Evening star., 1925-11-26
CLAIMS AGAINST GOVERNMENT
TAKEN OUT OF POLITICS
Business Man in Congress
Has Accomplished Big
Reform.
Underhill's Removal of
Barrier to Suits Against
U. S. Saves Expense.
BY WILL T.. KENNEDY.

Having claims against the United
States Government settled on bust
ness instead Of IL political basis Is
one Of the important reforms that
have resulted from the persistent eff
forts of a business man in Congress,
Representative Charles l.. Underhill,
Republican of Massachusetts, who as
an active member of the House Dis
trict committee is taking particular
interest in having proper legislation
for the National Capital disposed Of
in a. business like way.
He is determined that the United
States shall clean up the Main
street OF the Nation by removing the
ramshackle structures on the south
side of Pennsylvania avenue and de-
voting that big triangle from the
Capitol to the Treasury and backing
against the Mall TO sites for much
needed buildings for Government
business.
Congress now sets the value Of a
human life al $1,000. This is the
| maximum allowed, but in passing
Legislation allowing claims for loss of
| life ii is customary to take into ac-
count the age and physical condition
! of the deceased If the latter was
very young or very old, less than the
maximum is allowed
'Pull'' Varied Sum.
The man responsible for setting this
maximum is Mr.. Cnderhill, who ex-
plains that such action was necessary
To do away with gross fayoritism in
settling such claims Before this limit
was fixed the highest sum for loss
OF life went to those with the most
political pull.
The family dependent upon a poor
fisherman might, for example. re
ceive $4,000 or $4,000" Mr.. TnderhiIl
says. while the family OF a man who
In lie had strong political connections
might receive 100000 or $4,000 Ac-
tual cases like these are on record" ."
only lawyers whose business it is
10 follow such matters appreciate that
Mr.. Cnderhill, business man and not
a lawyer. has brought about a reyo-
lutionary change in the Federal prac-
tee in dealing with claims - has
caused II to waive it's traditional and
legal immunity 10 suits. He has done
something which congressional vet
Grams believed impossible. and Drac-
tlcally every one concerned is happy
over the result except a group OF
lawyers who take claims against the
Government on a percentage basis
As a result of legislation put
through Congress by Mr.. Underhill
all Government departments now have
authority themselves to settle claims
against them amounting 10 81 900 or
less. except the Navy Department.
which can settle claims up to $4,000
The Navy, because of accidents at
sea and business relations with con
tractors, has more claims on its hands
than any other department
Saves $4,000 i'm Printing.
All such claims previously had TO
go TO Congress for settlement. They
not only used up much time and
caused considerable logrolling, but ran
up high printing expenses. Since
this legislation has been in effect
about 1000 claims have been settled
by Government departments and
about $4,000 saved in printing bills
Another bill originated by Mr.. Tn
derhill and passed by Congress allows
a person who believes he has grounds
for recovering damages from the Gov
ernment under the shipping or mari
time laws to sue in an admiralty court
without going TO Congress with his
claim, as he was obliged to do previ-
ously There Is nothing TO stop him
from going to Congress if he loses in
court, but a defeat in court would
make it quite certain that Congress
would also turn down his claim. In
passing this bill of Mr.. Underhill's
Congress waived the immunity of the
Government against suits in this
class. There is no limit TO the
amounts which may be claimed in
these suits.