Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-10-05

SlO,3Ol III
University Fund.-
Tran srerrcd from State revenue, $i96 90
No disburss ments,
Special Loan Tax
Comptrollers certf. indebted s SI0,iOo %
No disbursements, ".
U. S. TEXAN INDEMNITY BONDS. q
BY authority of "an act concern
ing the 5 per cent,Indemnity bonds,
&C." approved 30th Oct. 1866, have
sought to arrange the controversies
growing out of the use of said bonds
by the Military Board of the State,
during the war; but must express
my regret that my success has not
been greater.
One of the main difficulties was
the utter confusion which existed
among the the papers and records
of the Board, through which the
Bonds passed from the State. Mr..
Geo. J. Durham was employed to ex'
anime said papers and records, to
bring thcm into order; he spent
something like two months in the
examination, but it was necessary
that his labor should be concluded
before steps could be taken in the
discharge of my duty understand
ingly. After the fullest examination
many material facts touching these
Bonds were unbound, or unconncct-
cd with other known facts; partic-
ularly was it impossible to find the
numbers of all the Bonds which
passed TO Messrs. White & Chilcs,
which are mentioned hereafter moro
at large.
1. There were in all, so far as |
have been able to learn, two hun
dred and fifty five of these Bonds,
which had not at the date of the
act referred to, been disposed Of,
wholly beyond the reach of the State
authorities. AS soon as the neccs-
sary data was obtained through the
examination of Mr.. Durham, ! ap-
pointed Hon, B. H. Eppcrson, the
agent of the State to undertake the
recovery of the Bonds, or compro-
mise controversies relating thereto,
as he might deem best for the in
terest of the State. Much of his
time has been consumed in this
agency since his appointment.
2. OF the Bonds traced, and which
had not been paid, sixty-one were
in the Treasury of the United States
at Washington, on deposit; twenty
in possession of Messrs. Oliver u
Bro, of Monterey, Mexico; nine
teen were mailed in 1865, by W. il.
Sloan, who acted for the Military
Board, to Col. M. T. Johnson, and
were lost; one hundred and fifty
one were in the hands of Messrs.
Droege g. Co., of Manchester, Eng,
land, obtaind through the agency of
Messrs. Jno. M. Swisher q Co., for
the Military Board; and four We're
in the hands of - Pierce, one of
the late Military Board.
3. Tho proper efforts were made
to obtain possession of the money
due on the sixty-one Bonds, on de-
posit at Washington, success was not
met with, Notwithstanding they
were mature, and no adverse claim
TO them. An effort was then made
to have them applied to the part
navment of the Direct Tax. levied
by the U. S., on the lands in the
State of Texas, but in this there was
also failure. The Bonds remain
in the Treasury at Washington.
4. 1t was hoped that the nineteen
Bends mailed to Col. NJ L. Johnson
and lost, might be Gannd in the dead
letter office, but not so. Protest
was filed at the Treasury against
their payment, should they be pre-
sented, to any party save to the au-
thorized agent of the State.
5. The twenty Bonds that were in
the possession of Messrs. Oliver Il
Bro, were, by consent, paid at the
Treasury, and the proceeds deposit
ed with the New York Life Insur-
ance and Trust Company, in the
city of New York, to abide any set
tlement that might be agreed on,
between Mr.. Epperson and Oliver
& Bro. Since the deposit, a compro-
mise has been arranged, whereby
the State receives the sum of SO, 800
in u. S. 500 Bonds and the sum of
1851 Sin u. S. currency. Messrs.
Oliver & Bro. had a duly authenti
Gated transfer to said Bonds. Ifeei
well satisfied with the success of
Mr.. Epperson.
6. The 151 Bonds in the hands of
Messrs. Droege & Co, of England,
have not been secured. There are
many controversies growing out of
the different phases of the transac-
ton, by which said firm acquired
possession of said Bonds. Besides
isl Bonds, held by Droege 4 Co.
there is a sum of money, in the
hanus of Messrs. Lloyd, Entwistle
& Co, Of London, England-say,
915,41s IL 4, in specie, with inter
est thereon from the 25th Dec. 1852.
This sum depends on the result Of
negotiations with Droege 4 Co
Mr.. Epperson, as also the Attorny
General, have bestowed much labor
on these confroversies, and have
about succeeded in preparing them
for settlement the delay being now
caused by the non-arrival of roueh-
ers and authority to Messrs. Ballin-
ger & Jack, Of Galveston, the agents
Of Droege 4 Co With lithetme
at my command ] feel assured that
the 151 Bonds and large part Of the
money could be resiizedfor the State
Z. There was q transaction be-
tween the Military Board. and
Messrs. White & Chiles, whereby
the latter came into possession Of
one hundred and thirty five Bonds,
with coupons sufficient 70. make
about one hundred and fiflv SIX