The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1948-12-15
Claims Queries and Replies

Editors note: This Is the tenth
Of a series Of questions and an
swers on the evacuation claims
law prepared by Edward J. En-
mis-. JACL Anti-Discrimination
Committee special counsel, and
released by the Washington Of
flee Of the JACL Ado Is q pub
lie service. This series IL based
on actual questions asked Of this
office.
Amy reader who mas general
questions relating to the law IT.
self or to procedural matters h
invited to address . letter with
stamped, seIf-addressed return
envelope to the Washington Of
flee. JACL Anti-Discrimination
Committee, Evacuation Claims
Section. 800 Fifth Street North
east. Washington ., d. G. Ques-
tions Of general interest may be
produced In this series without
personal Identification.
mo questions involving the le-
gaiity or value Of specific claims
can be answered.)
1. Q. can prove q loss Of 5000.
Would you advise me to claim
only $4,000 on the theory that the
claim would be paid more quickly
because the award would not have
to be submitted to Congress for
approval, as an award over $500
would?
A. It is true that under the Eva
cuation Claims Act awards over
$500 must be submitted to Con-
gress for approval. But 1t is not rec
commended that less than the full
amount Of your loss be claimed and
the remainder be waived solely in
order to avoid submission Of the
award to Congress. It is now known
at this time how much time and
will be involved In OBJ
tanning Congressional approval of
awards made by the Attorney Cen
sral. It is not sufficiently clear that
there will be Substantial difficulty
IN order to warrant waving any
part OF your claim. II It later de-
pelop that Congressional appro-
val viii take considerable time, It
would be possible then to consider
waving that part Of any award
over $500.
2. @. VIII you kindly clarity as
to the point that claimants who
have reasonable proof to submit
more than $500 require a Con-
gressional approval. Does that
mean that each individual under
such circumstances should shoul-
der all Of the necessary expenses
thereof or all of the above cases
VIII be handled by the Justice
Department and win place such
bills to the Congressional agenda
thru the effort Of the said depart
mcntY $3.50. ... :. 49,.
A. Undoubtedly the Attorney Cen
raj win take some action to OBJ
ain Congressional approval Of
wards made by him. In addition
my attorney who assists In obtain
ng an approval Of the award by
congress and payment in order
hst his fee approved by the Attor-
ley General will be paid. There
Mould not be any great additional
Expense involved in having the av-
rage award approved by Congress.
3. @. The railroad company had
employed me for thirty-five years.
On December 8, 1871. was dis
missed from employment and or
fered to leave my house which
was owned by the railroad. A mi i
htary squad escorted me out Of
the railroad town. Can I claim
Tor loss Of my seniority pension.
which 1 would have received IL
had been able to continue work
ing and also for expenses incur
red by having to take care Of INV
family, caused by the evacuation?
A. So far as your dismissal from
Employment on December 8. 1871
nd your loss of seniority pension |
concerned, 1t would be difficult |
r you to establish that this was l
ne to the evacuation which came
me months later. You might ar
le. however. that you could have
tten your JOB back If you had not /
en- evacuated and If this is true
U might file claim for loss of |
r pension, Before doing so you /
ght take ~ with the railroad
npany the auestiun Of having |
+-a4 =.