Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-02-24
The Dishonest Gouging Of
Uncle Sans Wallet,
Oenouncing Of Southern Cotton
Claims by Loyal Citizens.
Navy Yard Men Alleged Trying 10
Profit by Legislation.

Washington. Feb. 2S.-(Special).-
Behind all the vigorous tactics and
deep excitement of the Mann filibuster
rises the question of government
claims and the validity thereof Claim
ants undoubtedly gouge the govern
ment. Men have little conscience
about money they can obtain by hook
or by crook from the pockets of Uncle
Samuel. They will accept with great
glee twice or thrice what they are en-
titled to get and pat themselves proud
ly on the chest for having done some-
thing smart. But the cry goes forth
that the gov .nment Is not an honest
debtor. 1t has been sounded down
through the generations.
At the Caaitol men say that the
Southern cotton claims, for cotton
contiscated from loyal citizens, are
outrageous. That is what our North-
ern brethren say. They add that the
South is trying now to make us pay
once again for the Civil War and there
is undoubtedly an element of truth
III the assertion. But with equal
vehemence it is asserted that the
French Spoilation claims, for New
England cargoes which were destroyed
by French privateers on the Atlantic
III the early part of the past century
ought not to be paid. All the money
realized therefrom. of course, will go
to heirs and claims agents. The men
who lost those cargoes, knew the risks
they We're taking and all those men
have been very long time dead.
And so it is also said that the navy
yards claims are nothing but efforts to
gouge pure and simple. Men, who
worked more than eight hours day In
navy yards 80 or 40 years ago, are
trying to profit by a bit of legislation
that was undoubtedly secured by de-
signing claims attorneys who swarm
in Washington and who, in numerous
instances, have made fat fortunes
from their labors
Nevertheless whatever the merits of
these claims as a matter OF general
principle they have been advanced to
the stage where they have a legal sta
tus and where they are now beyond
question legal obligations of the Unit
ed States government They had first
TO be referred by act of Congress to
the court of claims, which was direct
cd by Congress to investigate and re-
port It's findings of facts. In every
instance these cotton claims, these
French Spoilatiop claims and these
navy yard claims, all of which we're
embodied in the bulky omnibus bill by
the Senate committee on claims and
passed by the Senate after long and
Wearlsone discussion, have been cer-
tlfied by the court of claims.
Ihls eertification by the court, which
congress itself created to prevent
frauds upon the government, makes
the claims a legal obligation upon
the government. There is not the
slightest question but what all of
them will some day be paid in full,
dollar for dollar in the amounts which
the court of claims has certified.
Senators who filibustered earlier in
the session againsi the French Spoila-
ton claims and representatives who
have recently tied up the House by
flibusterng tactics, endangered its
ability to complete the appropriation
bills by March 4. made hasty and
ill advised legislation in the closing
days certainty. promoted the OPP
portunities for getting Jobs through
and all that sort of things. are fully
aware that the government must pay.
But they know that funds are low
in the treasury. They know thatan
issue OF bonds Is impending under
embarrassing circumstances. They are
convinced that many of the claimants
are gouging the government, in spite
OF all the restrictions that the court
OF claims and other governmental au-
thorities could impose. They know
that the claims attorneys are giee-
fully awaiting the enactment of the
omnibus bill. There will be plump
melCns to cut when that occurs and
few score "t sleek gentlemen ground
Washington would have d hilarious
summer.
The fi!ibusterers know also that the
original claimants. if living. get only
lean share while the claims attor-
ncys and others to whom many or
| the claims have been assigned for
| small consideration indeed get the
| lion's share. A very large portion OF
| the claims were bought up long ago
| because the claimants had despaired or
We're ignorant of the possible value
of their cases. Those who purchased
! (often they are the claims attorneys)
and those who took up the prosecu-
ton Of the claims for fat percentage
calculated upon the dilatory govern
ment and dilatory Congresses. In re-
alty they can afford to wait years.
| at the expiration of which period.
they would realize richly on their
original outlay.
Then the government pays no inter-
ests on such claims. 1t was probably
fortunate that that practice was firm
ly and probably irrevocably established
long time ago. 1t therefore costs
the government nothing to wait.
claim of $357 for cotton confiscated
in 1865 and certified by the court of
(Continued on Page Two.)