Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1914-07-10
SENATE DELAYS PAYMENT OF
WAX CLAIMS.

general comment that tile Unit
ed States government is willing
to pay nearly anything before
paying a claim due one OF its own
citizens, and the present delay
in payment of the war claims
favorably reported by the Court
of Claims to Congress bids fair
TO work a continuance of this
disgraceful condition of affairs.
The people of Virginia have a
very deep interest in this sub
iect. as the war claims bill, as
passed by the House last Decem-
her. carried about $235,00O to cit
liens of this State, and to
churches, lodges and similar or
CARNATIONS.
All claims included in this bill
were sent by Congress to the
Court of Claims. and were tried
by that court like any ordinary
law suit. The court found these
claims to be just. Many more.
n.ver included in any claims bill,
we're rejected as not proven on
the various material points.
This bill carries only those de-
cided favorably to the claimants.
When Congress referred these
claims to the Court of Claims,
ndinvited the citizens or or
CARNATIONS to prove their claims,
under rules of this court, Con-
gress implicitly promised that
the claims would be paid if found
Just. To construe the action Of
Congress otherwise would be to
reflect on the good faith of Con-
gress in taking that step.
1t has now been nearly ten
years since Congress has seen ut
to paw the war claims favorably
reported by the Court of Claims.
AS long as Congress was in the
control Of the Republican party
our citizens and churches were
told every Congress that the Re-
publican leaders were averse to
permitting any public money to
come into the Southern States.
and that statement was accepted
at its face value.
Within fifteen days after this
session of Congress began, the
war claims bill was passed by the
House. That action showed
what can be accomplished in the
way of expedition when there is
earnest vigor behind a measure.
The bill then went to the SEN
ate, and the people of our State
and of the Southland generally
thought it would be a matter of
a very short time when the bill
would be passed by the upper
house, under Democratic leader
ship.
The Senate committee in charge
has southern man as chairman.
The ma jor ity OF the committee
are southern men, and ore of
Virginia's sons who has been
long honored by the State, Hon.
Thomas S. Martin, is a member
of that committee.
Three months passed before
the committee reported tile bill |
to the Senate, with recommends :
ton that it pass with certain
suggested amendments. The
bill was placed on the Senate
calender last March, and ever
since that time has been in order
for passage, but no effort has
been made to take it up. AT the
same time, however, numerous
bills for payment OF special pen
sion claims, aggregating hum
dreds of thousands Of dollars
have been passed by the Senate,
and have become laws.
It is difficult for people of tie
South to understand why their
measure should be permitted by
southern Senators to be crowded
) side. while other sections OF the
country seem to be more favored.
II would seem painfully plain
that if Congress under Demo-
cratic control fails to pay claims
Of our people, found just by
court appointed by the govern
~ NJ then these claimants can
expect no help from any Republic
can administration which may
follow later.
Failure to pay just claims IS a
discr edit to the nation, as was
poi nted out in a message sent TO
Congress BY President TAFT
uearly four years ago. bis sng
restion to Congress went UNI
hea ded, however.
-. situation is now in the
Ss~e~~f xarg |