Sunday Washington globe., 1902-03-23

the Congresses for $4,000 on account Of a
patent, OF which the Government enjoyed
'he use, military accoutrement. The
claim was allowed last week and in accord
anee with the false policy Of the nation
without interest Just think Of this and
tremblel you Government creditors, over
thirty-seveu years persistently presenting
and prosecuting a claim to the various Con-
crosses that have lived and died during all
OF this time-over one-t third Of the life Of
the Repubhc-and yet, if it were not meri-
torious IN 1906 II could scarcely have ac-
quired merit since, and, consequently,
should carry interest at per cent per
annum. Is this honesty or dishonesty 1
presume the common law maxim holds to
day! The king, the sovereignty, can do no
wrong"
One of the direct heirs of an English
gentleman who loaned George Washington.
when in dire distress at Valley Forge
where, that winter, all bloody lay the trod-
den snow-from shoeless army in rags
taking the receipt of the commander-in-
chief therefor the poor creature having
died IN this city some twenty years ago in
beggary unhallowed aud unsuug without
one cent in payment, although Congresses
after Congresses had been appealed to-
Washington personally having interested
himself with the early Congresses, when
the recipient aud the written receipt were
present in evidence. In the mutations Of
time the heirs, the death of Washington,
and OF the Congresses having ocular knowl-
edge of the receipt, the latter became lost.
When all was was LOST and this last heir-au
illiterate, but well bred gentlewoman,
washed towels for the Treasury, and
tramped over the vaults containing the
generous aid Of her noble aud patriotic
ancestor for years, whilst its non payment
had already brutalized the minds Of four
generations in direct descent thereby, i'm.
poverishing socially and intellectually
whole race and oblterating from the roll
OF national honor a noble historical name.
The Government is scrupulously exacting
in the collection OF its own debts down to
the last silver. II gives no credit or quarter
and takes undue advantage in the stinted
mercy it shows delinquents Over due
taxes, licenses and dues pay heavy penalties
in exorbitant interest rates, and its legal en-
actmeuts Of statutes of limitation, loyalty
tests, citizen tests minority tests and
identity tests in the prosecution aud allow
ance Of Federal and Congressional claims is,
to say the least, not creditable.
A debt is a debt until paid, whether the
debtor be the Government or one of the
governed, but alas the vexations DELAYS
and expense accompanying such litigation
tend to insanity and abandonment of pros
ecution in numberless cases, leaving to
society the legacy of impoverished and un.
known heirs, the whereabouts Of which is
never inquired into-the information is not
wanted-aud should perchance some lucky
heir turn up after the original had been
allowed, it would require, il seems, a new
act Of Congress to identify this fresh arrival
with the old skeleton claimant
Mark Twain has not overdrawu the pic
ture in the enormous time, labor and ex-
pense involved in the prosecution of his
celebrated Corn Beef Bill" which killed
three or four generations in the pursuit
An English critic once remarked while on a
visit to this country that we were a funny
people, a very funny people, and when
asked his reason why we were so fanny,
remarked Why. sir, said he, You peo-
pie apparently possess little personal honor
you would not believe the Savior unless he
put his parallels on paper One-third of
this nation seems to be employed in draft
ing aftidavits for another ia ird to swear TO-
and this before another third, called nota-
ries, who carry their official seals in their
pockets, and drink their fees out at the
bars"
A criticism Of the three departments of
our Government will follow, legislative,
executive, and judicial LEX.