Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-01-12

i Inc organization OF tile southern Brig
ade was rendered necessary, in the opin.
, ion of the General Assembly, to protect
the border counties from the depreda.
tons of guerrilla bands existing in the
adjacent State of Missouri. These ex-
penditures, though constituting just
claims against the United States, in the
absence of any general law covering
the case, will not probably be secured
to us without further legislation by Con-
gress. This matter is respectfully refer
red to J our consideration.
In compliance with the provisions OF
Chapter 81, Acts of the last session,
visited Washington and found the mil
itary claims of the State in a very un-
satisfactory condition. But little pro-
gress had been made in their examina-
ton, and, under the regulations above
referred to, most of them were necessa-
rily suspended as the examination ad-
vanced. pointed out the gross hard
ship of these regulations to the Secretary
of the Treasury, and repeatedly solicited
their modification, so as to make them
conform to the laws Of this State, under
which our claims were allowed and
paid. Failing in this, / presented the
matter to the President, who readily
perceived their injustice, and gave his
opinion to the Third Auditor Of the
Treasury, that, under the circumstances,
they should not be vigorously applied in
the examination of the Iowa Claims
Although this opinion was freely ex-
pressed by the President, yet he declin-
ed to make any positive order for the
modification of these rules, on the
ground that the subject was within the
peculiar province of the Secretary of the
Treasury. Repeated efforts have been
| do hSyn nfh nr for.
pension or change of the regulations
mentioned, so as to procure a favorable
examination of our claims, but so far
the labor has been unavaiiing.
On the LIST of October last l was advis-
ed by the Third Auditor that the pre-
liminary examination of the Iowa
claims had been concluded, and 9" Estate
ment of differences" forwarded. From
this statement, now in the Executive
office, 1t appears that the total amount
of Iowa claims on file i'm the Treasury
Department is about S6l6, 739.07. OF
| this amount, $40, S25. 90 have been allow
ed; $3.50, 326.7O suspended, and $685.
$780, % disallowed. .'.
To have a full understanding of the
subject, it will be necessary to bear in
mind that this total of S6l6, 739.O7 en-
braces the entire amount of our military
expenditures for given period, includ-
ing expenses Of the Adjutant-General's
office, Governors Aids, interest on
money borrowed, State Agents, dupli-
cate payments to troops, &C., which do
not come within the provisions of the
Acts of Congress, and for which we can
not reasonably expect reimbursement.
This class OF claims amounts in the ag-
grcgate to Sl65, $50. %, stated as disallow-
ed. The sum of $3.50, $3.50, stated as
suspended, 10 money legiiimately paid
on behalf of the United States in re-
cruiting and getting troops into the
field. This sum has been merely sus-
pended for want of the technical proofs
required by the Treasury regulations
examination and allowance. This is
the entire amount in dispute between
the State and the General Government
under the Acts of July, 1861.
Upon this claim the United States is
entitled to credit for 1884 ,274S0, being
the quota of the direct Federal tax APP
portiOncd for the year 1861, to this State
by the Act of Congress approved August
5, 1861, the assessment and collection of
which the State assumed by Act of the
General Assembly, approved January
81, 1862, and also to the further SUM of
Sl0D,0O0.0 paid the State from the Uni
ted States Treasury, in advance of set
Element on our military disbursements
specified abovc-making a total credit
of S4S4, 274.S0.
Subsequent levies of this direct tax
upon the States were abolished by Act
of Congress, approved June 80, 1864, but
leaving them still liable for the appor-
tiOnment of 1861. Section SO, of the Act
of August 5, 1851, and the Act amenda-
| tory thereto, approved May Is, 1862, pro-
vided in substance for allowing such
portion of this tax, due from any State,
to be paid and satisfied in whole or in
part by the release of such State, duly
executed, to the United States of any
liquidated and determined claim of such
State for reimbursement of expenses
incurred in enrolling, subsisting, trans
porting, &C., troops employed in aiding
to suppress the rebellion, as should be
! filed with the proper officers of the Uni
ted States before the 30th of July, 1862.
The bulk of the military claims of this
State was duly filed i'm the Treasury
Department within the time thus limit
ed, but not having been "liquidated
and determined by its accounting Off
GERS, no release has or could have been
executed.
All the money derived to- the State
Treasury from the levy imposed by the
Act of January 3lst, 1862, has been alb
sorbed in the redemption of warrants
issued upon these War and Defense
Claims, and was, therefore, virtual
paymect of them out offunds belonging
to the United States, being sufficient us
will be perceived with the 500, 900
advanced to the State to more than COW
er the entire amount OF our suspended
demands against them.
al Pa r Ia Il
termined to hold these unadjusted
claims as an offset to this direct tax,
unless otherwise directed by the Gener-
al Assembly. This course l have con-
sidered necessary to protect the interests
Of the State from what | am constrain-
ed to regard as exceedingly disingenu-
Gus conduct on the part of the Treasury
Department toward us. BY pursuing
this course, but little detriment can re-
suit to the State from the suspension of
our claims. But rs final adjustment
is desirable for both parties, steps should
be taken to procure it without unneces-
sary delay and l therefore recommend
the appointment of a special committee
to investigate the subject, and report a
definite and practicable plan for secur-
ing settlement.
FINANCE AND REVENUE.
| Our financial affairs were never in a
sounder condition. During the entire
period of the war we have levied but
two mills Oh the dollar for State purpo.
SEES; and have incurred an indebtedness
of only 100000, which was for military
expenditures during the first year of the
war. The total amount received in the
Treasury during the fiscal two years
ending November 4, 1865, was $977, s25.-
! 10; and the amount expended for all
purposes for the same period is $685.
739. 4, leaving balance in the Treasury
of S25 ,OS7.6S.
The total amount of State Revenue
derivable from general levy at two mills,
and other sources for the ensuing bien-
NAL period, excluding the estimated
balance due from the United States
Government, may be calculated at ST.
81 ,002,S7.
The total disbursements required for
the same period for ordinary purposes,
including payment of bonds ($20O, O00)
due in 1868, may be estimated with APP