The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1872-08-08

PRICE RAID CLAIMs-Gov. Harvey left for
Washington yesterday to file with the third au-
ditor Of the treasury the papers necessary to the
adjustment Of the Price raid claims, for the pay
ment of which, It will be remembered, an appro-
priation was made by congress in June.
When the Governor was in Washington some
weeks ago, he ascertained that the law author
izing the payment of these claims had not bcen
certified from the state department, az required
in such cases. He Immediately had the matter
attended to- and has since been in correspondence
with the departments on the subject. 1t was
escertained a few days ago that the report Of the
auditing board detailed by the secretary Of wal,
together with all the papers examined by said
board, must be fled with the auditor before final
action could be taken by the treasury department.
The papers therefore collected from the
Offices of the adjutant general, auditor and treas
urer in this city and sent forward. The Governor
goes along with them to use his personal efforts
for the speedy settlement of the business.-COn-
monrealtk.
From signs of the times, here is another specu-
latiou on foot for the benefit of few sharks at
the expense of poor men. The State of Kansas
appointed a commission to audit the Price Raid
Claims They returned some 100000 as being
due the people of the State, arising from the raid.
Afterwards, the general Government appointed q
commission to audit the claims, and report the
amount justly due. This commission came to
Kansas, examined the claims, rejected several
classes, and reported some $335, 600 dne, which
amount was appropriated ut the last session Of
Congress. 1t was advised that the Legislature of
Kansas pass an act regulating the disbursement
of this money, in order that only the proFer claims
might be paid; but through some sort Of manipu-
lation, the bill that passed the Senate never saw
daylight in the House. As it stands, there
is over 10000 of Price Raid Scrip out, bearing
interest, which has been running for some years.
The Government pays 1895 900, allowing no inter
est. Thousands upon thousands of dollars of this
scrip has been bought up for mere triHe, and is
in the hands of bankers and spectators in To-
peka and other places. There being no law regu-
lating the payment, these holders will run in all
classes of scrip alike and also collect the interest.
Just as soon as the money gets into the State
Treasury, those men will 60 for it, and it will be
exhausted within few hours after reaching the
State. The bankers and speculators will take it
in, leaving the poor devils throughout the State,
who hold scrip for genuine services rendered, to
whistle for their pay. For years and years, the
Legislature will be importuned to make appro-
priatons to pay these claims, and the people will
be finally taxed to pay them, or the holders will
lose their claims.
1t is the Governors duty to hold back that
money until the Legislature passes an act regu-
lating its disbursement. He has it in his power
to protect the poor men from the speculatOrs.
But will he do it! If he has set Lis head on 1t,
and entered into an arrangement with the bankers
and scrip speculators the money will 60, unless
there is some law to prevent it. Bull-headedness,
and the prospect of sumr advantage In tho dis
tanee, will rule in the matter, regardles of any
injustice that may be done the people of the
State.