The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-02-19
THURSDAY, February 10, 1885.

The Special Committee on Indian War Claims
made the following report: That they have
taken the testimony of Hon. George = Drew,
and find therefrom that Geo. f. Drew !, while
Governor of the State of Florida, contracted
with Col. s. I. WALES to collect the cSims Of
Florida against the United States, growipg out
of the Indian War, and that the State vas to
pay Is per cent. of the total amount allo8ed to
the State of Florida by the General Government,
which,, as audited by the Secretary Of War,
amounted to $S24 .s48.09 on May %, 1889. and
that Wales percentage thereof when recovered
would amount to $33, ,697.21. OF this sinount
allowed by the Secretary aforesaid tke5k was
$132 600 of the bonds, coupons and interfskof the
State of Florida held by the Indian Trust Fund,
which were TO be turned over to the Slate Of
Florida by the General Government, (Which
would be the same as that much cash c6sered
into the State Treasury. Is
We find from documents and other testimony
that the Committee on Military Affairs secom-
mended that Congress allow the State a. Florida
in addition to her $132, 900 bonds, coupops and
eating the amount allowed by the Secretary as
Aforesaid, to wit 1924 64809 H.,
We find further that on the Sd o5 March,
1881, Congress by Joint Resolution, required
the Secretary of War to investigate, sudk and
report to Congress the amount due the SAAte OF
Florida for expenditures in suppressing Indian
hostilities in this State, and 10 accordance with
requirements of the said joint resolutiOn dT Con-
gress, approved March Sd 1881, the Secretary Of
War has Investigated, audited and made ateport
to Congress, May 22d 1882, of the amount due
the State of Florida for expenditures in&de in
suppressing Indian hostilities in that Stste be-
tween the lst day of January, 1880, Exs Doc,
203, AZ Cong, 1st session) The expenditures
grew out of the Seminole War OF 1855, SO shd 81,
the State authorities being compelled. II the
presence OF an anticipated and subssqnently
actual outbreak of the Indians to call for de mi
litia of the State, the force of the Unite States
troops then on duty being inadequate 10 the
protection of the people. The report ef the
Secretary of War Ex. Doc. 208) fully aets forth
in detail the items of Expenditures alloweA and
being the sum Of e224, ,648.00 4 Ii
II is established that the funds at the com
mand of the Executive ofthe State Of Florida, in
the years referred TO, were insufficient to equip,
supply and pay the troops in the field, apdl rely
ing upon the approval given by the Presidsnt Of
the United States and the SECRETARY of Wa on
the 21st day OF May, 1857, Of the services OF
these voluneera the State Legislature, Ia sorder
TO provide their equipment and maintenance,
authorized the issue of seven per cent. bo4ds
A portion of these bonds amounting toEk1S2,-
600 was sold by the Governor TO the Indian
Trust Fund of the United States, and fhe pro-
ceeds Of such sale were disbursed by the Treas
urer of the State for the Expesnes OF Ind3ah hos
tilities, as appears from his report TO tho I,egis
latnre for the year ending October s1st 1sS7.
Another portion was hypothecate& y the
banks Of South Carolina and Georgia a. security
for loan of t222 015 and $192, ,881 Of taiS loan
was disbursed by disbursng agent of M State
In payment of Exposes of Indian hostilitles in-
Guiding pay Of volunteers. s
The portion of the bonds sold to the United
States for the Indian Trust Fund 10 still hhld by
that fund. and accrued interest since 1857
| The State of Florida paid out through
disbursing agent a. shown BY gW
War Department Report. ......... EtQ23SO 10