Nebraska Newspapers

    Pension , Indian Doprodntlon , Land , Mining , Patent and Postal
1 Claims to Bo Prosecuted Without Fear
OP Favor and at otho Least
Possible Expense.
'
NEBRASKA , IOWA , KANSAS AND SOUTH DAKOTA.
Offices Opened In Omnha nnd In Washington to Facilitate
the Work of Securing Speedy
Recognition for All
Patrons.
There Are Thousands of Veterans Entitled to Pensions Who
Have Never Secured Them and These
Should Write for In
formation.
There Are Thousands of Pensioners Who Are Entitled to
an Increase and Those Should Also
Learn What is Due
Them.
The Bee Bureau Will Exclusively Handle All the Busines
Originating In the Territory Referred To
and Old Soldiers Should
' Remember It.
A
About three months ago n now departure
was inaugurated by the San Francisco Ex
aminer , now the loading paper on the coast.
Its proprietor , Mr. Hearst , son of the late
Senator Hearst of California , who has a very
largo fortune at his command , : enc jlved the
doa of establishing a bureau of claims at
\Vashlngton , manned by the ablest lawyers
nnd specialists conversant with the routine
work in the various departments and bureaus
of the govornmrnt.
When the announcement of this now departure
parturo was made negotiations were at once
ontorcd into between TUB BEE nnd the pro
prietor of tha Examiner to loin hands and
mutually share m the enterprise. These
arrangements have been perfected nnd agree
ments entered Into by which Tin ; BKI : is to
roscculo all claims arising in the territory
yvftWiftiE BEE enjoys so oxtonslvo a sub-
bus , on patronage.
OTidor this mangomcnt , all applications
for claims , either lor pensions. Indian dop
rcdations , land or mining claims , patent or
postal claims in the states of Iowa , Kansas
. ' outh Dakota nnd Nebraska , will bo taken
> { baud by Tnu BKE Bumuu OF CLUMS In
tt Jinnlin and through it forwarded to ncad-
\ quarters nt Washington where they will bo
' / prosecuted to a final and speedy conclusion.
' TIIK Bic : takes pleasure in offering to nil
Its patrons and all others , the services of its
now bureau which , wo have no doubt , will
provou great ad vantage to them , both In
prosecuting now claims to a successful tssuo
and In expediting all old claims entrusted
to TUB Iiii : : bureau.
Tin : BKI : BUIIKAU OFCLAIMS has frequently
been referred to In these columns , butup to
the proionl time , no roforoncohas been made
to the manner In which its important work is
performed. This is ono of the most interestIng -
Ing features connected witn the enterprise.
TIio Bureau's Counsel.
To begin with , the services of ihroa most
omlnen councilors bavo been retained.
These are A. L. Hughes , O. E.V oiler nnd
P. J. Btltlci' . yrhoy nro denominated "gen
eral counsel. " ' They nro men of mature
yearn nnd learned In the law. They have
mndo a , specialty of practising in the
United States supreme , circuit nnd district
courts , the United States court of claims
and bofoio all the departments and bureaus
of the government. They are qualified to
pass upon the general merits of any claim , as
soon as It is presented. This saves a great
deal of time , because when u claim has been
passed upon by thorn , it Is generally ono
which is entitled to standing in court.
When n cla m Is rejected by thorn , it moans
that it is oltbor outlawed or that it lacks cer
tain elements which would lead to Its final
approval.
Examiners and Experts.
\ Besides these gentlemen there are also a
practising attorney , an examiner and export
In each department In which TIIK BKB pro
poses to prosecute claims , namely , these of
patents , pensions , postal aud land claims and
Indian depredations , in fact in any depart
ment In which a ciaim'may arUo against the
federal government. Thcso attorneys pro-
pate the petitions aud tend to the claims be
fore the several courts , while the examiners
and exports make a specialty of searching
the rocoids and arranging the the ovldonoo
necessary to strengthen the claim.
The gentleman charged with this duty re
garding Indian depredations has bcon the as
sistant chief examiner of thcso claims la the
Indian bureau of the Interior department for
many years. His comprehensive knowledge
of details , facts , status of nnd evidence in
the cases heretofore illod or the outbreaks
out of which others yet to bo filed have
orison , renders his services extremely valu ,
nblo.
nblo.Then
Then tvoro is a general manager , John
Wcddorburn. For years ho was private soo-
relary to Senator Hearst , the father of Hon.
William Hearst , thn projector of the present
enterprise. He has also bcon for years iho
Washington correspondent of the San Fran
cisco Examiner , with which TIIK Bir. : is now
co-operating. Ho is a man of universal In
formation and is especially adapted to the re-
tponslblu position he now holds.
Than this force none moro capable could
bo found In the country. Its services have
been retained at proat expense oy the bureau ,
tbosolailes olono reaching at tha present
time f l.bOu'per month.
A 3 has Doon stated , the San Francisco Ex-
nmlncr inaugurated the enterprise , nnd
through It TIIK BKK was allowed to establish
its bureau for the accommodation of claltn-
nnts in South Dakota , loivu , Nebraska and
Kansas. This privilege was llrst , of all the
papers In the country , extended to Tim BBK ,
because of Its known pluck , enterprise and
energy.
The undertaking , however , has attraotod
o much attention throughout tbo country
jjnd hocn so greatly appreciated by old
oTd"Tors , Indian victims , and defrauded gov
ernment claimants , that leading papers else
where have nskod to bo admitted to enjoy
thu privileges of the bureau. Among thoio
papers there Is a ; loading ono in Minnesota
nnd others In Boston , Cnicinimtl , St. I.ouls
Atlanta nnd Now Orleans. It Is thought that
Mr. Hoaist , the proprietor of The Examiner ,
and the gentleman who Inaugurated the sys
tem , will grant the application.
ClniniH Coming in ,
TIIK BKU CLAIM BUIIIUU has not been In
existence lonu' , and yet It has lUted Indian
depredation claims , aggregating$150.000 and
the amount is being constantly inluod to.
