Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-01-12
The Pioneer Mills Claim.

L. A. Van Hoffman coming up, was read Ii
directs the Secretary of ihe Treasury to pay
W, II. Newman and l.. a. Van Hoffman the
SUE of SIS, 43067, 10 full compensation tor the
use of the Pioneer Mills, in Alexandra, va,
by The United States authorities during tne
late war. -.
MIR. Hunton said The bene6ciaries OF this
bill are got constituents OF mine, although the
property 10 question occupied by the Govern
ment is located 10 my district. l think II mem
beers on this floor on both sides of the House
understood the facts 10 regard to this case, this
bill would be passed by the House by unanl'
nous vote beg leave very, briefly TO state
some of the facts involved 10 this case.
The two gentlemen who are The benetclarles
of this bill are DOW and we're all through the
late war residents of the State Of New York,
and one of them is represented by my dlstln'
euished friend on my right, MIR. Willis. =
Thew rented what is known as the Pioneer
Mills, 10 the city of Alexandria, and paid large
" for the mill property. 10 addition to what
| thew maid az rent for the mill property itself.
they paid annually the SUN of 81, 72O as ground
rent to the owners OF the ground upon when
| the mill was built. ,cu
Dnripy the war, after Alexandria had fallen
into tho possession of the Federal forces, and
while it Was occupied by them until the end OF
the war. and to that extent was 90 longer 10
point of fact portion OF State resisting inc
Federal Government, the Quartermastcr OF the
United States applied to the agents OF these
gentlemen. they being 10 New York and the
agent in Alexaudris, for permission to cc.upy
the mill property for tho uses of the Federal
Govcrument. The agent agreed that they
might occupy the property, it the Government
wonll nav for it. The agent # the Govern,
meot said We will pay for the occupation OF
this property, it the owoers are loyal. Uoder
this conditional contract the Federr Govern.
mont took possession of the mill property and
occupied it from that period until about the
end of the war;.
Now hold that this was an occupation OF
nropcrty by the Federal Government, under a
contract to pay for it what it was worth, If the
| claimants we're loyal to the Government of the
JJoitcd States. Therefore the only question
| for this House to consider is whether 1t will
osrrv out the contract made BY this Govern,
ment aud pay these claimants for the use OF
the property which was occupied, upon proof
of their loyalty, the only condition OF the con.
tract. When tho var ended and the claimants
Of this property preferred THAR claim for rent
to the War Department, they were met by a
law of Congress which prohibited the War d.
par.ment from paying soy such claim arising 10
| the seeding States. For that reason, and that
ONLY, the War Department rejected the claim.
They then went before the southern claims
com mission aud asked that commission to pass
upon the question Of payment for the use OF
| their property. The southern claims commits
sion rejected the claim because claims tor tho
reut of property did not come within the lurs'
dic,iop of the Court of Claims, their jursdIc'
ton being confined solely to supplies for the
| Onartermastcr and Commlssary Departments.
So while both of these Departments. the south
ern claims commission and the War Depart
mcnt, acknowledge the Justice of this claim,
thew did not pay it because the law did not
authorize them to pay it, The claimants have
now come into this House for law authorizing
the paymcnt of this claim; and would never
| have come here but for the prohibltory statute
of the Uoitcd States.
Mr.. Frye.-Allow me to remind the gentle
mao from Virginia Mr. Hunton that this is
no new claim; that is to say, it is 20 new pre-.
| cedeut which is now being established. Since
have been 10 Congress there have been passed
two or three bills paying for grouud rent in the
CITY Of Alexandria. | remember that N yselt
10 the Forty first Congress reported bill from
the Committee of Claims in favor of the pay
ment Of ground rent 10 the city OF Alexandria
to gentleman then residing 10 the State of
| Vermont It seems to me the only question
here is whether or not these gentlemen were
loya and residents Of the city OF New ork and
the owners Of this property.
| MIR. Huoton.-As to their loyalty, beg to
saw to nv friend from Maine, their loyalty is
proved by William NJ. EVarts, Secretary Of
State.
MIR. Browne.-He olght to b. good author
| ity. Laughter.
| Mr.. Huntou.-l trust that is satisfactory to
that side OF the House.
Mr. Bfowoe.-l think that ought to set.
Ito it.
Mr. Huntou.-I beg leave to state further
that this property, when taken possession OF
by the Federal Government uoder this contract
| between Commissary Bell and the agent of the
owners, was exceedingly valuable not only the
building and the ground upon which it stood,
| but it was filled With improved and most valu.
able machinery for the manufacture of fl Jur,
| and Wheu the Government gave up the prop.
crty to the owoars at the end Of the year that
machinery was almost valueless 30 that while
he property was valued at $l40. 900 whsn they
| took possession of it, they cannot get $50 900
for it to-day by reason, 10 part OF least, of the
iniuly done to the machinery while in posses.
sion of the Government.
| After further debate upo1 the question Of
the possession, &c., Mr.. Huuton said : Is not
this true, that about the time of the occupa.
ton OF this property by the Federal Govern
ment Abraham Lincoln. thee President of the
United States, issued his procama alton dacIar.
| ing rebellion to exist 10 certaio States Of the
Uoiou, but excepted from the operation Of that
| proclamation the territory Of Alexandria
Mr.. Cooger-AfterWard yes.
Mr. Huntan-Now; about this Tina.
Mr.. Cooger-WelI, about that tma there
or lhereabouts. Laughter Now, if may be
permitted to make one remark; and it has tax,
en- almos: as long to como to the point which
wish to make as it took our army to 20 to Rich
mond. Laughter | will not say from the
same opposition. Renewed laughter A.
though believe my friend. the brieadier, was
one OF those vino opposed US 10 the former case
as he is opposing me now.
Nj. Hunton-The only reason why it took
80 long for your army to get to Richmond was
that the gentleman from Michigan Mr. Con-.
rnrI did not command IT, tGreat lauphter