The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-27
TIDE OF LITIGATION INVOLVES MILLIONS: RESULT 0F B|G WAR
Amount of War Claims Enor- nous and Indications Are That Influx of Cases
 Has Only Begun
By Associated Press

Washington, February 26.-Millions 1 of dollars and promises of billions
 are represented in the great tide of
 lawsuits which is beginning to pour into the United States court of claims
 as one of the results of the World war. The court was expressly created to determine legal controversies be- tween private citizens and the govern ment.
 amount of war claims is enormous and
 that indications are the influx of cases has only begun Actions upon clans involving approximately s214.00O, ,00u
 have already been filed. The ultimate aggregate of claims. it is estimated will reach between two and three bil lion dollars. The personnel of the de : rartment of justice having charge of
 the defense of these actions has been doubled to enable it to cope with tine flood of new litigation.
 These war claims are brought into the court by plaintiffs having claims against all departments of the govern ment. The war department has claims involving approximately $5,O00, ,0O0, 900. The bureau of internal revenue now
 has pending claims for refunds and
 rebates aggregating $65O, 900. The ] shipping board has cancellations of contracts involving over $S50, ,000, 00o Claims foi patent infringement ara
 estimated by the attorney general at | s1G0, 100000. The railroad administra- tion has differences with the railroads
 amounting to approximately $750,000,- ,-
 700.
 There are also claims proportionate-
 ly large in amount arising from tho housing corporation, the war risk bu- reau and the food and fuel admins trations. and 1t is known that there is /, a large amount of other claims of mis- cellaneous character which have not l'yet been filed.
 In preparation for the disposition Of 1 this new business the court of claims has so cleared It's dockets that not only pending suits but actions based upon these war claims are receiving immediate attention and all cases are disposed of as rapidly as they are pre- sented. One of the first and most im- portant cases, affecting claims est.- mated at $100,000,000, was begun on
 May Is, 1920. The judgment was rem dered June 2S, 192v, and an appeal was
 argued in the United States supreme
 court on January (.
 The volume of important adjudi-
 cations in the court of claims during
 plc past llSCdl year, says the attorney
 general, If equaled. has certainly
 never been exceeded. Since the origi-
 nal act of February 24, 1855, providing
 a forum in which citizens of the United
 States might have their claims against
 the government adjudicated, the duties of the court of claims have steadily
 increased under legislation enacted
 from time to time enlarging It's scope
 until today 1t Is recognized that its
 importance is not exceeded by any other tribunal Every conceivable is- sue between the citizens and their sovereign founded upon contract, ex. press or implied, Is presented to that court. and in addition under the so- called Dent act of March 2. 1S1a, agreements entered into during the war of an informal nature may be brought to the court of claims for award of fair and just compensations. The small percentage of the decisions of the court of claims reversed by the supreme court of the United States testffies to the character of the de- cisions rendered
 Among the claims already filed In the court are $c0. GOO, coo for shipping. y20, 100000 for railroad requisition, $26, ,000, 600 for patent infringement, $2,200.000 for aircraft engines and guns. $2,000,0 900 for Transportation of troops and supplies. and $2,5O0. 900 ia suits commenced by the packing com- panies.