The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-10-25
CLAIMS AGAINST j.
S. UP in BILLIONS
COURT OF CLAIMS WILL CONSID-
Err AMOUNTS HERETOFORE
UNHEARD OF

Westinghouse. P.)-The court
of claims has reconyened with a cal
endar OF cases for the winter term
which, in the aggregate amount
claimed and the novelty and import
ance of the issues involved, exceeds
all litigation ever before pending
against the government at any one
time. The amount involved in the
cases now pending is approximately
$2,500, 100000 mostly arising out of
the world war.
Claims filed against all depart
ments of the government, among
which are a large number that never
have reached the court, include the
following: the war department, in
which claimants have filed claims in
volving approximately $4,000, 100000;
the bureau of internal revenue, which
has before it claims for rebates and
refunds aggregating many millions;
the shipping board, where the amount
of cancellations alone amounted to
over $850,000,000; claims for patent
infringement estimated by the depart
ment of justice at $500, 100000; claims
made by the railroads which as filed
with the railroad administration
amount to approximately $2,250, ,0OO,-
600; claims proportionately large
arise from the housing corporation,
war risk bureau, food and fuel ad-
minisrations, and there are also a
large number of claimh of miscel-
laneOuS character.
The variety of the claims is almost
unlimited They include actions for
requisitioning of ships and railroads,
transportation of troops, ammunition
and supplies, infringement of patents
for high explosives, submarine boats
and torpedoes, wireless and radio ap-
paratuS; contracts for anti-aircraft
engines and guns, military and naval
supplies and ammunition, apprOpria-
ton of camp sites and naval bases, to-
gether with contracts for manufac-
turing and acts of communicating of
almost endless diversity.
Many novel and Interesting ques-
tions are raised in the court, especial
ly in suits for infringement of patents
The petition of one inventor claims
81 ,000, 900 for the little pocket books
of stamps which are sold at every
post office. Another claims that as
early as 1905 he invented a gliding
machine involving the principles up
on which every airplane operated by
the government is constructed, and
if successful he may recover $10,000,-
600. The sum of $995000 is asked for
infringement in the manufacture of
torpedoes, and about $30,000,000 for
radio apparatus.
One test case is brought by a saw
ingh bank to determine the liability
of the government for stolen govern
ment bonds and coupons, and if sue
cessful will result in other suits
which, it is estimated, will swell the.
governments liability to $3.50, Corr.
Claims are made for injuries loc.r-
son and property by mail truckso. nd
reimbursement is claimed by farh FRS
for destruction of lands and crops by
mail planes. Owners of in
toxicating liquors whose supplies
have been confiscated by prohibition
enforcement agents seek idemnity in
money damages.
In preparation for the disposition
of such a tremendous accession of
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 i'm
attention. All cases are dis
posed of as rapidly as they are pre-
pared and presented by counsel.