Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-01-15
LIBRARY.

| LIBRARY.
The improvement of the State Library
has progressed satisfactorily, and the new
alcoves, with the gallery above, give room
for large increase Of shelving as the ac
eumulation of the books require it. The
beauty OF the design and workmanship
make the room attractive in high degree.
To accommodate the books pscked and
stored IN the lumber rooms, the second tier
of alcoves should be completed, carving
out the full plan upon which the lower
tier has been constructed.
STATE HOUSE.
Although nearly ten years has elapsed
since the State House was declered finished,
a rough board fence still reaches half way
round the whole enclosure. A good brick
walk has been laid upon the east side of
the square during the past season, but the
north and south sides are equally in need
OF pavement. The postponement of
these matters, from year to year, does not
seem TO make 1t easier to reach them, and
l would strongly recommend that this
portion Of the necessary work about the
Capitol be completed at once.
The Board of Military Claims, consist.
ing of the Auditor and Comptroller Of the
Treasury and the Secretary of State,
which is charged with the duty of exam
ining and paying claims of Ohio citizens
for services rendered and money expended
IN the recruiting, feeding, transporting
and clothing Ohio volunteers and militia,
during the war prior to the time when
such troops were mustered into the service
Of the United States, reports that its work
is substantially completed. 1t has exam
ined, during the past year, claims amount
ing TO Sl46,887 81, of which a part,
amounting to S66, Al 81. have been al
lowed, and the remainder are still under
consideration. Theclaims allowed exceed
the last appropriation made by so, ,713 AZ,
and this sum, together with such portions
of the claims stIl under examination as
may be found just, will need to be provi-
ded for.
GEN. cAsEY's BOARD.
The Federal Government, under an act
of Congress, appointed Board of which
Gen. Casey was President, 70 examine and
pass upon the claims of the State for ex-
penditures made on behalf of the United
states during the invasion Of 1858, known
as the " Morgan Raid" Thsir authority
did not cover any claims for damages to
private property, but only the legitimate
expenditures for putting on foot and sCs-
tanning in the field the State troops.
Claims for these items were laid before the
Board by the Adjutant General, amount
ing to S274, ,924 A, of which all but Ss,-
622 % were allowed, and are now await
ing the action of the U. s. Treasury De-
partment upon the report Of the COmmis
sion.
OTHER MILITARY CLAIMS.
Besides the two classes of claims agains
the General Government above described,
the State has accounts for materials furn-
ished and expenditures made during th e
war. In addition to instalments previ- |
onsly-allowed and paid, We have this year
received the sum Of S159, OPT %, which |
has been duly certified into the Treasury,
and are daily in expectation of the receipt |
Of another and larger payment.
The amount Of claims presented, but not |
yet allowed and paid, exclusive of those
presented to Gen. Casey's commission, and |
those allowed by the State military COM
mission,
Amount before Cen. Casey; commits -
Amount allowed to this date By Stat: 0oOi
eommisslon---..--.-...-s.- zSOsoiV ~
Total Outstanding military claims
against the United 100 $40 z
Of these, it IS reasonable to expect that /
$500, 600 will be paid during your session,
and the remainder will be pressed as rap /
idly as possible by the officers having i
them in charge.
SOLDIERS CLAIMS.
By act Of the last General Assembly,
the further receipt Of soldiers claims, for
back pay and bounty, was stopped on the
first of June, and on the first of October
the business remaining unsettled was trans
ferred to the Adjutant Generals Office,
and the Bureau of Soldiers Claims closed.
The report Of Royal Taylor, the commits
sioner, is appended hereto, showing that
the business of his Office was faithfully
performed, and ali the books, records and
papers properly turned over to tho Adju
tant General, as provided by law.
should be glad to be able to report the
same of Jas @. Wetmore, Esq, Of the
Washington agency. In June last felt s
il my duty to make some structures upon
acts Of his which appeared to me designed {
to defeat the object Of the law for the sake
Of personal profit, by creating the impres ]
sion that the cessation to receive new
claims included also the cessation to pros !
scute gratuitously the collection of those {
already received. The correspondence on
this suoject was followed by the resigna- I
ton Of the agent on the frs. of July,
Wnen directed the Adiutant General to
~ a IF Nka rA :
he expense of seperate Office, for the
short time it had still to exist. For this
purpose Gen. CoWen proceeded 10 Wash
ngton TO receive the transfer of the oftee
md its archives, but was Unexpectedly
net by = refusal to deliver possession of ,
The records and papers As the duties of
he agency were identical in character Z
With those of the Commissioner of Claims, Q
whose Office was in the State Capitol, and !
Is 1 had then, and have now, no more /
loubt of the right Of the State to the re- t
,ords there than 10 those Of the executive
,fice here, directed legal proceedings to 4
,e instituted to obtain possession Of the Il
,ooks and documents. My view Of the
luties of that agent is that, like those of
III other officers of the state government. I
hey were administrative only, and the I,
oLate lLselI WIS Tic EeS pODSAO4o pIlAC4pai
o which the soldiers entrusted their claims
nd look for the performance Of the trust, b
he agent being strictly the employee Of ii
be State which paid him, and in no sense n
he employee Of the soldiers.
The local Court of the District Of Co. 7
umbia, before which the case was brought, y
Ield, however, that the agent was the =
gent of the State only for the purpose Of '. :
eceiving a salary, and that the archives u y
f the Office and record books furnished by y
he State are the agents personal property. !. q
Dissatisfied with this decision, the Adju II
ant General has, with my approval, ap q
,ealed to the Supreme Court of the United o.
itates, where the case will soon be heard a
nd decided. o
A full history Of this transaction, as Il
seH as the means which have been ener c.
used by the Adjutsnt General 70 d
.rotect the interests Of the soldiers under Il
he embarrassments incident to the failure Il
D obtain immediate possession of the re- IL
ords of the Office, will be found in Gen. VI
owens report. To that report would W
lso refer for q full exhibit Of the steps Ii
, Ion 70 closa nm the military business Of !: