The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1955-01-22
Inagaki Head
Iragaki Head
New Committee
Formed To Assist
Larger Claimants

Larger Claimants
LOS ANGELES-For of a
nationwide group to represent the
interests of larger claimants who
incurred evacuation property losses
was made known this week f t e r
conferences of claimants, their at
torneys and community leaders.
Called the Committee on Japa-
nese American Evacuation Claims.
George Inagaki of Venice. Calf,
was named as its chairman.
The committee explained that a
number of larger claimants in re-
cognition of the need OF speedy
legislation to expedite the dter-
mination and payment of t h e i +
claims had requested the Japanese
American Citizens League to work
for the enactment of necessary
amendments to the basis l948
evacuation claims law such as the
compromise settlement amendment
for saller claims enacted in 1851
through JACL efforts
ALTERNATE BID
While acknowledging the need
for expediting legislation, h e
JACL had pointed out that since
only 5000 claimants remain. it
would be unfair for the organiZa
tons limited funds and facilities
to be concentrated on an effort
benefiting relatively few Japanese
Americans in the United States,
especially in the light OF JACL fl
nances being derived almost en-
tirely from membership dues rath-
er than in the form of voluntary
donations from the community at
large
Knowing of JACL's concern of
officers and membership to build
its National Endowment Fund an
alternate proposal was advanced by
the larger claimants - that the
JACL establish a special commit
tee to work solely on seeking ex-
| pediiouS amendments to the 1915
act with the full support of the
JACL and its resources. with the
JACL Washington representative
being retained to lobby for theil
enactment.
In turn the larger claimant!
agreed to meet operating expense.
and legislative fees as will as sign.
ing pldges to contribute substanti
ally to the Endowment Fund wher
their award payments were made
II was further understood that the
committees Oper expense.
would be underwritten by the elm
ants before legislative efforts t.
implement the committees Objec-
tives would be made.
PACL officials accepted the pro-
posal of these larger claimants and
thus was created. independent Of
the JACL itself the Committee or
japanese A m e r ic n Evacuation
claims with George j Inagaki Of
Venice, Calf, named its chair.
man.
BOARD SET
DR. Roy M Nishikawa of Lol
Angeles will serve as committe,
treasurer. Tad T. Masaoka of Wash
ington and Edward j Ennis o
New York as legislative represen
tative and counsel respectively
and Sho limo C.P.A. of Los Ange
les. a its auditor. These fiv,
with Chairman Inagaki will com
prise the committees executive
board
An administrative committee vii
be organized Immediately to deter
mine organizational policy and urg
remaining claimants to join in thi
coordnated action to secure needle
legislation the committee revealed
Meanwhile, Mike Masaoka an
nounced that as his own contri
button to the JACL Endowment
Fund, he would waive all persona
fees and retainers for lobbying ser
vices provided the remaining claim
ants beneficiaries of this program
signed pledges to contribute to tn
National JACL Endowment Fund