APPENDIX 00. REPORT OF BOARD OF OFFICERS ON CLAIMS. MANILA, P. I., August 14, 1900. SECRETARY MILITARY GOVERNOR IN THE PHILIPPINES, Manila, P. I. SIR: Referring to your letter of July 25, calling for an annual report for the year ending June 30, 1900, I have the honor to state that of the 21 claims pending on June 30, 1899, 20 have been heard during the past year and forwarded for the action of the military governor, and 1 claim was returned to the petitioner for compliance with the terms of Circular No. 4, April 26, 1899, from your office. In the cases above referred to the claimants asked compensation to the amount of $216,673.12. The board recommended payment of four claims in the sum of $3,856, of which amount the military governor allowed paid $856. One claim was approved by the military governor for $3,000, and forwarded for action by the War Department. During the past year 125 claims have been regularly referred to the board for investigation. These claims aggregate $1,988,942.55. Ten of this number, however, fail to specify as to the amount of compensation asked for. Of the number of claims or petitions referred to the board since June 30, 1899, 24 have had a hearing by the board and been passed upon by the military governor; 78 claims are still pending; remaining claims, 23, have either been withdrawn, consolidated, or returned to the petitioners for compliance with Circular No. 4, April 26, 1899, heretofore alluded to. Recapitulation of 78 claims pending June 30, 1900.1 Restitution of property (2). February 11, 1899 (14). $412, 935. 48 118,017. 77 Loss and destruction of property consequent upon the capture of Iloilo, Killing of Chinaman by sentry (1). Total 193, 455.28 484, 306. 71 1, 208, 715. 24 From the foregoing it will be seen that during the year 44 claims have been fully heard and passed upon. The total sum asked for by the claimants was $454,049.15. In 10 of the cases disposed of the board recommended that $12,695.08 be paid to the petitioners, while the military governor allowed them $13,895. In the remaining 34 cases no compensation was allowed. 1 Since June 30, 1900, the board have heard 26 of these cases. In all of the rest the board sent out communications requesting that the claimants appear before the board and arrange for the final hearing of their cases. Some have failed to respond. Submitted herewith are two lists giving in detail a brief history of each case. One list shows the number of claims pending before the board of officers on June 30, 1899. A second list gives the claims filed with the board for the year ending June 30, 1900. Each list is concluded with a recapitulation, and under the head of remarks will be found noted action taken by the board when any has been had. Many of the cases enumerated as "pending" are Iloilo claims. The cause of action in all these is identical, and the board thought best, as there is a mass of evidence, to take testimony in but two and make these test cases. The plaintiffs in these have concluded their evidence and the board has waited to get through a mass of pressing business before taking further action. It may be necessary for them to visit Iloilo to fully develop the facts. I am, very respectfully, yours, J. M. J. SANNO, Colonel Eighteenth U. S. Infantry, President. |