The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-03-14
Government Honesty.

States, which, 1T is repeatedly as
serted in Congress and on the
stump, is a government of the
people, by the people and for the
people, should, nevertheless, be
in important respect less regard
full of the rights of the people
than any other civilized Govern
ment, including those which
we have been accustomed to call
the effete despotism of Europe.
In the transaction Of its affairs
it is necessary TINT any Govern
ment should be brought into con-
tractual relations with its citizens
or subjects, and that in deter
mining the mutual rights and
duties growing out of the situa-
ton the same differences and the
same questions as to responsible
ity and damages should arise as
between citizens. It is also true
that the Government and the
citizens come into the relation of
debtor and creditor and creditor
and debtor in many other ways,
and that there have consequently
always been large numbers of
demands on the Government.
Under the tyrannical Emper-
ors and Kings, who rule abroad,
any one who has a claim against
his Government can go into any
Court in which one subject can
sue another and sue his Govern
ment, and if he gets judgment it
is paid at once by the Treasury
without further question. Here
the right to bring suit in any
way, which was accorded only
about fifty years ago, when the
Court of Claims was established,
is confined chiefly to contracts,
and judgments are not paid I'M
til after an appropriation by Con-
gross. Suits must be brought
within six years of the time the
right to sue accrued, and no in
terest is allowed. If, on the 9TH
er hand, the Government has a
claim against a citizen there is no
limitation of time. It can and
does pursue him to the end of
his life and eXacts interest to the
last minute. Is there any reason
in business and fairness plhy the
Government should not pay in
terest on the admitted debt it de-
iberately refuses to settle?
None but the power Of the stron-
gest, and if it had to pay interest
it would be prompter and more
honest in paying its debts.
Take a single instance of the
sort of justice it metes out to its
citizens. During the war Of
1912 a citizen Of Ohio named Piatt
contracted with the War Depart
ment to furnish supplies for the
army when it was on the point of
scattering for want of them.
He came to Washington to get
his money, hung around there in
the vain attempt to be paid until
his means were wholly exhausted
when he was seized and put into
the debtors Jail where he died.
More than half century later
his heirs, after a tedious suit, re-
covered the principal of what
was owed him, but without a
cent of interest.
Take what are known as war
claims. France after her war
with Germany settled every
claim for less or property taken
and used within five years.
This country has put off
the righteous demands of thous-
ands of her citizens for fifty
years. During the secession war
citizens of Northern States who
furnished supplies to the Govern
ment were paid cash, while in
states like Kentucky. Missouri.
Tennessee, West Virginia and
alsoin the states further South.
property was appropriated by the
Government and never paid for.
The owners vainly clamored for
justice till finally Congress told
them to go to the Court of Claims
and prove their cases There.
having been put to heavy ex-
pense for lawyers and evidence,
they were streruously resisted
by Government counsel and their