The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-10-26

tainty. the true amount Of our state
liabilities. This object can never
be gained while claims of indefinite
growing out Of our canal and
internal Improvement undertakings,
remain unadjusted. Claims have
been allowed and bonds and scrip is
sued therefor, to the amount Of near
ly three hundred and seventy thou
sand dollars, for damages arising
from the abandonment of canal con-
tracts, or damages accruins to pri.
vate property. This sum ia charged
upon tie means and resources Of the
canal and if these are at last found
insuflicien to discharge II, this a.
mount, with the residue of the canal
debt, must fall ultimately upon the
state treasury.
By virtue of law approved
March 1,lSA7, all claims relating to
canal affairs were required to be pro-
ven before the state trustee within
limited time, and thereafter filed in
the Office of the secretary of state.
The aggregate amount thus attempt
ed TO BE- proven amt already filed IN
the secrrtar,'s office, exceeds nine
hundred and So, enty THOUSAND dol
lars, exclurive Of the sum OF tire"
hundred and seventy thousand dol
lars previously allowed. 1t is to be
remarked, that the proof of these
claims, and everything relating thrr-
to, was or pnrie the claimant-no
examination into their correctness
having been made on behalf of the
state. OF their relative Justice or
injustice, ! am not fully informed ,
hut will take occasion to say. that
a watchful care over the public inte-
rests requires that thes" accounts
should be- examined and inquired in.
to on the part of,he state. before they
are fin liz allowed, Some Of these
claims rest upon evidence "f "A pc
culiar character, and While no hon
est claimant can Justly complain of
a careful review Of the evidence up
IN which his claim rests, nothing
could be more nnwiSe than for the
state tn suffer these claims to remain
dormant in the secretarv.s office UNI
ill tie means within the reach OF
the state for testing their correct
ness have disappeared. Many oI
them originated in different causes,
and are sustained bv different and
distinct testimony. It is, then, next
to impossible, that in their present
condition, they can hc maze the sub
ject of that dclihrrat" examination
by the general assembly which is 50
important. in order tn render strict
Justice to all concerned. Besides,
the time demanded for a fall invcs-
,igation of thrS, claims. would en-
coed that allotted II an entire SEES.
sion "f the legislature, TO say moth.
ing of the impractic ability of reSolv-
ing state legislature into tribu-
nal for the purpose Of such an inqui-
ry.
These claims ought to be cxamin.
ed and settled within the earliest
practicable period. There arc few
who have had experience in legisla.
tive assemblies, who are not aware
how often it happens that claims a
gainSt the state having little or M
merit, 10y strange and almost I'M.
accountable process, at last worl
. their way through the Legislature =
their Injustice not appearing until too
;. late to repair the evil. The propl,
may reduce salaries, abri lge ryprn
. SEES, shift the duties appropri IT, Il
two or three officers. up"n one, will
tie view to more rigiI cronom,
> and limited expenditure, bat it ma,
all be lost, and much more, by IT,,
incnnSiderat. allowance Of ">trava
! giant and questionable claims upo,
the treasury. | would, t.,rrrforc
, urgently but respectfully sugges, t.
y tie general assembly. tn" cxpedien
a cy ofproviding by law that the claim
1 hcfor" referred TO, with all otlrrS q
: specified class, shall b" Suhmitlc,
D to "A board Of officers of the govern
! mcnt, by whom they shall b. fr>tex
i amined, reported upon. and then lai
y bcfoSc the legislature for ultimat
: approval or rejection; and tia, til
: action Of the legislature shall be Fl
+ nal.
!. II seems to me that the fnrccoin
: pr. SCENTS the only feasible and sal
' way of making final settlement {
= the numerous outstanding claims q
: gainSt the state, and thereby rl"Sin
tie av'nu" against an'iquat'1 an
= unjust claims, which now consum
" so large share Of the time Of ever
leg i,'n,urr. In the ,">, oc a.
$ claims on account of canal contrac'
= and other liabilities on the part
q .Lo ctut,. conn,,tnl q, a. chat ,rn