This U a remarkable showing , and yet it is
but u fraction of the claims that roinalu un
recorded and unpaid in the states controlled
by THE HKK Buui-uu OK CI-AIMS , namely ,
South D.ikota , Nebraska , Iowa aud Katuiu.
On March ! ! , of this year , un act for the
payment of Indian depredations claim * was
approved. To thU act it U necessary to di
rect iho attention of ovcry claimant who has
suffered ut the hands of the Indians. This
refers to these victims whoso claims Imvo al
ready boon filed as wall us to these who still
contomplatn flung them. Up to the duto in
question , thousands of sufferers had tiled
their claims with attgrnoyg In all parts of the
country nnd In most cozca wcro charged ox-
cosslvo fees. Many of the claims , too , had
noon pending for years. Satisfied that , in
many cases the claimants had contracted with
thu attorneys In question , and without four of
prtnecutlon for annulment , could not transfer
their claims to other agents or attorneys who
might oxpodlto the collection , congrms uu-
Uertooic to alTord tha desired vollof. This it
did 4n tbo act In question.
To Itocovor for Inilt ut Ooproil-x tlons
| I'artles doilrlug to avail themselves o Una
ucnelluof thu not In question regarding tbo
of claims growing outot Indian
should forward to ; TUK Bcu
Buitmu OP CLAIMS power of attorney grant
ing authority to appear In their case in the
court of claims. They should also furnish n
detailed statement of the loss , Including each
spoclllc article lost , Its value , date , county
and state , band or tribe of Indians commit
ting depredations , names and present ad
dresses of .witnoseos whoso testimony they
expect to ujd in substantiating their claim ,
and such other Information bearing upon the
cnso ay they may possess.
Upon receipt of this simple information ,
Tut : BIK : BUIIKAU OP CLAIMS will immediate
ly attend to the moro Intricate or dlQlcult
portions of the preparation.
The claims must not bo based on depreda
tions extending back beyond 1805.
Headers of Tin : BKB or these who may fllo
claims for collection , nro respectfully re
quested to furnish THE Br.c Buiiniu OP
OI.VIMS with the names and addresses of any
other parties who havosufforod similar losses
nt the hands of Indians. Many people are
ns vet unaware of the recent favorable legis
lation by whlcn tneso claims can now if ,
properly prepared aud presented bo collected.
But Indian depredation claims are not the
only ones which TIIK BKB BUHKAU OP
UI.MMS proposes to handle. In brief , It will
look after any claim which any citizen has
against the government or any department of
the government. It will bo specially service
able to soldier * of the late war.
Pensions Tor ASCI ! Soldlc ra
Strange as it may appear , there are thou
sands of veterans of the rebellion , who are
old , weary , infirm and beyond the skill of
physician or surgeon to restore to health
Many of these nro Incapacitated because of
exposure or injuries sustained In the laXo war
nud yet , many of these are unprovided with
pensions.
Pensions for InflrmSoldlers.
There nro thousands of poor follows who
are permanently disabled , having served at
least ninety days In the war. They were also
honorably discharged. These are entitled to
n pension even tUough the 1 nIIrrally from
which they suffer was not the result of ex
posure In the war. The only condition is that
their prostration is not the result of vicious
habits.
Pensions for Sold lorn * Widows.
There are thousands of soldlori' and sill-
ors' xvidows In this country who do not know
that they are entitled to pensions. And yet ,
by writing THE BEK Buitnvuop CLUMswhen
their case is Just , they will bo able to secure
these pensions. AH that is required is that
each widow show that she is without other
means of support than her dally labor nnd
that her husuand sorvcd at least ninety days
in the army and was honorably discharged ;
that she married the soldier prior to Juno 27
1SUO. Proof of his death must also bo ud
vanccd , but his demise need not have been
the result of army service.
Soourln ; ; I1 it i I : .i
There ere thousnnds of Inventive mon and
womenh > this country who have Inventions
which nro known only to tholr friends. Yet
ID tboso inventions there are sometimes for
tunes to bo found. Yet comparatively speak
ing , but few of these inventors over seek n
patont. They do not know how to do it.
They fonr the cost nnd the delay. THE BBK
BUIILAU of CLAIMS bos reduced these almost
to a minimum
Appeals From Ijounl tnnd Ollices.
Thcso appeals are frequently most annoy
Ing to both parties. Tno local attorney can
not personally prosecute the case in Wash
ington. It would cost to support him thero.
Inequontly moro than the land in question is
worth , to say nothing of his foes , which , as
has been shown , nro generally ns high as
may be collected. Hols , therefore , compelled
to trust the claim Into the hands of a man
whom ho does not know , whoso lirst move is
to bleed the claimant and tbo attorney who
rotors thn claim to him. Between thoie men
the appellant hangs in uncertainty until the
llnal adjudication has been mado.
In TUB BBK BUIIBAU or UI.VIMSthcso would
bo placed in the hands of well known nnd ro-
sponslblo pcoplo , pushed with the greatest
energy nnd at the minimum of cost. Tin :
UEI : BUIICAU OP CI.UMS therefore is the mod-
him through which tbcso appeal cases should
bo prosecuted.
and Postal Claims.
The same is trim of mining nnd postal
claims. Thcso would go immediately to coin-
potent hands. They would not bo delayed.
If unworthy , they would never bo filed In
court , but the claimant would bo notified of
the fact. Ho would thus bo relieved of nil
nnxlety within n few months , whereas , ns it
is now , ho docs not know what kind of n
claim ho has until after it has boon passed
upon by the courts or the departments.
TIIKBRK BuiiKAiioan tell u good claim from
n bad claim. It never pratonts the latter. It
docs not wish to rob the treasury. It collects
only claims that are lust
Pensions for Soldlorn' 1'arontn.
There are thousands of soldiers' parents
who uro also ignorant of the fact that they
are entitled to uonsloas. Thcso must provo
that their son died from n wound , Injury or
dlsoaso which , under prior laws , would have
given him u pension ; that ho loft no wlfo or
minor child ; that the mother or father Is at
present dependent upon bis or her own man
ual labor or the contributions of others not
legally bound for his or her support.
Besides these claims. Tin : Bcu BUHIUU
will prosecute land claims growing out of
disputes or appeals from local lund ofllcoa to
tbo gonnra ! land ofllco of tno United States.
