The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-09

TO be necessary Now il this amendment be inefficient
and nugatoy in It's character repeat is only so be-
the individual who will be at the head OF the war
Department will be incompetent unfahu IN the per-
formance OF his duty.
Mr. HUNTER. hope we shall have vote upon The
amendment, and make progress with the bill.
Mr. SHIELDS. There is only one point that requires
any consideration The honorable senator from CALI
fornia perhaps may be right in one particular may De
necessary 10 make some appropriation TO enable he sec
retay of War to carry the object into effect MY nten-
ton that he should employ the officers OF the Uned
States army in California, and that It could be done WIN
out any additional expense thought an eicer IN Cali
foraia in the employ of the government, could re-
ceve this testimony and act upon IT, and send 4 to the
War Department, have il examined there, and then re-
fer il to But if it is thought that an appropriation Is
necessary for that purpose we can very easily make ~
hr GWlN These officers ought certainly to have
their travelling expenses paid They ought TO call WIT
nesses, and those witnesses and they ought to
get something substantial the result OF the examina-
ton. If the senator will ask for appropriation
OF $4,000, something of that sort 10 meet the con
tngent expenses OF the commission, am willing that
the matter should come back TO Congress.
Mr.. WALKER II remember rightly when this case
first up then suggested the popularity presented by
il; that, in almost all other claims which had ever ex
listed against the government the claimants found their
way here enough without appropriation to hunt
them up think yet think these claims will reach
stanated other claims are will then be the duty of
Congress to pay them. must say however, that agree
with the senator from California, Mr. GwN that if we
to hunt up these claims this provision seems to me
entirely inefficient, and had better adopt at all
think we had better adopt none any how, rather than
adopt any which have been suggested; for il these per-
they will be here soon enough and it is mos4 aston
shng that they have not yet been here.
Mr.. GWlN They have been here for seven years
Mr.. WALKER. They have been here in this way
getting money out of the treasury for
Mr.. GWIN Not cent
Mr.. WALKER. We have been asked to appoint
missions send and travel California and ad-
judcate the claims-to hunt them up the public ex-
pense. Nearly all other claimants, the claimants
for French spoliations, and claimants OF various other
descriptions OF equal ii not of greater magnitude, are
thrown upon their own private resources to make man
est the justice OF their claims TO Congress, to establish
them here, and thenif think them just, vote for
Mr. SHIELDS. The honorable senator is wholly mis-
taken about thing, and that s the fact of the
These claims all now here in Washington. They
were sent here long ago. They have even been pre-
sented to this body BY call upon the department. and
dare say have been laid upon the senator's desk The
only object of this amendment is ascertain how many
OF the claims Just and how many unjust. To
tain that fact there be investigation in Cali
fornia and this amendment authorizes the Secretary of
War TO make that investigation in the manner which he
may deem most safe and most wise under the circum-
stances We have been perpexeI in regard to the mat.
ter board was appointed for the purpose The board
sat here in Washington, but could not obtain the
sary tesmony-for that is in California-o show what
claims this government ought TO pay. Therefore, for
the safety OF the government II is necessary that
agent should go to California for this purpose
Mr.. WELLER. see no necessity ior the appointment
of military officers in order to investigate these claims
think il would have been much BETTER not only for the
but for the government, that this board should
have been created OF civilians; that competent per-
sons should have been appointed whose duty it should
have been TO inquire into all the facts connected with
each OF the claims. and hear the testimony which the
claimant himself had TO present in favor OF its justice
AS my colleague has remarked this amendment
to nothing account OF the want OF an appropriation.
prefer that this board should be composed of civilians
The claims for large amount against the govern
ment in consequence of debts incurred by the army of
the United States You sent your army to California
der the command of certain officers In order to sustain
that army those officers were necessarily compelled to
would be very unjust to compel these claimants to
here with the proof necessary TO justify Congress in the
passage OF act for their relief think lhe proper
is 10 send commission into that country, where
they have opportunity OF sitting those claims and
eiermining what amount is equitable and what Ahnjust
have doubt that claims will be presented which will
have no foundation whatever in equity; but that fact
cannot be ascerained except by the appointment Of off,
GERS for the purpose OF examining multitude OF wit
nesses For that reason, ask the senator from Illinois
to change his amendment to direct the Secretary of
War TO send commission into that country to invesi-
gate the matter
should be unwilling for myself TO vote for an appo-
piaon to pay the claims until they had been passed
upon by some honest and reputable men, Tor | know
there some claims presented which are unjust The
existence OF the claims has affected, TO very consider
able extent, the credit OF the government in California
especially among the natives OF that country. abored
under embarrassment myself when was the boun-
dairy commissioner, growing out OF want OF confidence
the government in reference 10 paying for the supplies
furnished the army while it in that country They
have got the idea that il will not comply with its con-
tracts and think this idea should be dspeIled.
Mr. SHIELDS | wish to repeat that the only way in
which this be settled ls 10 have the question inves
gated by the Secretary of War, agent whom he
may send to California for the purpose | think the
amendment will accomplish that object, and all that is
necessary is 10 make appropriation to carry il out
What appropriation will the honorable senator from Cal
ifornia think necessary
Mr. GWlN. Ten thousand dollars
Mr. SHIELDS. modify the amendment then, by add
ing the following and then The Secretary OF War
can send agent from here TO California, or employ
some person already there, as he may deem best
And that the purpose Of carrying this provision into
effect the OF thousand dollars be. and the
hereby appropriated out OF money in the Treasury
otherwise appropriated.
The amendment, as modified, was agreed to.
MIR. SHIELDS. My next amendment is TO insert an
additional section
of claims against the United States for fund. ad
vanced and subsistence and supplies OF all kinds
or taken Tor the OF the command OF Captain John
Fremont, whilst he was engaged In the public service in
California during the year 1876 avorsbly reported upon
by the board Of commissioners appointed under the sixth
section OF the act making appropriations for the support Of
the army approved August 81 1882 the Of 23I OF 22i
s hereby appropriated of Any money the treasury
not otherwise appropriated
would explain that this is the amount which has al
ready approved by the board which appointed under
The ac OF the last session. They have dehnvey al
lowed that amount out OF these claims, and we have
taken up their report and accepted what they have DONE
and propose 10 make appropriation to pay the
amount
Mr. GWlN. Last session we made appropriation
Of 10 900 TO pay for the men who served in California
and such claims as might be favoraby adudcated upon
by this board What has become OF that appropriation