Evening star., 1915-02-07

ceftlned to Congress cases involving
nearly 1000 ships, the findings aggre-
eating nearly S1,000.0OO. Congress has
appropriated in years past a total OF
s3.950. 0.452.26 to pay these claims, but
for the last five or six years II has not
been appropriating. so a considera bic
balance remains Yet to be appropriated
within a very short time the lasl
of these French spoilation claims VIII
have been wound up, either certified to
Congress or dismissed. When Congress
finally appropriateS the last chapter
will have been written in this long
draWn-out controversy.
"Of course the original claimants are
long since dead, and their heirs. in
many instances several genera tions
removed. survive and are the beneficl-
aries. The evidence in the cases, docu-
mentary and taken by commissioners
of the court in many parts OF TINS
country and in Europe is Volumlnous.
Quite aside from its Importance his
torically, il sheds Il brilliant light on
the life and manners of the post-revo-
luntionary period, and is rich in ro-
ma nee and color.
The Court of Claims, in its aspect as
the place of holding post-mortems on
governmental activities. offers oppor-
tunities to the serious students of gov
ernment, but they are opportunities
quite neglected. Enthusiastic admin
istrative officers agitate for the crea =
tion of new arm of the government.
some new device warranted to serve
the public in some new and highly
beneficial way.
:.
"A generous Congress provides the
necessary funds. and ii is established
with much acclaim. And always finally
it gets into the Court of Claims. where
its activities are taken apart and eN-
amined and the final analysis made.
GO hac bap vi
ly for his experimenting; sometimes a
marked success is shown. Without
prejudice, coldly, clearly, anayltically.
the post-mortem is here conducted.
The results do not always attract large
public attention, but they are none the
less valuabl for the student
1T is a matter of qualification that
great progress has been made in the
last year in clearing up the docket of
the court. l am aware that an opinion
prevails that procedure in the Court
of Claims is slow. but such is far from
the truth When you consider the num-
ber of suits brought, the fact that the
testimony both for the claimant and
the government has frequently to be
taken in the uttermost ends OF the
earth and tremendous records, cover
ing as many as 10000 pages. are often
to be analyzed and reviewed, the busi-
ness of the Court of Claims is as ex-
peditiously disposed of as in any court
in the lanu w mere a SaSc -.
two years on the docket without being
pressed ~e move to dismiss it During
the last fiscal year more than 5,ooo
such were dismissed.
The total number of cases now pend
ing, including subnumbered claims. IS
about l3. 900 This includes some $500
sent to the court last autumn by Con-
gress Just prior to its adjournment More
than $40. 600 900 is involved in these
$4,000 cases. of which about 81, 1000
is involved in 5000 cases entered during
the year.
During the fiscal year 1914 the court
awarded caima nts-French spoilation
claimants eXcepted-a total of 1858, 5,5o5.16
although the total original claims We're
more than $4,000 900. In addition the
United States recovered on counter
claims more than $4,000. In other.
words, Uncle Sam paid to saive his con-