KncouniKlni ; Inventors.
There are n great many Inventors who believe -
lievo tha moment they place the secret of
ttielr discovery in tbo hands of nny other
person , from that moment an Intrigue is
formed to dispossess them of tholr discovery ,
TUB BBB Bum.vu op CLUMS lakes occasion
to say to thU worthy but unrequited class of
its patrons that it will treat all such buslnusi
Intrusted to Its care lu the most confidential
manner , thus assuring to all who may wish
to secure n patent on their Inventions the
utmost Bucreoy , from the beginning to the
oud of the transaction.
Patties deairlne to avail themselves of TIIC
BEK BUIIKAU or CLUMS in the matter of securing -
curing patent rights , trade marks , prints ,
lauols aud copyrights , should make known
their wants In this direction , when written
Instructions will bo furnished as to the rnodo
of procedure required under the patent liuvs.
Patent Hlclits n Bpculnlty.
TIIR BUKEAU or CLAIM * announces that it
will mnuu this branch of Its work n specialty
and ono that can bo relied upon as being
beyond the power of experts oren to criti
cise. This announcement is mndo because-
the fact has already been ofllclally promult
gated by the United States patent ofllco that
the territory embraced In tno states of South
Dakota , Nebraska , town nnd Kansat oujoy
n world-wide reputation AS possessing moro
Inventive genius , stranero as. it * may appears
than nny similar extent of territory In the
United States &t Iho present time.
Applicants for patents should understand
that TIIR BKB Uimr.AU or CLAIMS lays groai
stress upon the tact that It can advlso Its
patrons , almost nt the outset , whether their
Invention U now nnd patontnblo , thus saving
them the exorbitant fco charged by the or
dlnnry patent attorney.
These claims will bo prosecuted not ns n
means of making money , but simply ns nn
accommodation to claimants living in the
states nhovo onumontod. Tno work will bo
done at nbout what it costs THE Bnu Buituxu
or CLAIMS , so that claimants need have no
fenrof oxhorbltant rates nor the blooding
delays to which they hnvo heretofore been
subjected. Address all letters to MAKAOKI
DKE BUIIBAU OP CLAIMS , OMAHA , NEII.
TIio Terms.
Thu terms undnr which claims Will bo
prosecuted will dopoud cntholy upon the
amount of service rendered In each caso. Wo
can safely assure nil patrons of the bureau
that the charges will bo very much lower
than the rates charged by the regular claims
lawyers nnd claims agents nt Washington.
It goes without saying that the Examiner
nnd TIIK BKE are In position Jointly to expe
dite business nnd do business nt moro liberal
rates than any ether medium for tno prosecu
tion of claims.
In the matter of fees and charges , Tan BEE
desirus only to .clear expenses , The bureau
Is Intended for the relief of the pcoplo from
the rapacity of legal sharks. In many cases
fees allowed attorneys nro Irrevocably fixed
by law , nnd in such the question Is decided.
In other claims such n charge will bo made
us scorns to cover tbo nutual expenses In
volved In collection.
Wo make no effort to solicit your patron
age , ns does the ordinary agent who seeks
your claim for a Hnanolal consideration.
Such is not our purpose. Wo oft or to onoand
all the services of n well-equipped bureau ,
wheron claim of any nature can bo sent , or
information In regard thereto bo obtained.
If your claim Is worthless or Illegitimate you
will bo so notltled without fear or favor. If
the claim is genuine It will rocolvo prompt
attantlon nnd ofllclcnt prosecution. If un
successful , no charge will DO made ; provided ,
however , that claimants must defray tholr
own expenses lu the preparation of aflldavlts ,
depositions , and other evidence outside of
Washington. Wo will furnish the necessary
legal papers and boar the Washington ox-
expenses only In unsuccessful claims. When
claims nro allowed , n reasonable fee will bo
charged to cover actual cost.
All letters will bo promptly answered and
all Information concerning form of applica
tions for claims , terms , etc. , will ho given
with as llttlo delay as practicable. No letter
will bo answered unless the soudor encloses
requisite stamps for reply.
Address all letters relating to claims to
MANAOEII OMUIA BEE BUIIKAU OP CLAIMS ,
Omaha , Nob.
Rules and Undulations.
All pensions under the dependent pension
law will commence from the date of filing the
the application ( executed after passage of
the net ) Hi the pension bureau.
No application or declaration will bo good
If executed before Juno 27 , 1800 ( date of the
act ) , or if not in the form substantially pro-
scrivod by the secretary.
Discharge certificate need not bo filed until
called for.
The rates of this law are not affected by
the rank of the soldier. This act provides
the following rates : For dependent father
or mother , Slii. The widow ? 3 , and $3 addi
tional for each child of soldier under sixteen
yo.xrsnnd : if the widow dies , tbo child or
children can draw such pension. The sol
dier is entitled to any r.ito from 6 to $13 ac
cording to inability to earn support.
A penslonorundcr existing laws may apply
under this one , or a pensioner under this ono
may apply under ether laws , but can draw
onlv ono pension at the same time.
This law requires in a soldier's case :
' ! ) . An honorable dltcliaigc.
That ho served at least ninety days.
A permanent physical or mental Ina
bility to earn a support , but not duo to vicious
habits. ( It ncod not bavo originated in serv
ice ) .
In case of n widow :
' ! ) . That the soldier served at least ninov
days.
(3) ( ) . That ho was hnnorrbly dlich recd
(3) ( ) . Proof of death , but It need not have
been the result of his army service.
(1) ( ) . That the widow is "without other
moans of support than her dally labor. ' !
(5) ( ) . That she married a soldier prior to
Juno 37 , IbOO , date of this net.
In dependent parents' case :
(1) ( ) . Tnattho soldier died of a wound , InJury -
Jury or disease , which , under prior laws ,
would nave clven him a pension.
(2) ( ) . That ho loft no wlfo or child.
( U ) . That mother ( or father ) is nt present
dependent on her own manual labor , or the
contributions of others not legally bound for
her ( or his ) support.
