New-York tribune., 1919-07-07
Bill Awaiting Presidents
Signature Bars Them in
All Actions for Claims
Against the Government
Provision Due to Baker
Thousands Who HadFigured
on Benefit of Washington
Experience Are Affected
By Carter ield
NeaU York Tribune
Washington, Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, July 6.--Literally
thousands Of lawyers who accepted COM
missions in the War Department during
the war will be barred from all suits
and claims against the government by
section of the new army bill, now
awaiting signature by the President to
become law.
The section was slipped into the bill
at the request Of Secretary of War
Baker during the rush to get the ap-
preparation measures through before
the end of the fiscal year, and seems
to have attracted no attention, al
though it will be highly embarrassing
to lawyers just out of the army who
thought that their experience in Wash
ington would be helpful to corpora
tions having claims against the gov
ernment.
Following is the text of the amend
ment, which will become law unless the
President vetoes the army bill, which
no one expects:
prosecution of claims by former
governments employees: That it shall
be unlawful for any person who, as
commissioned officer of the army, or
officer or employe of the Unitd States,
has at any time since April 6, 1917,
been employed in any bureau of the
government and in such employment
been engaged on behalf of the United
States in procuring or assisting to pro-
cure supplies for the military estab-
lishment, or who has been engaged in
the settlement or adjustment of con-
tracts or agreements for the procure
ment of supplies for the military es-
tablishment, within two years next
after his discharge or other separation
of
solicit employment in the presentation
or to aid or assist for compensation in
the prosecution of claims against the
United States arising out of any con-
tracts or agreements for the procure
ment of supplies for said bureau
which we're pending or entered into
while the said officer or employe was
associated Herewith. A violation of
this provision of this chapter shall
be punished by fine Of not more than
$4,000 or Imprisonment for not more
than one year, or both"
General Johnson Hit
There are some army. officers who
think that this amendment was writ
ten specifically with view to prevent
ing certain officers lately with the War
Department but now connected with
firms of attorneys who expect to do
are already doing big business, in
pressing claims against the War De-
partment. One officer who was men
toned by several army officers to-day
as being especially hard hit by this
legislation is Brigadier General Hugh
johnson. General Johnson made a rec
ord while working under General Crow
der on the draft arrangements. This
work, had he remained there, would not
have brought him within this legisla-
ticn, but later he had to do with pro-
curement of supplies.
While the army appropraticc bill
was before the Senate Secretary Baker
sent the amendment to Chairman Wads-
worth OF the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs, with letter. in which,
after reciting that the Attorney Gen
eral had ruled that existing law did not
meet the situation, he said:
Fears Misconslruction
"Since the department, after the
signing of the armistice, undertook the
adjustment G outstanding contracts
for supplies, necessity for completion
OF which was terminated by reason of
the suspension of hostilities, there
have sprung up a number of agencies
holding themselves out as able to offer
special facilities to contractors in the
adjustment of contracts with the de-
partment, and stating or implying in
some instances that their services are
of particular value by reason Of
former connection of persons in those
organizations with the government ser
vice, and intimating that their services
are indispensable to the contractors if
they are to secure a settlement salts
factory to them. While it is recog-
nlzed that persons formerly EMPLOYED
by the government have unde ertaken
private employment in prosecution of
claims in entire good faith and that
their services may in many instances
be of legitimate value, nevertheless |
feel that the connection 6f former
oftcers OF the army, or other employees
OF the government, with such organiza-
-: