The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1908-02-20
SOUTHERN COTTON CLAIMS.
Justice rIay Finally Be Done to
War Sufferers.
Washington, Feb. II, 'o8.

bill conferring upon the Court o
Claims jurisdiction to conside
claims for captured and abandon
ed property, principally cotton
which was sold and the proceeds
thereof placed in the United States
Treasury, probably will be passed
by the House at an early date.
AS stated in these dispatches, the
Committee authorized Mr.. Cooper
of Texas, to draw a bill and re-
port it. There were two or three
bills, including one introduced by
Representative Watkins, of Lou.
isiana, which was copy of the
substitute for the Money bill, re-
ported in the Senate last Con-
gress, pending before the Commit
tee and the new measure submit
ted by Mr.. Cooper contains the
Salient features of all. The Com
mittee considered the question
again today and unanimously de-
eided that the bill should be re-
ported to the House without furth-
er delay. The unanimity of action
in committee indicates that the
measure will have little or no op-
position if it can be brought be-
fore the House. But to remove
any question Of seetienalism that
might be raised, the Committees
report will be prepared by Repre-
sentative Charles B. Law, Re-
publican, and lawyer of New
York. The Committee will now
bring influence to bear upon Speak
er Cannon to permit the bill to
come before the House. The bill
provides:
NThat jurisdiction be, apd is
hereby given, to the Court of
Claims to adjudicate the claim or
claims of any owner or the legal
representative of any owner to the
proceeds of any abandoned or cap
tured property which have hereto'
fore been placed in the United
States Treasury, notwithstanding
any former suit to recover said pro-
ceeds may have been dismissed by
said court for want of jurisdiction;
provided that suit to recover the
same shall be commenced within
two years from the passage of this
act,
"Seetion 2. That any testimony
afidavlts, reports of officers and
other papers on file in the Depart.
ment or in the courts relating to
such claims, shall be considered
by the Court as competent evil
dence; provided, that such testi-
mony, afidavits, reports of officers
and other papers were competent
evidence at the time thew were so
filed.
"Sec. 8. That no judgment
shall be rendered in favor of any
claimant under the provisions of
this act, unless said claimant shall
establish the fact that the proceeds
OF the property used for were con.
verted into the Treasury of t e
United States, and became part
of the fund known as the captured
and abandoned property fund, un-
der the provisions of the act of
March II, 1868, and the acts
amendatory thereof, and is now a |
part of the general fund of the
United States Treasury, and all
such judgments rendered under
this act shall be paid to the origi-
nal owner, his heirs or legal rep
resentatives, by the Secretary of
the Treasury, out of any moneys
in the Treasury not otherwise ap-
propriated.
"Sec. q. That all sales, trans
ters, or assignments OF any claims
against said fund heretofore or
hereafter made, and all contracts
heretofore made for fees and al
lowances to claimants attorneys
are hereby declared null and void,
and warrants issued by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury in payment of
such judgments shall be made pay
able and delivered only to the
claimant or his lawful heirs, exc
cutors, or administrators, except
so much thereof as shall be allow
ed claimants attorneys by the
Court for prosecuting said claims;