The rules and regulations of this depart
ment will govern applicants and attorneys.
The fee shall in no case bo greater than
710. and only as shall bo agreed upon ho ro
under between the claimant and uuent.
GllEEN B. VUUM ,
Cammttsliiiier of Pensions.
The foregoing rules and regulations , with
the forms here following , uro adopted and
approved. JOHN W. NOIILE ,
Secretary < > f the Interior.
THE BUREAU'S AIM.
It Intends to Secure a Just
For Its Patrons.
When the San Francisco Examiner estab
lished Its claim bureau it printed the follow
ing prospectus ;
The Examiner has received so many com
plaints from its subscribers in various locali
ties on the coast of the delay , extortionate
charges and unsatisfactory work performed
for them by the various claim agents that it
has decided to establish in Washington n
bureau for tbo collection of nil legitimate
claims against the government or-lts various
departments. This bureau will bo In cbargo
of its Washington correspondent , who has
had much experience in the prosocutlou of
claims against the various departments of
the government. Charges for services per
formed by this buroru will bo nominal nnd
dosicnod to cover only the actual cost of the
work nnd such legal services ns may bo neces
sary in order to properly present claims to
the heads of the various departments nud the
court of claims in the supreme court.
THE I1UR12A.U AND FRAUDS.
Klnirku Indignant llcoausi ; They Ijoso
Tin lr Innocent Victims.
During the past month the Examiner Br.r.
BU IAU : op CI.UMS has been In receipt of a
number of loiters from clients enclosing
ihroatonlng and argumentative circulars
from attorneys formerly employed , nnd ask
ing if the assertions thoroln mudo were true.
The said clients nro parties who have boon
previously robbed by claims agents , eagerly
grasped the opportunity for rollof by trans
ferring their cases to this bureau when con
gress opened the door by annulling previous
contracts.
The establishment of Tun BEE BUIIEMJOP
CLUMS has proven u Uod-sctid to the unfor
tunates who nave long had claims against the
general government. These claims they had
idgcii with professional claim agents who
nave hold them pigeonholed for years. With
those agents , the clients entered into a cdn-
tract which was made generally in the inter
est of the sharks. Nothing could bo done bv
thoagontand tbo client was at Interval's
compelled to Keep the agent feed while thu
latter appeared to bo taking llttlo or no in
terest in the matter.
So many evils grow out of this custom that ,
ntlongtb. congress annulled the contracts
leaving clients to again seek the collection of
[ heir claims in what manner soever they MIW
lit. These clients coma to TDK BRR BUKRAU
OP CI.U.M8 nnd this fact has caused the ire of
the agents to arise.
Now , the aforesaid claim agent cormorants ,
Tearing tlu-y may bo bulked in the robbery of
: ho prey they have so long entangled In tholr
meshes , Imvo begun to flood the country vItli
circular letters in which thov constantly
harp ontwo themes , viz : That congress has
no newer to annul private contracts , nnd that
their power * of attorney are irrovocabla because -
cause coupled wltn an Interest , namely , a
on a tJJ.
We do not propose at the present time to
advertise the namos. of thosuuartics who now
nasquerado under the cognomen of attorneys
though strongly torn plod to gtvu thorn the
colobilty tholr quasMltorary-logal endeavors
so richly merit. Ono in particular doiorvos
special recognition , that of u maudlin com ]
nunlcation of cleat pages in which ho jum-
iles useless facts with fauclful theories , gar-
bios Judicial decisions , nud BO inextricably
entangles his words that In many Instances
the closing part of his sentences hnvo no ap
parent counectlon wUH.tho beginning.
To nny ono vorseind the law of the land ,
such Idiotic lottoru nro n matter only of rldl-
eulo and amusement , , J3ut whou wo consider
that the average claimant m the west Is nec
essarily Ignorant of 'tho law govcrlnir tbo
prosecution of clalmJlu tha city of Wash-
incton , xvo are prone119 treat the mutter more
seriously. 8 *
The question of extern to xvhlch congress
may go In Its Interference with private con
tracts , Is undoubtodfy"bno on which some of
the most eminent legal minds have differed ,
nnd It wore easy toVHto a volunio on either
sldo. However , the .philosophical nnd po
litical arguments pro und con nro .something
with which wo at present hnvo no concern.
Wo confine oursolvostd the cold , hard loglo
of facts. That the Insf rongress did specifi
cally cancel nnd nnnul nil existing contracts
between claimants nnd attorneys In tbo In
dian dcpropatlon art of March I ) , Ib'Jl , Is a
fact which not oven squirming claim agents
deny , and which anyone interested may road
for himself bv applying to us for n copy of
the law. Possibly the eminent constitutional
lawyers mid Jurists In the senate nnd house
of representatives should have consulted
these obscure claim agents before passing
the act which so seriously cur-
lulled tholr Shylock proponsltios
But wo npprcbond that more rollanco was
pinned upon tnoro cent decision of the United
States supreme court , case of Mitchell an
clerk , reported in 110 United States report ,
page ( U : ) , where in the highest tribunal In tha
land assorts "no provision of the constitution
prohibits congress from interfering with the
validity of contracts. "
The second legal problem involved is
that of revocation of powers of at
torney. When nnd under what cir
cumstances the claimant can recall
nn existing power nnd employ
nnothor nttornoyl Our olght-pngo friend
loads oft with duo solemnity by quoting
JudgoStory : "When nn nuthorlty or powo
is coupled with nn interest it is from its own
nature nnd character In contemplation of lu w
irrevocable ; " then proceeds to argue that the
retaining of nn nttornoy on a contingent fco
is cqulvntont to coupling the power with nn
Interest. This is nosolutoly f also from a legal
standpoint , but it is nn nsscrtlon xvoll calcu
lated to mislead the ordlnnry reader. What
is ically meant by nn "Interest" is nn Inter
est or ripht in the thing itsalf. Thus , if nn
estate Is convoyed to n trustee , with power
to soil , this power cannot bo revoked because
the trustee has an interest in the ostnto
itself ; ho holds the legal right to the
property. Again , if the owner of n patent
assigns one-tenth of it to n second pariy nnd
gives him power of nttornoy in connection ,
said power of attorney cannot bo revoked oo-
cause the asslcrnco has nn interest in tha
patent itself. But if a claimant gives a poxvor
of nttornoy to an agent to prosecute his claim
for n contingent fco this poxvor is not coupled
with nn Interest nnd can bo revolted nt , the
pleasure of the claimant. Whou the agent
agrees to work for n contingent fee ho ac
cepts a very serious part of the "con
tingency , " the possibility of having his
power revoked. And a fee contingent on the
successful prosecution of a claim can , in no
way , bo construed as nn "Interest" In tno
claim xvhlch xvould render a power of attor
ney irrevocable.
