FASTENED with
all possible speed. The number Of these
claims will amount to about 5000 all told -
l thank you for your letter, and am glad
always to give all information. l am
Very respectfully,
JOHN D. LONG, Secretary.
Hon. Knute Nelson,
United States Senate