Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-01-09

rSOseSss0 - 80 OVUtUvJ0 04igo0o WAS
sssdsrea nssseeasy, in the opinion OF the
O0e.N Asssably. 70 protect the border
eeoetie from the dspsedaeions Of Guerrilla
lands existing in the adjacent Stat !. Of Mis-
oeen. These expenditures, tho. ,eh cons,i-
eeting just claims asaias, the ,.rnisea S,stcs
IN the absence Of any gene raj law coycr,nx
NE case. vii. not proba' ~ @,e secured to us
w ~, further legis'' alton by Congress.
ans natter - resp scsfally referred 10 your
40 compha' &c with the provisions Of
NssP.~ ~ Acts If the last session, visit
Vas" ngton and found the military
the State in . very unsatisfactory
ss:'V On. But little progress had been
sseds in their examination, and, u, der the
siations above referred TO, most OF them
srs necessarily suspended a. the examina-
tio0 advanced. I pointed gu: the gross
hardship Of these regulations to the Score
easy Of tho Treasury. and repeatedly solic
ited their modification, 90 as to make them
conform to the laws Of this State. under
which our claims were allowed and paid =
Falling this, presented the matter to the
President, who readily perceived their in.
justios. and gave his opinion to the Third
Auditor Of the Treasury, that, under the
circumstances, they should not ne rigorous
y applied in the examination Of the Iowa
Claims.
Although this opinion was freely express
ID BY the President, yet he declined 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 ef
forts have been made by myself and others
Sog suspension or change Of the regula-
lions mentioned, 20 - to procure favora
be examination Of our claims, but so far
the labor has been unavailing.
On the LIST Of October last was advised
BY the Third Auditor that the preliminary
examination Of the Iowa claims hal been
concluded, and statement Of difference"
forwarded. From this statement, now in
the Executive office, it appears that the to
tai amount of Iowa claims on file in the
Treasury Department is shout $6l6,73Y. OF
or this amount, $40. S25 90 have been al
lowedS t43O, 1926 70 suspended, and $685.
$50 % disallowed.
To have full understanding Of the sub
ject, il will be necessary to bear in mind
that this total Of $Gls,739,O7 embraces the
entire amount Of our Military expenditures
for . given period, including expenses Of
Of The Adjutant-G Generals Office, Cover,
nof's Aids, interest on money borrowed,
State Agents. duplicate payments to troops
&c., which do not come within the provs-
ions ofthe Acts Of Congress-, and for which
~ cannot reasonably expect reimburs
ment. Thia class Of claims amoun,s in the
aggregate to $685. $50 23 stated as disal
lowed The sum Of $43O, 1926. 20, state d rs
suspended, is money legitimately paid on
behalf Of the United States in recruiting
and getting troops into the field. This
sum hes BEEN merely suspended for want
Of the TECHNICAL proofs required Ivy the
Treasury regulations above referred to, and
in subject TO re examination and allowance
This j. the entire amount in dispute be
tween the State and the General Govern
ment under the Acts Of July. 1861.
Upon this claim the United States is en-
titled to credit Cor 1854. 274.S0. being the
quota OF the direct Federal tax apportioncd
for the year 1861 to this State Ivy the Act
Of Congress approved August 8. 1861, the
sssessme Mt and collection of which the
State assumed by Act Of the General As
sembly, approved January 81. 1862, and
also TO the further sum Of 300. 000. 90 paid
the State from thu United S ates Treasury,
in advance Of settlement on our military
disbursements 3, ccified above-inaking a
total credit Of e4s4, 274 so.
Subsequent lcvics Of this direct tax upon
the States were abolished by Act Of Con
grcss approved Jure 80, 1864, but leaving
chem still liable for the apportionmcnt d
1861. Section SO Of the Act Of August 5
1861, and the Act amendatory thereto, ap
proved May Ia. 1862 provide in substanc,
for allowing such portion Of this tax, du,
from any State. to be paid and satisfied ii
whole or IN part by the release OF sui
State, duly executed. to the Uui,ed state,
Of any l,Quidated and determined claim o
such State for reimbursement of expense,
incurred in enrolling. subsisting, transport
ing. &c, troops employed in aiding 10 sup
press the rebellion, as should be filed viii
the proper officers Of the United States DC
fore the Goth Of July 1862. The bulk o
the military claims Of this State was dull,
fled in the Treasury Department within
the time thus limited, but not having beer
"liquidated and determined by its &C
counting officers. no release has or coul,
have been executed.
All the money derived to the State Treas
ury from the levy imposed by the Act o
January 3lst. 1862, has been absorbed il
the redemption of warrants issued upor
these War and Defense Claims. and was
therefore, a virtual p yment Of them out o
funds belonging to the United States, being
sufficient as will b, perceived with tn,
&lVG, 900 90 advanced to the State to NOR
than cover the entire amount CT our sus-
pended demands against them.
Under these circumstances, l have de
tcrmincd to held these unadjustcd claim.
~ an Offset to this direct tax, unless other
wise directed bv the General Assembly -
This course have considered nccessa'
to protect the interests Of the State from
what ain constrained to regard rs exceed
ingly d singenious conduct on the part o
the Treasury Department toward us. b.
pursuing this course, but little detri,ncn
can result to the State from the suspension
Of our claims But as a final adjustment
10 desirable for both parties, steps Louie
b taken to pr cure it without nnncce,>ar,
delay; and therefore recommend the NJ
continent Of special committee t, inves
tigatc the subject, and report definite am
practicable plan for securing settlement.
FINANCE AND REVENUE.
Our financial affairs werc neve
in . soundcr condition. During tn
entire period OF the war sc have ievlc,
but two mills o, the dol ar for State pur
poses; and have incurred an indcbtc Ines
Of only $500, 900, which was for miltar
expenditures during the first year Of I'll
war. The total amount received in tn
Treasury during the fiscal two years end
ing Nov. 4th, 1865, was 1917, 1926. 10; an
the amount expended for all purposes fu
the same period is $959, 739. A. leaving
balance in the Treasury OF so. 0S7.Gs.
The total amount Of State Revenue dc
Fivablc from general levy at two mills. an
ether sources for the ensuing biennial p,
Rod, excluding the estimated balance du
from the United States Government, M,
be calculated At <l.Sll,O02.
The total disbursements required for III
same period for ordinary purposes, incl,
ding payment Of bonds (*200,0OO) due
1868, may be estimated with approxi,na,
accuracy At $79l, 923. 65. leaving . balane
Of &5l6,O79.22 in favor Of resources. fro,
which to make such special appropri t,on