Destroyed uy Indians.
Ono of the moat beneficent nets passed by
the last congress was that enabling citizens
to collect for losses sustained by Indian out
breaks.
This act provides for'tho speedy hearing and
determining of all such claims. and allows at
torneys pr-jsentlng tUeiD to charge from 15 to
20 per cent. It is believed that tha xvork can
bo done ror from 5 p'oFcont nnd upxvnrds of
the amount of the claims as allowed by tbo
proper court , thus effecting n largo saving to
claimants who have in'tho past paid from 33 %
to 50 per cent for thls"Work. By the terms of
this laxv all claims must bo prosecuted before
the court of claims xvijthin three yo Ts from
the date of its passage or that they will for
ever bo barred ; sotliatiit is desirable that
persons who have suffered from Indian dep
redations in thn state's Of Nebraska , Kansas ,
Iowa and Soutn Dakota snould at once com-
munlcato with Tin : BKE Bum\u OF CLAIMS
and hax'o the matter put in proper snnpo and
nnd presented to the court immediately.
Claimants should take-notice that by the
terms of the laxv abovO alluded to , "all con
tracts nt present cxlstlnttbetween themselves
nnd nttotnoys , xvhcrdver located , are ron-
dor-jil null and void : therefore , it xvill bo nec
essary for thorn to engage ether attorneys or
make ether contracts in accordance with the
terms of the Inxv. THE BP.B Buuntu OP
CI.UMS undertakes the collection of any such
claims on terms inrinitoly moro favor
able than those offered by the attorneys and
ngcnts who have endeavored to make
largo profits from this class of business , as
its dcsiro is to benoilt only a class of its
readers xvdo nro Illy nblo to afford to pay the
exorbitant fees for suqh services , xvhich require -
quire only honesty , intelligence and persist
ence In tholr presentation to bring thorn to a
successful issue.
Chums that , are filed first under the now
law will naturally have first attention in tbo
court of claims , and therefore it is dcsirablo
to get them Into tha hands of the proper au
thorities as soon as possible.
Indian Depredation Claims.
BEATHICE , Nob. , Aug. 7. [ Special to THE
BEE.J Hon. L. W. Colby , assistant attorney
general of the United States , in charge of the
Indian depredation claims department , has
been In the xvost taking depositions In cases
before the court of claims for tha past two
xvcoks. Ho xvas found by THE BBU ropro
scntatlvo and nskod to gtvo the status of the
suits that have been brought , and any other
matters ot general interest.
Ho said : "Tbo next session of the court of
claims will bo tbo most important in number
of cases slncoits organization. In addition to
claims uuiler the French spoliation and Bow
man nets , the court now has the Jurisdiction
of claims brought for damages to citizens for
Indian depredations , under ttio act of March
3 , 1891. "
"Aro there many claims on IHo in the de-
partmonti"
"Since the passage of tbo act , up to Aucust
1 , I have docketed , in my oulco , 3,1X0 , cases
brought for Indian depredations in tbo court
of claims , and under the laxv about five hun
dred of these are entitled to priority of con
sideration , under the provisions of tbo net ,
and xvill coma up for hearing at the next term
of court. "
"What is the nature or the claims that the
act takes special cognizance of I"
"Tho terms of the net provide for tha nd-
Indication aild payment of claims arising
from depredations by Indians upon the prop-
city of citizens of the United States , and con
fers the poxvor of settlement upon the court
of claims. Kogular amtk have to bo brought
nnd petitions illrd byj ljiimants as In ordin
ary cases , " i
"Is the method of procedure different from
the consideration of claims before any ether
of the national dopartutontsl"
"The ordlnnry rulol pf practice have been
adopted for Indian dupivduUon cases , as far
as applicable. " in
"It appears that a-jlargo number of cases
have begun since thupauago of tbo net. How
do you account for ltU ] {
"Tho laruo iiumbdrDf cases commenced
since the pnssago of the net may bo attributed
to the clause xvhlch Mtblds the exclusion of
claims not provlouslytxprosonted to tha secre
tary of the Interior , or.oOthor department ofll-
cer , xvlth the exception \hnt \ no Jurisdiction is
granted in coses xvhero.claims hax'o arcruod
irlor to July 1 , Ibavuhluss disposed of or
wilding previous to ttirf-passago of the act ,
joforo congress , the aourotnry of thn interior ,
or some agent or commissioner authorized to
nqulro into such claims by the government.
No claims , hoxvovor , nro permitted for depre
dations committed utter the passage of tbo
act. "
"When does the court of claims nrnln
racetl"
"Thn court of claims convenes In October
next , nnd ut the rate of tiling the uuinbor of
coses of this class xvill reach live or six thou
sand by that time. "
"What is the average of amounts represented
sented- the claims now lllod I"
"Tho cases range lu amount from fown
mndrcd dollars to JJ50.000. The lanreat sulj
yet brought is In favor of the legal ropro-
ontatlves of Bou Halllday , tbo old overland
stage man. "
"What is tbo limit nf tlmo that claimants
mvo to present their claims1' ! '
"Claimants have three years from the
nissacto of the act to present tholr claim , so
hero ( s plenty of Unto for every ono to have
ill day in court. "
"Are there any special features of the low
Involving the eovorntnant'ti liability in these
cases that are of general Interest ! "
"Tho law Involves ninny now nnd Impor
tant questions as to the liability of the got-
eminent in spcclil cnsas , and "tho rights of
the jmrtlos , their heir * or assigns to tha rem
edies provided lor. The net Is ono of un *
usual lutcrost nnd affects n largo number of
cltuens in the stntos nud territories xrost of
the Mississippi river , from Dakota to Texas ,
nnd Including Nebraska , Kansas , Colorado ,
Wyoming. Arizona , California , Oregon ,
Washington and Montana. "
"Do not some of the claims date back n
number of years I"
"Yes. Most of the claims date oack
txvcnty or thirty years , nnd some of them
even forty vo.irs. The claims In Nebraska ,
Kansas nnd tbo Dnkolns are conllnod mainly
to hctxvoon 18iW and 1870 , and to the Sioux
orsomo tribe of the croat Sioux nation. "
A Mnjrnunlmoui Purpose.
Hon. Blugar Hermanchairman of the com
mittee on claims , house of rcprosontntlvos ,
D. C. , In communicating xvlth W. U. llo.mr ,
editor nnd proprietor of the San Francisco
Examiner , and who is also at the head of the
Examiner bureau of claims xvlth which TUB
OMAHA BKE is associated , savsi
"Tho claims already Illcd In the Interior
department aggregate $ si 1,000,000 , ns per vnl-
untlon , and the greater proportion represent
sent losses by poor people and by these of
our citizens xvho ventured their lives nnd
tholr properties in the ttion wild and undeveloped - '
volopod xvest. This session of congress has
now recognized the right of thcso claimants
to Indemnity from the government nnd to
compensation lor thosa losses In the earlier
years by the hostile or depredating Iiullatis.
But few of these people had n hope that the
day of compensation xvould over come , ns
since 1S.VJ Dut llttlo positive assurance was
over given them by congress of final pay
ment. In the meanwhile , man v claim agents ,
taking ndvantapo of the discouragement of
these clalmanti , easily persuaded them to
cntor lu i Contracts nnd foe agreements
whereby 33 > nnd even 50 per cent was
agreed to bo paid in the ovout of the
payment of the claim , thus enriching these
agents nnd diminishing the payment of
the claimant to this extortionate nnd unjusti
fiable amount. This manifest injustice xvas
apparent to congress , nud it bocnmo our
effort , xvhllo providing n remedy of payment
to the claimant , also to protect him against
the Sbylock nttornox's nnd claim agents , and
to this end xvo provide In the now xvny.
" 'Ttmt nil sales , transfers or iisslgnmonts
ot any such claims heretofore or hereafter
made , except such ns have occurred In the
duo administration of decedent's estates ; and
nil contracts heretofore made for foes nnd
allowances to claimant's attorneys nro here
by declared void , and nil warrants Issued by
the secretary of the treasury In payment of
such Judgments shall bo made payable and
dolivcrcd only to the claimant or his lawful
heirs , executors or administrators or trano
forcnundor administrative proceedings , ex
cept so much thereof as shall bo allowed the
claimants' attorneys , by the court for prose
cuting said claim , xvhlch may bo paid direct
to such attorneys , nnd the allowances to the
claimants' attorneys shall bo regulated nud
fixed by the court at the time of rendering
udgmont in each cnso and entered on record
s part ot the findings thereof , but in no rnso
shall the allowance exceed 15 per cent of the
Judgment recovered , except in claims of loss
than JoOO , or where unusual services have
been rendered or expenses Incurred by the
claimants' attorneys , in which case not to ex
ceed 20 per cent of such Judgment shall bo
lloxvod by tbo court. '
' It will bo observed that this Is n maxi
mum limitation for tno court , nnd to knoxv
xvhnt xvill bo n rcasoimblo compensation for
the attorney xvithin these limits
the court xvill ascertain xvhat ser
vices the attorney has rendered nnd
mnko the fee allowance ncordingly. Noxv
I learn from your communication that It is in
contemplation by you to organize a special
bureau in Washington city for the collection
of these claims and to do so for a merely
nominal cost to the claimant. This notice
xvill give the first substantial hope to thous
ands of poor and worthy claimants that It is
possible that a cheaper remedy may bo af
forded them than that heretofore held out oy
the unreasonable terms of exacting clulm
agents.
"Your generous purpose xvill also htfvo n
tendency to oblige those aeonts to recognize
n moro Just and more consulonablc basis for
compensation than at present adopted bv
them. "
THOUSANDS OF DEPENDENTS
"Whoso Just Claims May Bo Scoured
Through TIio Dee Bureau.
There uro thousands of soldiers today in
this country suffering perhaps for the neces
saries oflifo simply occauso tiiovdonot knoxv
xvhnt the country has done to care for and
render them comfortable.
THE Ben is axvaro of this fact nnd has al
lied Itself xvlth tno San Francisco Examiner
and established THE BIE BUHBAI : OP CLAIMS.
By this means , it proposes to secure for every
claimant just xvhat he or she is entitled to
from the government.
In addition to claims for pensions , tboso fern
n variety of ether causes xvill bo pressed , nnd
from ttio effects of losses occasioned by these
claims hundreds are suffering in this part of
thu country.
If you have suffered from the destruction
o' property by Indians THE Bite BUKEAU OP
CLAIMS xvill undertake to have you reim
bursed.
If you xvlsh to obtain a patent on nn inven
tion of your oxvn , THU BEE BUUEAU OP CLAIMS
xvill procure It for you.
If you have land claims in xvhich there is
Justice , THE Bun BUHEAUOP CLEIMS xvill so-
cnro it for you.
If you have cases regarding mines , pro
ompUons nud homesteads , TUK BKB BUUEAU
OP CLVIMS xvill prosecute them before the gen
eral land ofllco , department of thu interior and
the supreme court.
Tnero are thousands yet entitled to pen
sions xvho should Immediately make applica
tion for thorn.
There nro thousands of xvidows , minor
children , dependent mothers and fathers , and
minor dependent brothers nnd sisters , xvho
are entitled to pensions , nnd xvho to secure
them have little moro u > do than write for
them.
There lira thousands of pcoplo xvho nrn entitled
titled to In crease in pensions , nnd they
should xvrito iiiTmeaiatoly to TUB Bin : Bum : vu
oV CHIMS to ascertain really hoxv much
money they nro losing every month.
