White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1870-06-30
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a Chapter of History.

anditIng Of claims 'for money actually
expended for the purpose Of maintaining
AMI carrying into effect the laws of the
territory. or for the purpose of suppress
arg any rebellion or insurreciion. wheth-
Isrs su-'sin'ug the militia or any other
posse OF the territory an I .'for the loss
of Property or coaseqaen. expen-s at any
time since II. Passage of the act orgsni
n. the territory"
This art provided for the sppoitment Of
commis,ioner and taking oil testimony
IN support of surt claims rs should be
presented. TIE commissioner to make on;
. statement in duplicate. oss Of which
was to be laid befors congress and the
oth'r before the legislature Of the territory
OF Kansas which shonld next assemble
The object Of this was to obtain compeu-
sation fnr losses. expenses and damages
incurred by the citizens Of the territory.
withou' distinction Of party. Under this
act Wilson Shannon was appointed COM
missioner. bat declining to serve. Fl. j .
Strickler was chosen to Gil his place
He gave notice to claimants. held sessions
in different parts Of the territory. and
audited three hundred end fifty claims.
which were corroborsted BY the testimony
OF two or more witnesses. The smonnt
claimed wss S30l 225. and 1884. 279.-
% were allowed. Ths large mjerity Of
claims allowed were OF a private charac
ter This report was submitted TO the
legislative of 1859 and ordered printed
There was, however. some opposition to
il and some differences of opinion as to
the best manner Of securing indemnity for
losses sustained. An act was according
" passed by. the territorial Legislature o!
1859 providiDg for the appointment Of
three commissioners. one by the COVER
nor. one by the council and third by
the house of representatives. whose duty
it should be ''to audit AMI certify all
claims for the loss Of property taken or
destroyed. and damages resulting there
from. during the disorders which pre-
vailed in this territory from Move N bef l
1855. to December l. 1856" These
commissioners were to complete their
work IN or before the lst day Of Septem
Der. 1859. and were 10 file in duplicate
in the offices Of the secretary and auditor
a statement Of all claims presented and
the amount allowed thereon. All testi-
mony. vouchers and documents pertain
ing to this inv,stic alton were to be filed
in the offire Of the secretary Of the Ter
ritory. or this commission Henry J
Adams. lately deceased. WIS appointed
by the council. S. A. Kingman. now
chief Justice OF the supreme court OF the
state Of Kansas. was appointed by. the
house. and L iw,rd IIosglan1 .wAs sp-
pointed by the governor. A supple
menttry ac' provided also for the sppnint
ment of an attorney. and William MIX "
was elected to this position by a joint
vote Of the two houses Of the legislature
He was recommended by Gov. Medary
This comm ission is said to have iaiih.
fully and fnily discharged their duties
They examined and passed judgment mp
on four hundred and eightv-seven claims
OF those audited By Mr.. S,rickier
one hundred and sixty.six were pre-.
sented to this board: the testimony they
took made two large octave volumes. and
was pnblishe'i by order OF congress.
According to this report. losses were
claimed hv ths settlers which amonnt' d
to S479 973 92. aud the commissioners
awarded and issurd certificates for SI54
001 20. OF S4l2 97S O3 worth of pro-
perty destroyed. S77, 1913 80 worth were
owned by pro slavery men. These com
misssoners also calcuiated that 1000
more would cover the losses Of NIL ad-
di,ional claims that might be established
making in all nearly half q million Of
dollars worth OF property destroyed in
the effort to fasten slavery npon the soil
of Kansas. This report was sent to con.
gress with the Wyando'te constitution
with the rrqnast that $500 900 be ,p
propriate,i to pay for these Losses. and tn e
bill which has recently been reported by
the house commit,es on claims makesths
appropriation and also makes Judge Dll-
Ion the comm issioncr to arbitrs,e and
decide upon them, His decision is to
be final. anil his certificate to the secre-
tsry Of t1ie treasury viii draw the money.
The bill ought to pass. Those who bold
these claims have long been deprived OF
their inst dnes. and even this tardy pay
ment Of cl,ims long deferred will he hai :
ter than no payment at nll-Topeka
Commonwealth.