Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-12-13
In Congress.

To the resolutions in which the various mat
tiers in the Presidents message was referred TO
their appropriate Committees, Mr.. RIrcmE
moved to add the following
Mr.. RITCHIE. desire 10 have incorpora-
ted in the resolutions the following
That so much Of said message and docu-
ments as relates 10 the allowance by The Quar-
termaster General ofclaims for artermaster's
stores taken during the war he referred TO a
special committee of five members
We are all aware that in the border States
during the war there was great loss and dam
age inflicted by the taking Of quartermaster's
stores in an informal manner. The law upon
that subject now is entirely INADEQUATE ! had
the honor to introduce bill in regard TO it,
on which this House has not yet taken action
That bill has for its Object the relief Of large
number of our citizens. In consequence of the
eXigcncies of the war, guartermasier's stores
were taken. Damage was inflicted on citizens
for the benefit of the Army, the Army enjoyed
the benefit of it, and yet there Is no adequate
provision for the relief of those on whom that
damage was inflicted.
While the claims amount TO several million
dollars, the Quariermaster General has up 20
this date allowed but the amount of S3G7, 600.
The articles taken were necessary for the COM
fort of the Army, and one can readily renlize
what must have been the necessities of the ar
mics for instance led by General Meade and
General Mcclellan in their hurried campaigns
through the western portions of the State of
Maryland. Those armies were in want of
many supplies, and the camping of the Army
for a night devastated and destroyed farms
which the day before were pictures Of plenty.
ask that this committee shall take this sub
jet into consideration. This Congress has
already made provision looking 10 the adjust
mcnt Of claims similar in their character in
the States that seeded. do not know why
discrimination, for such il practically is, should
be made against those Sta,es that did not with
draw from the Union. The whole subject
ought to be considered Justice should he done
especially as the Secretary Of War has recon-
mended that Congress shall limit the time
within which these claims shall be presented
ask, then, Mr. Chairman, that the gentleman
from Massachusetts will include in his resolu-
tons a reference of this subject 10 select com
mittee of FIVE to take the whole matter into
consideration; otherwise | shall press my
amendment
Mr.. DA IVES. This whole matter is now
before the Committee of Claims and il seems
TO me that that is the legitimate committee to
consider the question | hope the gentleman
from MARI land will consent to let il remain
with that committee. They are already con-
sidering the question. The proposition to
raise a southern claims commission came from
that committee. and they are considering the
whole matter at the present time. Ii seems
hardly proper TO create special committee to
take this branch of the subject from them.
Mr.. RlTClllE. will accept the suggestion
of the gentleman from Massachusetts if he will
specially include in his resolution of reference
to the Committee of Claims this topic.
Mr.. DAWES. ! have no objection to mod
flying that resolution in the manner suggest
ed.
The resolutions, as modified, were then
agreed to.
Mr.. DAWES. move that the committee
rise and report the resolutions to the House.
The motion was agreed to.