Hunting Guinea Eggs.
Tlarpor's Young People : To find a
uinoii nest xvns the very poetry of Q K-
! iuntlii , The crouluros uro half wild
anil food fur uduld TIio bush piiaturo
was tliulr chosen Imunt nnd hud suuh
atoro of hidden nooks , such clumps of
brakoiindhrior , such stoop urussy ban'ca ' ,
BUO'I tnnglo of aou > o and dewberry and
plum thiukot , thut xvo xvould nox'or tiuvo
'ounil ' an otftf hut for the bird's queer
liablt. When the hon gooa to her nest
liur inuto sttuids guard over her on the
icarcst b.iro spot and 111 In the air xvlth
: iis harsh buzzing1 cry.
Folioxvingtho hound , wocamoupon the
pair , Madame chooHo.s her homo daint
ily , nnd deeply holloxvs the clean dry
earth of it. Ivlowora often nod above It ,
grass Is sure to spring greenly above the
odgo. Ovorhoau Is always shelter of
some sort , for the maker knows iiiBtlnut-
Ivoly that sunshine will addle her
proulous oggs. Ilor small cousin , the
partridge , so admlros her taslo then
Homotlmos she docldos to share the nest.
Sometimes , too , a hon of Independent
mind comes a-grasshopnlng Into the
bush pasture and nutphor eggs Into such
sholtort Very often wo found forty eggs
to the nost. And xvhon xro took thorn
out It xvas alxvays xvlth a nllvor spoon.
Hlack mammy taught us , "I3f yqr pull
him1 in dar do gnlnoa'll sinull it , an1 quit
do noaV Whatever the reason , the
fact xvaa none the loss fact.
Whlttlor'H 'irilmto to Umoll.
From purest xvolls of English undetllod
Mono deeper drank than he , the Now World's
Child
Who , In the language of their farm-fields
spoke
The xvlt aud wisdom of Now England folk.
Shumlug u monstrous wrong ; the world-wide
laugh
Provoked thereby might well have shaken
half
Tha xvalls of slavery down ere yet the ball
Aud mluo of buttle overthrow too mall.
F. II. Hecht of Luih'on out 210 acres of
grain this season with ono blndor , nud uo
xvonta to knoxv who can boat It.
PROTECTING TI1E CLIENTS
They ( Jan No Longer Be Robbed by Greedy
Claim Agents.
THE BEE'S ' GREAT BUREAU OF CLAIMS ,
It llofrlcnilH SoHlet-H , Patentees ,
" \VliloxvH , OrplimiH mul Soldiers
nncl IH Commended by the
Authority.
Mon who Imvo had claims against the gov
ernment and employed professional ngonts to
represent thorn before the departments In
Washingtontoll strange stories of tricks nnd
rascality to which thiiy were subjected nttho
hands of these merciless creatures. There nro
of course , some honest mon among these
ngonts ; but there are so tunny that nro notoriously
riously corrupt , that It is nlmost Impossible
for n claimant , unless ho be directed by a
well-informed Individualto , llml one in whom
bo can plnco Implicit contldonco.
Tun BEE has rooolvod hundreds of complaints -
* plaints from soldlurs mid others who had ad
vanced money wlum so desired 'nuti who
v/nttiKMor years nnd yo , failed to-recelvo nny
Informntldr as regards what ttaygbarki had
done with cither-money or clal .
TIIB\ BB has also bocu ro.nuoloj to rooom.
mend rdliablo ngcnts aid has. In this way
served to protecl the rooplo from fraud mid
robbery. Etrc-tliQt d'il ' no good to the people
who had fallen lutJS the hands of sharlcs. Ai
rapidly ns thcOAttcr were shown up noxvonos
with now trick * and rascality took their
places.
There was but one menus loft and that waste
to establish a great bureau of claims. This
idea was suggested to a number of pcoplo but
was put into practice llrat by the San Fran
cisco Examiner.
With the Examiner , TUB BBS has co-opor-
atad in the grout work of affording rollof to
worthy claimants.
The Washington correspondent of the Examiner -
aminor , Mr. John Wcadorburn , who has also
acted os private Bocrottiry to Senator Hearst ,
was detailed to organize nnd t kti charge of
the bureau. His long service in Washington
in both thcsocapacitioshna given him a largo
acquaintance with government olllclnls and
government methods. Knowing the mon
and the proper procedure to follow , ho was
chosen as well qualified to push claims
ttirough In the shortest time If they were
Justly due.
The best lawyers to bo had were then en
gaged nnd a full clerical force put into the
bureau. In every instance the men wcro
chosen for tholr knowledge of the work to bo
done.
Congress was not loss nnxious to protect
claunants from robbery. The sumo kind of
complaints had come to Tun HUE nnd gone to
the members of congress as well. The com
mittees that had the Indian depredations bill
under consideration investigated the opera
tions of the claim agents and attorneys in con
nection with the Indian depredations claims.
They found that the claim agents had demanded -
mandod ' % to CO per cent from the mon
holding the claims , and in hundreds of cases
hold contracts at these figures. While the
bill was still In congress , with little apparent
chnnco of passage , they were nblo , by
methods dangerously near the line of false
pretenses , to induce the claimants to sign the
exorbitant demands.
There appeared to bo only olio way to protect -
toct the claimants. That was to cancel all
contracts by law and limit the foes that at
torneys might collect. The claimants would
thus be enabled to choose another agent if
the ono they had llrst encaged had attempted
to defraud them , nnd the contracts could not
demand moro than the specified rate.
