Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-09-07
The Rebel Claims.

At the late session OF congress, bills
were introduced by congressman now
supporting the election Of Tilden fer
president, to the amount of S472, 316,-
1873 Of claims, refunding taxes. etc,
to the people of the south. Here are
the items, which should be kept be-
fore the people of the north for their
consideration
Amount of bill for 40 claims 81. $50. 26q
Amount of bills to efund direct taxes
Amount Of bills to refund cotton tax 68O72.OSS
Amount of bills to pay for property used
and destroyed l59OCo,00O
Amount of bills to pay for supplies 25OO0O,O0O
At the same session the following
bill was introduced by Mr.. Wiltshire,
Tilden member of congress from Ar
kansas.
That all citizens of the United
States having claims against the Unit
ed States for stores or supplies taken
or furnished during the rebellion for
the use of the army of the United
States, including the use and loss Of
vessels or boats while employed in the
military service of the United States,
may institute suit against the United
States for the adjustment and recovery
of such claims in the district court Of
the United States for the district in
which such stores or supplies which
may have been taken or furnished or
such vessels or boats may have been
used or lost. -
Reflect a moment" says senator
Sherman. "All citizens Of the United
States, rebels as we'll as loyal citizens
having claims for stores or supplies
taken or furnished during the rebellion
for the use of the army, including the
use and loss of boats, may sue the
United States, and recover the value
thereof The loyal people must pay
all the war taxes, submit to the loss
inflicted by rebel raiders, and then pay
for ali forage taken by our troops when
within the rebel lines, all the rails
burned, ali the corn, sweet potatoes,
and turkeys consumed Who that re
fleets upon the supply of an army in
an enemys country during four
years war will not shrink from such a
claim-a claim that could only be paid
by an acknowledgment that the war
on our part was unjust
The following is the second bill in
PRODUCED by Mr.. Riddle, Of Tennessee,
and now before the judiciary commit
tee:
GA bill directing compensation TO be
allowed for the use and occupation
Of property by the United States
army during the late war.
Be 1t enacted by the Senate end
house of representatives Of the United
States Of america an congress assem-
bLcd. That the secretary of war be
and be is hereby authorized to allow
reasonable compensation to all citizens
of the United States for the use and
occupation of their property by the
United States army, or any part there
of, during the civil war, in the same
manner and under the same regulations
as compensation is now allowed fog
quartermaster stores used by said army;
Provided, hoDeUer, That the affidavit
of the claimant supported by the COM
petent testimony Of any reputable cit
izan, shall be sufficient proof to estab-
lish the fact of the use and occupation
of such property by said army. But
it is not the intention Of this act to
limit the parties to the amount Of
proof herein specified but other and
additional testimony may be taken to
establish the fact Of the use and occu-
patton, and rental value of the proper
ty occupied"
"Now," continues Senator Sherman,
'GulS DllI uII6COS VIC SGClGedi Ol W dI
to allow and pay to all citizens Of the
United States, rebel as well as loyal, a
reasonable compensation for the use of
their property by the United States
army, or any part thereof during the
late civil war. Every camping ground;
every field of battle every march or
retreat; every tree cut down every
grain field injured by an officer or sol
der in our army-for each and all of
those are a part of the army-must be
paid for at a reasonable price Sup
pose a rebel secretary Of war; such as
Tilden would naturally select, was
armed with this authority, what count
less claims would be fastened upon the
Treasury An intelligent writer has
estimated the amount covered by these
two bills at $2.41O,OO0. O00"-a sam
larger than the entire nationaE debt