The National tribune., 1885-07-02
1912 VETERANS.
The New York Certificates for Services.

To the Edito-: In 1857 the Legislature of New
York passed an &C: creating commission to
receive proof, ascertain and determine the sums
due on the contingent expenses of the militia and
| the members or individuals of any of the Indian
tribes of the State, rendered in the late with
Great Britain" The Commissioners were directed
to report the names and the amounts found due
the claimants to the State Controller and certifi-
cate of the same to the claimants their legal rep
resentatives and the Controller authorized to
indorse such certificates when presented that
the amount thereof would be paid to the claimant,
with interest at five per cent, the money
shall have been received from the Government of
the United States. 1t will be observed that these
claims were not for services but for contingent
expenses the soldiers in some instances having
furnished their own transportation, as well their
arms and clothing.
In 1869 the Legislature appropriated $4,000 to-
ward the redemption of said certificates. to be dis
tributed pro rata among the survivors of the war
who living in the State. and in 1870 and 1874
further appropriations of 500 900 in each year
made for the same purpose. According to q report
made by the AdjutantGeneral to the Legislature in
1884. (Assembly Document No. 81, 1884 there were
IL, DDS outstanding certificates, and the amount of
principal and interest due on the 29th February,
1854, was Ss77 62s. Amount of principal of cerii-
Gates allowed and paid out of the appropriations
above referred to l734l553 leaving S7O4 I347 as
the amount of principal of certificates which
part of principal or interest has been paid He fur
ther reported that it would require to complete
payment of interest on certificates allowed SS7 00O
and to pay interest certificates of which part
of principal or interest has been paid-26 years at
six per centSl U9S % making the total amount
ST. ,SS9, ,7Si75.
The Senate of New York, in 1882 and the LegisIa-
ture in 1885 passed resolutions requesting Congress
to make appropriation to pay off the amount re-
naming unpaid and to reimburse the State for its
advances. The United States Senate Committee
on Claims on the 25th of February, 1885 reported
a bill (S 265S) of the following import: That the
proper accounting officers of the Treasury be au-
thorized and directed to examine and settle the
claim of the State of New York for money paid by
said State upon certificates issued to the volunteers
and militia of said State who served in the armies
of the United States during the of 1912, and
allow to the said State much of the amounts so
paid without interest, as shall be found to have
been justly due to said volunteers and militia prior
TO the issuance of said certificates, and not to have
been heretofore paid by the United States. This
bill was placed on the Senate calendar, but not
reached before the adjournment of the Fortyeighth
Congress; that the subject will have to be intro
duced again a new measure at some future ses-
sion OF Congress.
The bill introduced into the United States Senate
did not contemplate the payment of either princi-
pal interest of the certificates, but only so much
of the amounts paid, without interest, as shall
he found to have been justly due to said volunteers
prior to the issuance of said certificates" 1t would
SEEM therefore, that the State of New York has a
pretty large qualified obligation her hands, viz
81 $50 7S4 and interest at six per cent. accruing
with prospect Mt some future day of getting back
an undetermined fractional part.
WASHINGTON, u. c. j. II. HICKCox.