The ninth section of the bill was thus
drawn to annul ' 'all sales , transfers or as
signments ot claims" and "all contracts here
tofore made. " The maximum fee to bo al
lowed was put nt 15 per cent of the amount
collected except In case of claims under $500
or whora unusual work had to bo done , when
0 per cent might bo allowed.
o amount or Business received imme
diately after tbo opening of the bureau Is a
proof of the confidence in which tbo people
hold it and of the distrust which the or
dinary claim agout has aroused. In the six
weeks , from April 1 to Mav 15 , claims to the
amount of 4,005,311.05 were Itlod with the
bureau on account of Indian depredation
claims alotio. All these go to the court of
claims under the act and are in various
stages of preparation and prosecution. Be
sides the claims under the Indian depreda
tion act there had bcon filed at that data
treasury claims to the amount ofS&Vi.GM ;
French spoliation claims to tbo amount of
SiJ5SS3 ; lund claims , $339,850 ; nnd patent
and other claims to u largo amount. Siaco
that date some $ .3,000,000 01 claims have boon
filed with the bureau , and it is now attend
ing over § . ' 5,000,000 of claims.
The need for the bureau may well bo scon
by the fact that 1 * now has on hand moro
claims than all of the claim attorneys of
Washington combined.
The efforts of congress nnd the establishment
mont of the bureau was not appreciated by-
the claim agents. They wanted to continue
to thrive in tholr business of flooclng the
needy claimant. They accordingly de
nounced the government and the bureau.
They hold that the former could not cancel
the contracts they had rando with their vic
tims. But the cancellation xvas made
in the interest and name of
the peoplo. And it need not bo
doubted that the eminent conslitatlonal law
yers who framed the act In question did not
do so without ttnoxvlng what they were do-
Ing. The throats of the sharks undoubtedly
had an olToct upon some mon who doslrod to
make now contracts nnd secure the services
of some other attorney , but this effect will
soon uo destroyed and the emancipation of
the claimant from the tyranny of the shark
will be complete.
The amount of money that will bo saved to
the people by this work of Tun BKI : Buui'.tu
or th.Ai.Mt , may not lx > calculated. It will
certainly bo very groat. The work will bo
done us near actual cost ns possible. Some
of It will not cost moro than 5 percent , while
much of it can bo done within the 15 nnd " 0
per cent allowed by law. In some cases the
l0 ! per cent may bo required. It Is the inten
tion , however , to give the claimant the bono-
flt of the lowest charges that will cover the
expenses of the service.
Tun BEK BuitKiu will prosecute claims In
the supreme court of the United States , tho'
court of claims , the several courts of the Dis
trict of Columbia , before the committees of
congress and the executive departments. It
will secure the payment of just Indian depre
dation claims , Inna claims , pension claims ,
mining , pro-omptlon and homestead cases and
obtain patents at minimum cost and the
greatest despatch *
There nro thousands yet who nro entitled
to pensions. These should wrlto Immedi
ately to the bureau. There nro thousands ot
heirs , widow ! ! , minor children , dependent
mothers , father * , and minor dependents ,
brothers and sisters who are entitled to pen
sions and should wnto to THE Hiu : bureau
concerning them. Under recent , legislation
a liberal Increase In pensions has been nl-
lowed and tboso who nro entitled to this
should write to Tim BEIS Bimuvu CI.U.M As-
bout ITIOX.
All letters will bo promptly answered nnd-
nil Information concerning form of applica
tions for claims , terms , etc. , will ho given
with ns llttlo delay as practicable. No letter
will bo answered unless the sunder onclosoi
requisite stamp ) for reply.
1'artlos desiring information should ad
dress Tin : BKI : BuitiUu OP Ci.ii.Ma , Bco
julldlng , Omaha , Nob. , the manager of which
is Edward I' . Hoggeu.
PaiiNloncil Alton Dentil.
In the report of pensions granted Wed tics
day the Nebraska list Is headed by the unmo
) f Ulchard Mohidy of Stuart , Holt county ,
in this case the pension comes too Into to beef
of any benefit to the man who earned it bv
suffering for his country on the battle Held ,
Uehidy win tbo man whoso death In the
Omaha medical Institute led to tbo ofllclal
n vcstlgallon of thutplnco and the nrreit of
ti manager * early last month. A brother of
the deceased is u member of tbo city counoll
ntSt , Paul.Mliin.
John Stunck of North Bond lllod complaint
agalustJohn Flatcr for lariating hu coxv on
thu streets In violation of the city ordinance ,
and the judge llnod him 83 and coats. Flutor
, hou Mud complaint against Slanoek on the
same ground and tbo Judge served him thu
aamo way. Tha exists la uach cose , with the
fiao , amounted togd.85.
-A.ND-
EXAMINER
Bureao of Claims ,
OMAHA. NEB.
Washington office , situated
a few doors from the Pension
Bureau , organized to secure
"Justice to Veterans. " Prose
cutes Soldiers'Claims ofall kinds
In a most efficient manner and
with the least expense to tha
claimant. Pensions under the
new law for soldiers , widows ,
and children.Pensions under the
old law. Increase of pension
and additional pension under
the old law and the new law.
Officers' accounts adjusted , cor-
rectlon of muster secured and
difference of pay collected. Pay ,
bounty , prize money , extra pay
and commutation of rations col
lected. Honorable discharge se
cured and charge of desertion
removed.
who served ninety days or mora
in the late war and are now dis
abled wholly or In part can got
pension under the new law at
from $6 to $12 per month. Pen
sion is given under the now law
for the following disabilities ,
whether contracted in the sar-
vlce or not : 111 health from
chronic diarrhoea , rheumatism ,
disease of tiie. heart , disease of
kidneys or liver , pneumonia , ma
laria , chills and fever , disease of
the lungs , and all other diseases
nnd ailments ; also for piles , ru p-
ture , partial deafness in ono or
both ears , partial loss of sight ,
results of measles , results of
blood poisoning , disease of eyes
and nil injuries nnd wounds. If
you have any disability men
tioned here and are not drawing
pension for it , write us at once.
Under the new law , entitled to
pension nt $8 per month with $3
additional for each child under
the ago ofsixteen years , provided
the widow has no income suffi
cient for her support other than
her dally labor. To get this pension -
sion widow does not have to
prove that soldier's death w.is
duo to his service In the army.
Under sixteen years of ago at
soldier's death entitled to pension
under the now law.
All claims entrusted to this Bu
reau are thoroughly an I vigor
ously prosecuted and
In nny case until successful.
AH letters of Inquiry , or for ad-
vlcowill bo promptly answered
No charge for advice
Address ,
Bee Building , Omaha , Neb