Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-19
POOR JAJI.
He Now Has Claim Against the
Government.


Jaii Bin Ydris. mandarin of Buz- BuZ-may
his shadow never grow less. From across
the far Pacific ocean comes his voice in
plaintive appeal for justice to the American
Congress Poor jail Bin Ydris! He sits on
the mat-covered floor of his hut in the Phil
ippines, meditatively smoking the weed of
his choice, and waiting for the great, the
rich, the beneficent American government
to give him the need of justice rightly due
him.
For is not the great Governor Taft even
now in Washington, and did not the COVER
nor himself indorse his plea and forward it
with his own hands to his government, rec
ommendng that damages be awarded Jail
Bin Ydris Thus far jail Bin Ydrs' reason
ing holds good, for Governor Taft did for
ward the plea, and it went promptly and
surely through all the channels of red tape
until it is found at last reposing in the
pigeon hole of the committee on claims,
where it will safely slumber and grow mill
LEVIED and be-cobwebbed unless some strong
and friendly hand draws 1t forth and starts
it upon another journey through official
channels.
jail Bin Ydris poor Moro, but accord
ing to the official record friendly to the
Americans, and having rendered service to
the army as messenger and interpreter. all
OF which appears in evidence jail Bin Ydris,
former mandarin of BuZ-BuZ, feeling the
necessity of replenishing his exchequer,
loads his little native boat with merchan-
disc, for a trading cruie among the isla nds
He is licensed and certificated in due form
and authorized to carry arms. What hap
pens afterward is best told in the language
of jail Bin Ydris, set forth in his appeal to
Congress:
While off Pilas Island, about II pm. the
wind slackened and, although we had all
sails set the boat made no progress. We
had a lantern in the stern of the boat. The
night was very clear, and we were able to
see for miles around. 1 myself was on
watch and Ambung was steering. little
later we saw the red light of a steamer,
which We recognized as the United States
launch Ogden. When about 200 yards from
us she suddenly changed her course and
headed straight for my boat. We at once
shouted and waved the lantern. There was
no response from the launch, and she ran
into my boat, which Immediately filled with
water
The Ogden. ne says, then steamed away
and left them drifting, but returned an
hour later and after taking them off their
water-logged craft, the captain abused
them, he says, for getting in the road of the
launch.
The captain of the American launch was
quoted by an American officer as saying
that on the night of the accident the wife
OF an officer was sitting on the deck of the
launch and her chair obscured the view of
the steersman, and the captain added.
Damn the Moros, anyway
But what JaJl BIN urls reneS on most OF
all is this Endorsement upon the claim which
he put in for Sl,074.S0 for his boat and
cargo:
Respectfully referred to- the commission
recommending the payment of this claim
civilian II. TAFT,
civil Governor"
The commission had no funds, and the
claim is now before Congress. Who will be
the friend of jail Bin Ydris, who sits upon
his mat-covered floor, eight thousand miles
away, patiently waiting for the great Amer
lean government to do him justice?