New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-13
OREGON AND WASHINGTON VAR
CLAIMS.

To RE Editor Of The ". y. Tribune.
SIR: A bill for the partial payment of these claims
has passed the Senate at last, but with an amend
Inent added to the bill reported by the Committee
that win work great hardship upon large number
Of the holders Of the scrip. 1t is well known to
those acquainted with the condition of the Terri
tory at the time of the war, that a large portion
of the inhab tants were miners, drovers, and pack
ers who had no fixed residence, yet were in the
possession Of property and muscle, that were
turned over to the Government for which they
received the vouchers in their own names, and at
the end of tie war found themselves In possession
of no other property Than these vouchers, or war
scrip, il was called.
Immediately after the close of the war, Congress,
having authorized the appointment OF Commission
ers to examine into these claims and report the
amount fairly due, there began to be, once in
great while, persons credulous enough TO believe
that the debt would be paid. And when these
miners, droyers, and packers were disposed to
follow up some new mining excitement at Col
vile, Fraser River, or Washoe, they could end
men who would give them from 40 TO 20 cents on
the dollar, paying them in horses, mules, and
cattle for their war.scrjp As they must have
something to start with, more OF less Of the scrip
has changed hands in this way. Now the amend.
ment engrafted upon the bill, as it has passed the
Senate, provides that the money appropriated shall
enly be paid to the original holders Of the scrip,
and not to their assnees, thus cutting of the pay
ment Of all this amount, unless the parties can be
found who were the original holders, many of
whom can never be found, and, where they can be,
must necessarily keep the present holders of the
scrip cut Of their money for long time after the
appropriation shall have been made. suppose
the author of this amendment introduced il with a
view Of cutting of any Shylocks who may have
been specializing in this debt. The Oregon Legis-
lature took different view Of the interest of her
citizens, and passed special statute prescribing
the form of power of attorney, to enable parties
to realize what they could for their claims when
compelled to part with them. This law WAC
passed by the Legislature in consequence Of the
laws of Congress Of July, 1916, and February,
1853, declaring any power of attorney or assign
ment Of claims against the Government null and
void
In the bill introduced by Gen. Lane for the pay
ment of these claims, section second provided for
the payment to the parties, their legal representa-
tives or to the assgnees or attorneys duly consti
tuted and appointed of said parties, anything in
these acts to the contrary notwithstanding. If the
Government are disposed to render anything like
tardy justice to the people Of Oregon, they viii
insert this provision in the bill before it becomes
aw.
The idea that any considerable amount of the
lebt has been bought up by spectators is entirely
erroneous. No man or company can be found hold
ng any large amount. The changes and transfers
hat have been made of the debt arc in a small way,
md among our own people, and confined more to
he farmers through the Willamette and Cmpqua
alleys than to any other class. In fact, am sat-
SIZED that majority Of the debt ia held by the
armers of those valleys. They were, at the time
f the war, in possession Of cattle, horses, and
,roduce, required by the volunteers, which they
urned out freely and have been the greatest pur-
.hasers Of the scrip since the war.
Now, sir, as you represented us so ably in the
chicago Convention, hope you will continue to
Idyocate our interest, and ask the Republican
members 10 aid in giving us such bill az will en-
bile us to get our psy, not only on what scrip we |