The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1921-03-22
WAR CLAIMS
FOR MILLIONS
ARE ON FILE

WASHINGTON, March S9,-Mil.
lions ot dollars-and promises " bill.
lions-arc represented In the great
tide OF law suits which is beginning
to pour into the United States Court
OF Claims as one " the results OF the
world war, Tho court ives expressly
created to determine legal coutroycr.
sizes between private citizens and the
government.
The Attorney General says tho
amount ot war claims IA enormous
and that indications are the influx
OF cases has only begun. Actions upon
claims involving approximately Sist,-
OOo, 600 have already been filed The
ultimate aggregate OF claims, It Is
estimated. will reach between two
and three billion dollars The person
mel OF the Department Of Justice
having charge OF the dctcnsc Of these
actions has been doubled to enable Il
to cope with the flood OF new lItiga-
tion.
These war claims are brought into
the court by plaintiffs having claims
against all departments OF the gov.
ernment. The War Department has
claims involving approximately S5.-
600. 900. 900. The Bureau OF Inter
nal Revenue nov has pending claims
for refunds and rebates agErcgatlng
$3.50. .OOO. 900. The Shipping Board
has cancellations OF contracts inVolv.
ing over $3.50. 100000. Claims for
patent infringement are estimated by
the Attorney General at 100000
900. The Railroad Administration
has differences with the railroads
amounting TO approximately $3.50.
600. 900.
There are also claims proportion
ately large in amount arising from
the Housing Corporation. the War
Risk Bureau, and the Food and Fuel
Administrations. and II Is known that
there Is a large amount OF other
claims OF miscellaneous character
which have not yet been filed
In preparation for the disposition
OF this new business the Court Of
Claims has so cleared its dockcts that
not only pending suits but actions
based upon these war claims are re-
oeiying immediate attention and all
cases are disposed OF rs rapidly as
they are presented. One OF the first
and most important cases. affecting
claims estimated at 100000. 900.
was begun on May Is. 1870. Judg-
ment was rendered June IS. 1920.
and an appeal was argued In the U.
8. Supreme Court on January eth.
The volume OF important adIud-
ications In the Court OF Claims dur
ing the past fiscal year" says the
Attorney General. ~ equalled. has
certainly meyer been exceeded. Since
the original act OF February %. 1858
providing a forum In which citizens
OF the United States might have their
claims against the Government ad-
judicated, the duties OF the Court
OF Claims have steadily Increased un-
der legislation enacted from time TO
time enlarging its scope. until today
II is recognized that IT'S importance
is not exceeded by any other tribunal.
Every conceivable issue between the
citizens and their sovereign founded
, upon contract. express or implied. is
presented TO that court. and in addi-
tion under the so-calied Dent Act OF
March 2. 1919. agreements entered
into during the war OF an informal
nature may be brought TO tho Court
OF Claims for award o. fair and Just
compensation. The small percentage
OF the decisions OF the Court ~
Claims reversed by the Supreme
Court OF the United States testifiCs
10 the character OF the decisions rem.
dered."
Among the claims already filed In
the court are $50. 900. 900 for ship
ping; 0.O0O, 900 for railroad 70
qyisition. s2s. 700. 900 for patent In
fringment; S2,2OO.OOO for aircraft
engines and guns; {2,000.O0O for
transportation Of troops and sup
plies; and S2.5OO,00O in suits com
menced by the packing companies.
ner has the voice and the individual
i,v eaaentIaI IN "a succesEfuI artIEtIc