The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-01-11

nnsod lands it may not be unfair to suppose J
that there will be derived from the sale Of these
lands and lots at least from one fourth to one
third more than their originally appraised value,
makiug the sum about 81, 900 600, " hch may be
anticipated from this source alone. aud which is
exclusively appropriated to the payment Of the
canal debt In addition TO this NAV be reckoned
the canal tolls for the past year, supposed to ex
ceed Sll9406 81 after dcducting for its manage
ment and supervise The report of the trus-
tees giving in detail, information upon the affairs
and condition of the canal, will probably be laid
before you at u very early day
Notwithstanding the salutary reductions which
have been already made in the salaries Of agents
employed in conducting the affairs Of the canal
since the meeting Of he last general assembly
many of them are still dsproportonatcly high,
and ought to be further reduced, to bring them
within tue rule of Just economy, such as the
state has right 10 demand from those having
the control Of tha. work 1t may be repeated
upon what principle uf Justice, arising out Of the
labors TO be performed, or responsibilities to be
encountered, the subordinate agents upon the ca
nal are entitled to receive, as salary, nearly twice
as much as is paid 10 the chief justice Of the state
Of Illinois. With prudent management Of the
means and resources appropriated to the payment
of this debt, and strictly economical admins.
] bdllDlI VI llN ailttl We may UluuIsG u
pectation that 10y far the larger portion Of he
canal debt will eventually be discharged, without
casting any considerable share Of its burden upon
the people.
BY virtue Of an act Of the general assembly
approved Oct lSi9, the governor was authorized
to redeem certain forfeited hypothecatcd bonds in
the hands of Geo. Peabody, esq, OF London
There has been drawn from the treasury for this
purpose S4365 13, with which said bonds have
been redeemed, amounting IN principal and inter
est to $20,l5i co.
An act was also passed and approved the 10Th
day Of February, ls49, requiring the governor TO
settle the claim Of Mcssrs. Macalister !. Stebbins.
Some progress has been made toward final set.
tlemeLt, but owing to n difference Of opinion upon
tie construction 10 be given to certain sections of
the law. particularly the second section, they are
still unud lu.ted. There has been delivered up
by them SSlS,6l0 in principal and interest, Of
what has usually been denominatcd 'Micaister
d Stebbms bonds and SlOo,73i 40 in internal
improvement bonds and scrp-in all S42G,3i4
40, for which there has been issncd $4,000 in
liquidation bonds" | have no assurance that
. the residue Of the bonds hypothecated with them
will be surrendered under the law.
4 again take occasion earnestly to invite your
+ attention to the necessity Of providing for tho 4.
nal settlement Of class Of long standing and un-
adjusted claims against tha state. To delay an
adjustment longer, will only increase the dItiicul.
ties that already surround them besides lesseuing
the chances IN favor Of the state TO meet them
upon ust and equitable ground. While n large
amount Of claims are allowed to remain against
the state unsettled, the condition Of its indeb bted
ness is in doubt and feyerish apprehension o!
it, true state, viii can,inue to prevail in the mud'
Of the people.
, Having once before invited the attention Of the
general assembly 10 this subject 1t will not be re
qulrcd Of me To enter minutely into a description
of the character of the several claims referred to
except in general terms BY far the larger por
zion Of them arises from actual or pretended dam
i ages to paiva,e property from the construction q
the canal or to contractors for alledgcd delinquen
Z ccs on behalf uf the state. BY virtue Of Law
passed during the session Of 1876 and Al, al
t persons having claims against the state from eth
J, cr ot the foregoing causes, were required within
, Two years thereafter, to make proof of them be
fore the state trustee, who was authorized to re
ceve such testimony, The claims, with the test
: muny in their support were directed ifterward,
be filed in the Office Of the secretary of state
n The aggregate amount attempted To be prove
before the state trustee aud file in the s, crcta
r ry's Office exceeds one million Of dollars. 1t wi
6s remarked, that the law nowhere pre- yides 70
\ collecting the testimony on behalf Of the stat,
7, which might be needed TO test the justice of tli
, claims but that IN favor Of the claimant only -
!, Whether the provisions Of the law were wise q
II ! not is now unnecessary and useless 10 inquire
=, Testimony has been adduced in their favor in COZ
iormity with the law, and been filed in the proT
d or ofiice, and these claims must be adjusted tina
~ by the Legislature, or the courts Of JUSTICE
:, Suits, am Informed, have already been con
q, menced by parties interested, against the stat
. trustee, TO enforce payment Of some Of them an
1t is important to the state that the legislator
take up the whole matter Of these claims, an
10 provide for their settlement upon principles {
Justice This course, alone may save the stat
o the annoyance and expense of n great number {
- law suits when, after all, 1t will be compelled t
u pay what i found to be honestly and justly du
the claimants OF the relative Justice Of thes
claims, know but little but am assured that
the testimony, Of which the state can avail itsel
is procured, IL will show some of them, at lcas
Ito be entitled to little considerations What
wanting now to Justify the legislature in actin
finally, is the testimony in behalf Of the state
THIS ought to be collected at once, and placed VI
y on tile with the proper claim, to be used when r.
" quircd 10y the legislature.
:, 1t is worthy Of consideration that this tcstim
- ny he procured at M early day, Us n portion Of
depends upon contingencies, which at any M
mrnt may place it beyond the reach Of the stat
1t becomes necessary To provide IN what mann
/; shall bc obtained. II is doubtful i the legsl
ture could spare the time necessary to attend
the matter during ts limited session, without I
tardiug and perhaps defeating important publ
measures The hurry and anxiety attendant u
on legislation owing to the shoriness Of the sc
sion, would b. unlavorable to the care and delib
ration required in collecting the testimony rece
sary to proper adjustment of such n variety
CLAIMS as the mistakes aud errors under like C
cunlstances, within the last few wears, demo
strate take the liberty Of repeating my forl
er suggestion, that the only apparent practc
mode OF collecting and arranging the testitnor
n and preparing the claims for final action Of I
:. general assembly, is through the agency OF p,
Is sons appointed for the purpose whose duty
should be, to collect the testimony on behalf I
4 state of such as relates to each particular clai
- Their duty being confined exclusively to proc'
ipg testimony and spreading it before the egis
os ture they would have nothing to do with the t
al settlement Of the claims themselves
90 1t is probable that this duty might be perfor
- ed by certain Of the officers Of state, with We
Us little necessary assistance There is class
claims usually brought before the legislatu