Mr. SPALDING. I wish to say, as a member of the Committee on appropriations, that this is not par excellence on was not treated as a Penusylvania claim. Neither was the chairman o the committee [Mr. S'ravsxs] at 1st in favor it. To my knowledge he voted to refer it back to the ComClaims; but at the instance of myself, or of the member from Illinois, that vote was reconsidered, and we then decided to act upon the claim ourselves, because the House had told us to do so. That is the whole sum of it. It was done in defiance of the intimation of the chairman of the committee. But when we had reconsidered it, and when we had agreed to put this claim in the appropriation bill, the chairman agreed with us in regard to the expediency of providing for the payment of this claim. Now, sir, so far as regards the rule of the House, ado)ted at the instince of the committee of Claims. I apprehend that the rules are intended for the government of the committee. At all events, I was one of the minoity who voted against that resolution. I did not conceive that us a member of the ComAppro riations l was bound to abide by it at all. conceived that I was bound by the rule of eternal justice, as being superior to this resolution adopted by the majority of the House. I believe that this claim is one whjch is rightfully due to this applicant for the use of his property by the Government of the U.S. It was not the waste committed particularly by the Army, but his property was taken and used by the U.S. Government. A portion of it was torn down and destroyed, an the committee make as much appropriation to pay this man as will pay for the property thus wasted by the Government. I see no impropriety in this, nor any great conflict even with the rule which was established by the ComClaims. Now, it may be well enough to refer to this claim as being a claim of an officer of our gallant Army who made great sacrifices; but do not rest.the claim entirely upon that. I think the claim is just, aside from the merits of the man as an oflioos of the Army, and I hope the motion to strike out will not prevail.