Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-28
UNCLE SAM IS SLOW
To PAY AND CANNOT
Be FORCED TO MOVE
Large Claims for Delaware Lend
Taken for War Purposes Still
Unsettled.
ALSO, BIG BILL FOR FOOD

Special Dispatch From Evcry Evening
washington Correspondent.
Washington, Jan. 2S.-Representative
Caleb r. 1ayton said today he expected
= hearing before the committee on claims
AZ an early date on his bill providing for
the compensation of landowners whose
nroperty was damaged by the War De-
nartmcnt when railway was built from
Mount Pleasant TO Port Penn, on the
Delaware river. About $780, 900, it is
believed would be fair amount to allow
the citizens whose property WAS con-
demned.
The War Department is perfectly willing
to allow the Delaware claimants q reason
able compensation, but without the
sanction of Congress it cannot use a penny
for this purpose. The necessities of the
war required that the railway be construct
ed and that the work be done with the ut
most speed. A munitions factory WIS
erected at Port Penn and the railway from
Mount Pleasant provided the easiest
means for moving the output OF the plant.
DIR. Layton SAYS the land that WAS so
cut up to provide right of way for the
railway that it WAS made useless for agri-
cultural purposes, and the owners have
thereby lost considerable money. 1t was
condemned in the ordinary legal way and
no government official has indicated that
the citizens deprived of the use of their
property are not entitled to recover Just
damages.
1t seems, however, that unless somebody
keeps the matter stirred up from time to
time, the claimants will have a long time
to wait for their money. In the first
place, legislation must be enacted and
this must run the gauntlet Of scores OF
other bills and in the end may be caught
In legislative jam. The Delaware dele
CATION is anxious TO avoid this and will
therefore keep right on the job, DIR. Lay
ton said.
'Uncle Sam can't be coerced," said
DR.. Layton. ''No power on earth can
mandamus Congress, and no claim, no
matter how just, can be paid until the
legislative branch of the government
has authorized an appropriation. Those
Delaware claims arc IN every way Just
and equitable and should have immediate
consideration. But the trouble Is there
are hundreds of other just claims demand
ing attention and the needs of the citizens
of Delaware are not very pressing to
statesmen who do not represent that State
in Congress"
1t is expected some Wilmington at
torneys will argue the matterbefore the
committee on claims when it comes up
for hearing This, however, may not
be deemed necessary, for in reality there
IS no opposition to the bill. The only
matter for the committee to determine
is its regularity.
The Delaware claims are only few
of many that have so far been able to find
no right of way through Congress. This
p giving STATESMEN serious concern.
They arc wondering if some means cannot
be devised by which comparatively IN
significant claims on the government can
be attended to without requiring the use
of valuable Congressional time. II is
true. they say, that not dollar can legally
be paid out without Congressional sane
tion, but, it is argued, some tribunal ought
to be created that could recommend the
appropriation making 1t mere matter
Of form for Congress TO make the money
svailable.
ssI am trying to collect thousand
dollar bill for man who fed some OF our
scamen during the wal" said DIR. Law
ton" The claim Is perfectly just and so
recognized, but before the navy can allow
it, Congress must pass special bill and
make special appropriation. The man
to whom this money is owed is not able,
financially, to wait an indefinite period
for its payment. He needs the money
now"