The Washington times., 1902-09-01
FIRST TRIAL BEFORE
WORLDS TRIBUNAL
Pious Fund Claim Case Be-
gins at The Hague Today.
REPUBLICS SELECT JUDGES
Disagreement Exists Between Mexico
and the United States-One Million
Dollars of Withheld lnterest Is at
Stake.

The first trial before the worlds tri-
bunal will begin at The Hague today, the
''Pious fund claim" which has been a
matter of disagreement between this re-
public and Mexico since the cession of
Upper California to the United States. in
1913. being the first case tried.
The great International Worlds Tri-
bunal consists of eighty judges. appoint
ed by twenty -four nations. Each nation
has the right to two. three, four or five
judges, as it may choose.
The United States has selected Sir
Edward Fry, formerly chief justice Of the
English court Of appeals, ald DR.. F..
Martens, of Russia, as its umpires
in the "Picus fund" case Mexico has
named Senor Chelli, an Italian Judge Of
note. and DR.. Lohman. Dutch magis-
trate of the highest rank. These four
gentlemen. will select fifth member from
the eighty judges who compose the tri
bunal to complete the court, No nation
can select one of its own citizens.
Origin of Fund.
The "Pious fund.- had it's origin as far
back as the year 1857. 1t was contributed
by charitable persons for the purpose
of supporting and founding Roman Cath
oiic missions in the CALIFORNIA; to con-
vert the heather of that region. The
gifts were made in trust to the Jesuit
S1ciety. In 1867 the society was ex
u 4 t,x,
order of the Spanish crown. The fund
was taken charge of by the crown. which
had also taken over the property OF the
Jesuit order. 1t was administered by
commission appointed for that purpose.
When Mexico became an independent
nation she succeeded Spain in the trust,
continuing TO use the fund for the sup
port of the missions.
When Upper California was ceded to
the United States by Mexico. the latter
county refused to pay to the Roman
Catholic Church there its portion of the
interest on the "Pious fund.- The pref
ates of California made claim for the
arrears before the mixed commission OF
1865 Sir Edward Thornton was the
umpire.
1ne delegates from the two republics
disa greed, and the umpire held that
the interest CT the fund should he III
vided equally between the Catholic
churches in Upper and Lower California,
and that Mexico should pay to the Upper
California church an annual interest Of
s43.0S0.99. For twenty years elapsing
between 1S4S and 1869 this amounted to
s904, ,700.79, and the amount was paid in
full
no Subsequent Payments.
The government Of Mexico made no
subsequent payments. however. No ac-
tion was taken in the matter until 1897,
when, on complaints made by the Roman
Catholic bishop of California. Minister
Powell Clayton was ordered to vigorously
press for the payment of over $1,000 eco
Of withheld interest.
This Indebtedness was repudiated by
Mexico, that government claiming that
the umpire, Sir Edward Thornton, had
exceeded his jurisdiction, which did not
extend beyond the time Of the treaty
At the Pan American conference last
winter an agreement was made to submit
the case to the supreme court of the
world, the international Tribunal.
An American Girl.
Miss Margaret ~ Hanna. an American
girl. from salina. Kan. will act as the
official translator in the "Picus fund
case. Miss Hanna is daughter of f.
p. Hanna. solicitor geWral in the office
of Judge Advocate of the Navy, who was
attorney -eneral for the Government at
the Schley court of inquiry.
She has been connected for the past
six years with the office ~f the Second
Assistant Secretary OF State, as the con-
fdential clerk of Secretary Adee She |
has distinguished herself as a translator |
Df Spanish and French, and IS cipher |
dispatch clerk.