The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-01-18

w
much has been DONE influx Of capital and labor h
much greater than for any previous years. but mach
and must be done before we realize the full nition pf
purposes which the Bureau Of
LANDS IN THE FORMER pALATKA MILITARY RRsEnvA rIoN.
In accordance With resolution of the Board of Trustees
the Internal Improvement Fund think that the State
should renqush ell claim to the swamp lands embraced IN
Paatka Military Reservation, which have been
entered by settlers under the homestead laws and in which
said settlers good faith complied with the requirements
of said laws which have been entered at the United
Land Office at private entry, located with military land
warrants
DIGEST STATUTES.
The act of 1879 entitled can Act to Provide the Com
ping and Digestng the of Florida provided that
the digest then under preparation by Colonel j. f. Mcclellan
should completed be submitted to commission TO
consist Hons p W. White John A. Henderson and Geo.
Raney for revision and examination. Colonel Mcclellan COM
peed the digest in the early Of $780, but the gentle
men composing commission announced their inability,
of other engagements undertake the task of such
revision and examination They however, recommended that
it be placed of Colonel O. O. Yong if he would
the work which the statute contemplated they should
perform and that agreed to recommend to the Legislature
that Colonel Yonge be paid and just compensation for
such revision and examination when completed They con-
sented too to receive digest deliver Colonel Yong
this arrangement which agreed to by all concern
am informed Colonel Yonge win have completed
this important work. requiring it does great care and
accuracy From all learn, one in the State is better
qualified than Colonel Yonge for the task and have no doubt
as to digest when it shall have passed from his hands,
being reliable cetabe repository of statute law
Colonel Yonge should be paid just compensation He is en-
titled great credit for being willing to undertake the work
under the circumstances.
CLAIMS +
The Indian Trust Fund of the United States holds
held many years. bonds of the State of Florida to the
of $32OOO with large of interest due on
them aggregang now, principal and interest," 100000
In all estimates of the States Indebtedness these bonds
mentioned coupled with the remark that the State has
large claims against the United States for expenses incurred
paid the State in suppressng Indian hosities these
bonds should be considered Offset and not be included
among the States debts But allowing this matter to remain
in this condition has resulted and will continue to do great
injustice to the State
The claims that the United States indebted to her
in much larger sum- principal than the face of her bonds
$l32 OOO and if she is allowed interest which is clearly
her DUE adjustment of the would show large bal
her favor Again. the State great disadvantage
in the present condition of her accounts with the United
States when State is indebted the United States any
moneys coming from the proceeds of sales of public lands
other source stopped and applied to her debt
again. bonds in the Indian Trust Fund bear
per interest," and is questionable at least whether the
State will be allowed that of interest claim An
effort made 1860 to adjust these claims with the General
Government and bill introduced for that purpose Con-
gress and referred to committee, but reported
The matter since that time has, far have been ad
vised been allowed until the administration
into Recognizing the importance and necessity
stopping the large of interest annually ACCOMPLISHING
against well early settlement with the
General Government, appointed Colonel s. l. Wales, Of
Washington City, with the request that he
Colonel w X. Beard of Tallahassee agents of the State
represent her before the Department Washington procure
this settlement with the distinct understanding that the fee
contingent of fifteen per of amount col
| lected.
They Immediately examination and prepara-
ton of the States claim, but many difficulties
consequence of the displacement Of important
documents during the military occupation govern
ment
Having completed the examination far practical
BILE, Colonel Beard Washington September 1879
present. with Colonel Wales the claim proper DEPART
ment where he expected find documents evidence
bearing the claim and put the claim such definite
form be reported Congress necessary appropia
ton On arriving in Washington Colonel Beard
Waies went to the Treasury Department. they
met with the objection that State claim could be adjusted
examined without special authority from Congress- On the
meeting Of Congress these gentlemen prepared Senator
Jones and Representative the Senate
and House respectively resolution directing Secretary Of
the Treasury examine and adjust the claim the State
of Florida, and her balance might be found
due after providing for her bonds held Indian Trust
Fund The resolution referred appropriate committees
and amended in committee by making the reference the
claim to the Secretary of War instead of the Treasury and
requiring that Department to examine the claim and report
Congress such amount may be found due.
The resolution. amended, passed 9Sh
Of May last and day certified the House
m failed pass that body that is now pending
the House and WILL trust be passed the present
Until this resolution thus giving the agent
access TO the files and records of the War Treasury De-
aments definite statement of the claim of the cannot
be made As far asceraned the amount of the
States claim is about pncp of which there are
about $4SO0O for which evidence are not
complete but for which additional evidence expected be
| found in the Departments at Washington. N