The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-03
By HAL SMITH.

u OVERS of adventure aud makers of romance have
d overlooked of the richest mines of magma
; \ 4 ton and fact that is stranger than fiction
I the federal pigeon holes and dossiors in which
pathetic appeals Of tho eternal claimant en-
bamed in red tape and buried for the curiosity of tho
i future Mark Twain's story of the inheror of John
Wilson McKinzics claim for sixty barrels of beef
tracted be furnished TO Sherman army, which pro-
il visions decayed while tho contractor trying to
\ catch up with Sherman his famous E'march to the
sea," " is cxaggcraton of the stuff of which humor
or to be found the archives of Uncle
Sam at Washington.
\ Thousands of claims are on file in the capitoline
and departmental archives of the United States govern
ment The mahogany filing cabinets of the house and
senate committees claims stuffed with them;
SO the jacketed envelopes, each bound with its
II cross of red ribbon like Knight of Malta in the
nrhiveS of the file clerks of congress- while the record
divisions state and departments contribute
their quota Of documents relating to claims running up
Il into the millions that would give Mulberry Sellers
Termination OF blood in the brain should noncha-
i lanty careless juggcr of millions attempt to COM
Epute the total
81 Almost countless millions have already been paid
}by Uncle Sam in claims since the foundation of the
governmen No computation of the tota loss
has been made But tho paid claims compared with
Those which have these many years been camoripg for
e|recoguitiou payment, after their Justice has
been determined in the courts like the pebble 10
ing of the destruction capture by French
sIpr pryatcers of American merchant craft plying be-
Tween tho American coast Holland and the Indies have
been banded about Washington, from capitol to White
House to court of claims and back for more than Il
century, but paid in full Not longer than last
Dccember bill for the payment OF 100000 worth Of
Athem killed in congress by the determined oppos
ton Of Senator Bristow of Kansas OF all the claims
in American history these the most associated with
great events and great sacrifices. First time, they
arc also first in character for they spring from the
very cradle of the republic and the trials of infancy
ITO comprehend them first know how American
Independence won; how, secondly, at later date
4 peace was assured While men and governments
= MORTAL these claims to be immortal. They have
outved the original sufferers and at least three genera
D1ioDs of those who have ably but unsucccssfully
3 Fought for their payment i'll congress.
These spoliations occurred during the trouble be-
tween this country and France at the close of the
Eighteenth century. There declared war be-
eltween the two countries but almost state of war
There two frgate actions in which the American
A 0frgato under Truxton both fights, but never
declaraton OF Tho whole number OF American
Merchant vessels despoilcd by France 2290 The
prginal estimate of their value $200000O0 Some
100000 have been paid for, but this is all. France
Fas liable for these losses. We made claim against
4 her for damages. The French back with their
= couDterclaim that had given her guaranty in
he treaty of 177S for her West Indian possessions
Fhich were then assailed by tho British and that
shad refused to make good these treaties.
III Tho colonies had been engaged in their terrible
rugge for independence. 1t seemed so hopeless that
Washington formally notified congress that unless
osat change took place the army must 'starve, dis
gye or dsperse" This cloud was dissolved by Ben
frauklin treaty of l77s with France, whereby that
o2cwerfu nation assured independence and the
nlted States IN return guaranteed the French
r French possessions the West Indies. In case of
lcppture between France and Great Britain the Ameri
nation ito was was to become an ally and help France
petain the west indian islands and Granada and Cay
dime on the mainland France during the revolution
her S e0%Pdet @ t. as $50 s am It the
thousands of lives. of years had hardly
assed before all of monarehicaI Europe was arraycd
adganst republican France. The conduct United
Sa during the war between France and Britain
l5@rga to become ally Of France against the Brit
T. yh led to retaliation upon our merchant craft, tho
ss nd 1900 s0'' '''"''A LOO
dT~ ~HE French spoliaton claims were for damages
sustained the shipping of Americans at the ha uds
teF the French France admitted the Justice Of the
no tsi"s lhe United States that the perpetual
warranty made to France in our treaty of alliance
expose us to national claim Of damages from
Fance. The result was the negotiation in 1900 of a
MRa'3 py "nich france gave the United States full
Uease from al her national countercaims in cousid-
-Htoh Oh Inc United States taking over and paving
u"Tfe ufe CLAIMS OF American shippers against tho French
sswpvernment. The American governmenf roco;,,d ,h
benefit Of this settlement but never Maid ito
,r3t"eh9 dollar whose property had been sacrificed
secure ", Some fifty favorable reports have been
yoreoe on these claims They have been espouseA by
award Everett, Daniel Webster Caleb CUSHING Rnfns
5pnoate, Hannibal Hamlin Charles Sumner md othor
statesmen They have passed first one house
- 'hen tho other, but only twice have they passed
Vn branches Of congress during tho same congress-
gone 70 'ho president In both cases they were
so'a, once by Folk, then by Pierce Efforts to
efrde the presidential vetocs failed by maroin ~
I'm W. Eotes "othirds being obtained in neither casa
In ~ u Ts na1ms such as these such n gamt and
al
tf th appeals or thousands Of others until the mimi
abseoust iades away family in the appeal of
Ia 'eduenL generations Not all claims filed w;tb .on
~ os or the government meritorous some that
IL merltorlous are scaled down in tho courts ~ ~
1&tooW OF the original fpurc Rnt thrnnlri L.. y. W -