The Washington herald., 1911-02-19

As the great House filibuster against
the omnibus claims bill gradually closed
in yesterday to strange the chances of
zens of the District of Columbia sank
into immeasurable depths. There are
several score OF claimants of Uncle
Sans bounty living in Washington. Most
OF them, as heirs or administrators of es-
tates of deceased persons, are bona fide
claimants of sums which the govern
ment admits it has owed for years, but
which it seems Impossible to collect,
even through act of Congress.
If this government had been an in
dividual it would have been in the peni-
tentiary long ago were the words of a
member who addressed the House many
years ago on the subject of unpaid claims
The expression was recalled yesterday
as in the face of substantial ma jority,
Representative Mann and a few able as
sistants took the blame for having Uncle
Sam again stand off his creditors.
Bill Attracts Attention.
There was much comment concerning
the mysterious stranger. in the shape
of an omnibus bill. which Unexpectedly
arose and blocked the pathway OF pub
lie business in Congress. and the query
was put forth as to what il was,
whence it came. how it happened to be
sticking cross-w wise in the channel Of
affairs in the House, and who were its
benefciarics.
The measure got before the House
by reason of the fact that there sud
denly appeared a majority in favor of
its passage. Friday. according to the
rules of the House. is set aside for the
SiderdtlOn of the private calendar,
unless the House votes to do otherwise.
The omnibus claims bill was on the
private calendar, and its handsome ma
jority kept II from being TelCgated in
favor of other business. Representa-
tive Mann. however. has decided that
the measure shall not come to vote.
He is apparently due to win the day
with his tilibustcr.
Two Thousand Affected.
The omnibus bill is made up of claims
affecting about zoo persons, and it pro-
vides for the distribution among them of
8. o946. The claimants are scattered all
the original claimants, never knew what
the original claim was all about until
their lawyers spread forth the necessary
proofs in the Court of Claims.
1t is President Tafts own recommenda-
tion that all of these claims be gathered
together and paid. He mentioned the
subject in his last annual message TO
Congress.
War claims. in which individuals and
churches. mostly in the South. await
payment for property destroyed or con-
hScatcd during the war. make UP d GOodly
portion Of the omnibus bill. 1t is set
forth in the report that the loyalty 10
the Union flag of the individuals in Ques-
tion was fully investigated by the Court
of Claims in each instance.
As the omnibus bill passed the Senate
it cOntainedt ne long -withstood French
spoliatiOn claims. which arose from il
legal captures. detentions, and seizures
OF ships and other property prior to
the ratification of the convention between
the United States and the French re-
public in 1900. The House committee
struck them from the bill. The House
majority in favor OF the measure in
sisted that the bill should contain them.
These claims aggregate SS42,6 ,6SS.
District Large Beneficiary.
The District OF Columbia is mentioned
in the bill as the largest beneficiary of
that branch of obligations known as
the overtime claims" Most of the
claimants under this class were en-
ployed at the various navy yards from
1873 to 1852. during which time an order
was in force allowing overtime to work
men who cared to labor more than eight
hours d day.
Notwithstanding the terms Of the order.
those who labored in excess of eight