Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-21
DAY RESIGNS TASK
. OF UMP|R|NG VAST
i. S. WAR CLAIMS
Collection of $1,47o,O64. 1913
Asked by Americans Is
Staggering Duty.
OBLIGATION RECOGNIZED
BY GERMAN DELEGATES
Both Sides Enter Negotiations
With Friendly Spirit; Parker
May Umpire.

William r. Day, former associate
| justice of the Supreme Court, today
presented to President Harding his
! resignation as umpire Of the mixed
claims commission.
Mr.. Day explained to the President
that his desire to resign was due 10
recognition of the enormous amount
OF work facing the commission with
claims amounting to $1.47s,06 900 10
be settled, and to his belief that a
younger and stronger man should be
| in charge of the work of adjusting
claims on which the American and
German commissioners are unable TO
agree. The resignation becomes eff
fective Immediately.
A former Secretary of State and for
twenty years a justice of the highest
court, Mr.. Day was regarded by both
American and German statesmen as
a particularly fortunate selection for
the post from which he now is re
firing. His appointment was by mu-
tual agreement of the two govern
ments, and the necessity Of select
ing a new umpire is expected to de-
lay somewhat the work Of adjust
IucHL On winch the claims COmmlS
sion already has entered.
Texan May Be Named.
In some quarters 1t was suggested
today that Edwin B. Parker of Texas.
the American member of the com
mission, might be chosen umpire be
cause of his familiarity with the
steps already taken toward settle
! ment of the war claims.
Justice Day had passed the retire
ment age before he resigned from
the supreme bench last October. and
he has been receiving retired pay as
well as. "a salary as umpire. He is
seventy-four years old. He said to-
rest of his life in retirement at his
home in Ohio.
The agreement with Germany for
settlement of the war claims, signed
| me commission umpire shall be
/ chosen by the two governments by
agreement and shall have voice
| In the proceedings only when the
unable to agree. At the time the
agreement was under negotiation,
| however. Justice Day was agreed
| upon for the place, with the result
! mally expressed its desire that the
President of the United States desig-
| nate the umpire. The appointment
followed Immediately.
America has filed war claims against
Germany of S1,479,064.3l392. before
! the mixed claims commission, the AS
ISOLATED Press revealed today in max
| partment by Robert c. Morris, agent
| for the United States before the COM
| mission.
The largest claimant is the United
a bill for s366.113,OOO. while the small
| est claim is for 81. filed by Emery
| Roberts. for loss Of property whtle
German prisoner of war
With this stupendous bill present
ed to the German government through
/ the commission, however. a consider
able number of other claims await
settlement through diplomatic chan
! nels.
1:,416 Claims Filed.
/ The 12,4l6 claims filed with the
| commission comprise the vast bulk
pending against Germany. but do not
include many filed after the time
limit. April 10 last, as fixed by the
commission. These are regarded as
| beyond the commissions purview be-
cause of their hardness. and are TO
be adjusted by the State Department
With the Lusitania claims, totaling
! s22, $685. 900. heading the commisson's
docket, the Associated Press states
hearings already have been begun by
| the mixed claims commission, on
| which Edwin B. Parker is the Ameri
| can commissioner and Dr. Wilhelm
! Kiesselbach the German commissioner.
| with an umpire TO be named. The
| commission plans frequent sittings.
| nj. So. 49,,
! by Mr.. Morris, American agent. of the
| facts and the law in oral arguments
and prepared briefs. Opportunity for
reply is given Karl Won Lewinski,
| German agent, to controvert facts
| and law points.
| Decisions of the commission will be
announced, it was stated, but under
| it's rules the reasons for findings need
| not be given. The umpire will func-
ton decisively only upon disagree
ment as to liability or amount of
| damages between the American and
| German commissioners.
Procedure of the commission is
| based upon that of former mixed
| claims commissions. The commits
sion is partly legal and partly diplo-
matte in its functioning, and its hear
| ings and procedure are in sessions
| closed to the public and even to
| claimants or their counsel. Mr.. Nor
| ris and his staff representing not only
| this government, but its citizens.
| Addresses made by members OF the
| commission when it was organized
| last October, the text of which was
| included. in the reports made public
| today indicate spirit of friendliness
| and cooperation between the Amer
! lean and German representatives
Justice Day. who resigned as umpire
! today said the officials of both coun-
/ tries were "actuated by the same pur-
pose, to accomplish just results, cred
| table and honorable alike to both
| the great governments represented"
| Commissioner Parker said the COM
| missions boundaries were clearly
! marked and expressed belief that
| "our task will be speedily in accord"
| while Commissioner Kiesselbach said
| his hope was for accomplishment of
, the work "in an amicable and gener-
+, Gus manner and in a spirit of mutual
| understanding and accommodation"
Fair Play Asked.
The American agent, Mr.. Morris,
spoke for "a spirit of fair play and