Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-15
VERMONT FINANCES.
The state Presents War Claim at
Washington Which the Third Auditor
OF the Treaiury Department Says is
Not Due.
WASHINGTON, Oct. IA.

WASHINGTON, Oct. II.
Third Auditor Williams today sent the fol-
lowing letter TO the secretary of the treasury
Under an act of Congress approved July
9th, 1861, to indemnify States for expenses
incurred by them in defense of the United
States, the State Of Vermont filed her cisims
in this office at different times, amounting in
all to S924,7S5. of which SS57, ,S45 has been
audited and paid, leaving a suspended balance
of SOC, $50 The State is now asking for a
settlement of ti'is account Pending an ex-
animation of the accounts, | was informed
that the records of the war department would
show considerable indebtedness 10 the United
States for arms and equipments furnished the
State OF Vermont during the years of 1868
and 1864, which had never been returned or
accounted for. Accordingly made inquiry
In the ordnance office of the war department,
where the fact was disclosed that in the years
of 1868 and 1864, the war department fur
nished arms and equipments TO Vermont of
money value of S6+0,644 In 1875, the State
was credited with s4250, enormously charged
against the States quota. December 81, i,
1864 In 1877 there was further credit of
S2o,531, value of arms and accoutrements
and ammunition lost, expended, issued snd
buried between the years of 1861 and 1865
credit therefore being given under an act of
March Sd, 1875. There is further credit of
S64,0I6. for arms retained by the United
States, to which the STATE of Yer
mont would be entitled under an act of April
%, 1908 The balance thus standing AS an
Indebtedness against the State on the books
of the ordnance office amounts to S543, $50
On the 23d of June, 1866 Congress passed
joint resolution that the secretary of the
treasury be authorized TO pay the State of
Vermont any sum that may be found due af
ter the same shall have been audited by the
proper officers of the treasury department.
expended by the State OF Vermont for the
defense and protection of the frontier from
invasion from Canada in lg6i not exceeding
the sum of SIG, AGA, which, | am Informed,
had been previously ascertained as the full
amount of her claim. Acting under this
joint resolution, the third auditor allow ed
this sum of SIG, AGA, and the same was paid
to the governor of the State out of the ma
tional treasury. 1t will be observed that
this money was paid to the State of Vermont
at the very time when this Indebtedness WAS
standing against her on the books of the war
department In this connection | deem it
proper to add that have information receiv-
ed from a very creditabe source that the
State sold a greater portion of these arms and
and equipments, out of which she realized
about $4,000 The legislature of Vermont
is now in session, and | have therefore deem
ed 1t proper to give you this information at
this time in order that you may take such
steps to bring this subject to the attention
of the proper authorities of the State as you
may be advised and may seem required. In
the meantime, the claims of the State under
an act of July 81, 1861, will be suspended in
this office.