The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-01-15


respond with that Of New Yoss The psrpsesiey
Of our free institutions depends upon tho saored
ness Of tho ballot box and the fairness OF the
count. snd every prcoaution should be taken,
move thu slishtest degree Of suspicion that the
rights Of voters could be tempered with
SOLDIERS BoUNrIEs-
sand veterans Of the war tor the Union. entitled
by law to State bounties, who claim that thew
have received nothing from the State. The
records OF the Quartermasters Department.
show that these bounties have been paid to the
assignees and those entitled TO receive them, In
very many instances the assiRnees being per-
sons connected with the Quartermaster's Do
partment I have been assured by Veterans In
whom i have the fullest confidence that 1T the
date OF what purports TO be tnesI nssienment
they were In distant States and Territories
The State can not AFFORD that charges of whole
sale dishonesty AGAINST its ofiicials, through
ticed- Rigid investigation should be made, and
II wrong has been done TO the soldier, his Wild
ow. or children. the State should 1t once right
the wrong. and use every means TO discover and
punish the guilty parties
/ would therefore recommend that three
tons. be appointed. with authority TO send for
persons and papers. and thoroughly investigate
suoh charges as may be made In regard to soi-
ever ever put to rest the accusations OF wrong now
so freely made against the State and INDIVIDUALS.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.
In the latter part OF May, 1883. during the ses-
sion OF the Legislature Mr.. Friend Palmer, OF
Detroit. visited me at Lansing and informed me
hat the United States was indebted 10 the State
Of Michigan on q claim which had accrued
about the beginning OF the Civil War, and that
the time during which the claim could be pre-
approved June Il. ISL. had limited the time dur
ing which claims could be received by the do
partment at Washington to five years. He did
not know, he said, how much could be collected,
but claimed exclusive knowledge as to the ma
ture of the claim, and this found to be correct,
as official at Lansing could give me any In
formation on the subject II the claim was for
war material the vouchers should have been In
the Quartermaster Generals. and the Auditor
Generals office, but no such vouchers have been
found. Mr. Palmer offered to collect what he
could for the State II allowed q commission OF
Is per cent, and would make no better terms.
He showed me that he had collected claims
against the United States under q contract with
Gov. Bagley, by which he received 20 per cent.
on the first 5000 collected. 20 per cent on the
second II, 900, and Is per cent on all subsequent
amounts.
II anything is done in the matter 1t must be
done nc once. i had no alternative but TO ac-
cept Mr.. Palmers terms or let the claim lapse.
1t did not seem possible TO me that any oonsid-
cradle indebtedness had been permitted TO re-
main uncollectcd during the administrations OF
Cows Crapo Baldwin, Bagley, Croswell. and
Jerome, and TO have passed from the recollec-
ton of the employees In the departments at Lam
sing. ] therefore signed q contract with Mr..
Palmer by which he was to receive IS per cent.
of the amount he collected, and nothing for
his services or expenses In case OF failure. The
contract was made June I, 1888, and on June Q,
fine days before the expiration of the time limit
ed by law, the claim was filed at Washington.
To my surprise, within about year, MT. Palmer
collected S42,345.92 due the State OF Michigan
since 1861. This sum, less Mr.. Palmer's per-
centage, turned over to the Quartermaster
General and hold his receipt therefor. / also
made another contract with Mr. Palmer, by
which he Ia to receive Is per cent for the colec-
ton of other claims not barred by statute
have been careful to give the whole transaction
All. n - 4...&
as would had owned the claim individually.
and have seen no reason to regret my action In
regard to 1t.
DISEASES AMONG CATTLE.
Permit me to call Your attention to the alb
sence of efficient laws for the prevention OF the
spread of contagious diseases among cattle.
The creation Of the Bureau of Animal Industry
by Congress at its last session put this matter
under the control OF the United States Commits
sioner of Agriculture 30 far as action by the
General Government Is concerned, but 1t was
not Thought best to give him full control, and
provision was made for the cooperation of the
several States. In case Of an outbreak such as
that which happened during the last year In IL
linois, cooperation is absolutely necessary. In
view of the possible and not improbable dan
ger Of the Introduction Of contagious diseases
among our cattle. and the very great loss that
would result therefrom, authority to act
promptly should be lodged In a Commissioner
or Board OF Commissioners. In this way only
can our herds be preserved should an emergen-
cy arise calling for Immediate and summary
action.
CONCLUSION.
/ feel that IL would be ungrateful in me to
close this message without due acknowledgements
of the valuable assistance and hearty co-opera-
ton OF the other State officers. The mutual
kindly feeling which has characterized my asso-
Citations with all the officers and employees of the
State will always be pleasant to remember. Al
though performing In some sense an official duty
in reading TO you this message, am no longer
Governor OF Michigan. Anoi her has been selected
by the people to take my place, and has entered
upon the duties OF his office: II you give him the
same hearty sympathy and support that re-
ceived from the Legislature of 1888, he will have
nothing of which TO complain.