The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-20
Former Topekan Represented
U. s. in Claims Case.
1t Grew Out Of Depredations Of
Confederate Cruisers,
Claimed That u. g. Did Not Dis.
tribute An Award.
Was $4,000, 900 Shy Of s1s, $780,
900 Paid by England.

Washington. d. c.. Nov. 20.-Tho
court OF claims, In q decision Just
handed down. made q ruling in favor
OF the government, in which all Of
us l.s conventions were sustained. The
case was that of the Tudor company.
massachusetts, corporation. The
government. in the trial and argu-
ment OF the case. was represented by
Arthur J. McCabe Of Topeka, one Of
the assistant attorneys general OF the
department Of Justice.
The case grew out OF the celebrated
Geneva award. which occupied 20
prominent place in the public eye
and in the halls Of congress during
the two decades which followed the
close OF the rebellion.
| Great Britain had paid over to this
country the sum OF $16,50O,OOO in
goio, under the award Of the fnterna-
| t1onal tribunal which sat in the city
OF Geneva. Switzerland. and az pro-
vsoed Tor by the treaty Of Washing
ton. concluded between Great Britain
and the United States. Tho money
was paid on account Of the depreda-
\ tlons committed upon American COM
merce by certain Confederate cruis-
ere. principal among which was the
notorious Alabama. commanded by
Captain Raphael Semmes ana de-
stroyed off the French coast at Cher
Dourg IN the celebrated conflict with
the Kearsarge," commanded bv
captain WtnslOw of the United States
! navy.
Liability was asserted against csr..&
Britain by this country. the claim h.
ing that Great Britain had violated
| the principles OF neutrality. and. N
fact, assisted the Confederate cruia-
ers In putting to sea-
Tne amount Of the award was after
| wards distributed by congress to those
who. as owners of ships and carcoes
destroyed and as underwriters who
insured such ships and carRoes. mad
sustained loss John Sherman WAS Al
the time secretary of the treasury in
tne cabinet OF President Hayes. and
IL his method OF handling the SIS
| 100000 received from Great Britain.
1t was contended that the sufferers ~
/ the hands of the Coufederate cr,,inafs
received about $5.00O,00O less fhan
f1entfully they should have received.
suits Were brought in the courf S,f
claims against the United StatAs nv
various claimants. consisting Of COR
porations, partnerships and indfvfd,,als
to recover their respective portions Of
the amount above mentioned. and the
ease OF the Iudor company. which was
| the test case, was decided sQuarely az
| the United States government asked.
Ine nnal decision in the matter Of
these claims, which have been pending
against the government for 10 many
years. either before congress or in the
the court OF claims. is thus in favor
OF the government. and against many
hundreds OF claimants living in vari-
GUS parts of the county, whose claima
We're considerably in excess OF S6.-
i 000. 900.
! This case is one Of the bieRest
brought before the bar Of the court Of
| claims IN many years, and quite natur-
| ally Judge McCabe is being compile
mented by the legal lights in the de-
partment of justice for his success in
bringing to an end litigation involving
SO many millions Of dollars.
F. w. Blackmar Of the University Of
Kansas and H. J. Waters, president Of
the Kansas State Agricultural college
| at Manhattan. are in attendance OF the
! annual meetings of the National AZ.
sociation Of Conservation Congress now
being held in Washington. Both have
taken active part in discussions of the
| convention.
Nellie n. Wilbur has been appointed
postmaster at Wilburton, Morton coun-
ty. Kansas.
Federal postoffice, Hamilton county.
Kansas. will be discontinued ON No
| vember 30. After that date mail to
| Syracuse.
Star mail routes have been estab-
lished between the following Kansas
points: Fort Dodge to Dodge city:
Jean to Santa Fe; Dolby to Moscow.
] Special mail service from Syrncuaa
to Stowell. Hamilton county. Kansas.
| has been abolished
nnnAn nRAo - aAAaa2 go.