Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-13
yIRGINIA'S CLAIM.
Mr.. rRIcG HAS SUCCEEDED.

Mr.. Trlgg has finally succeeded IN
bringing the House Committee on
Claims TO concurrence with him on
the principles upon which the United
States should settle with Virginia and
three or four other States and the city
OF Baltimore tie claims of 1Sl2.'l4.
This result was not reached without q
struggle upon some points, but the
committee has authorized him to report
the bill favorably at the first opportu-
nifty. Those not yet settled with are
Virginia, South Carolina, Delaware,
New York, Pennsylvania, and the
city Of Baltimore.
In his report, which has been APP
proved by the committee, Mr.. Trigg
says: The bill gives simple mot COM
pound) interest on any balance Of prin-
cipal that may he found unpaid upon
the proposed basis o. settlement until
it's payment By the United States. 1t
provides for any and all proper offsets
which the United States may have
sgsinst any of the States.
The committee deems it proper to re-
commend an amendment to the bill
providing for deduction of any balance
due from any State on account Of the
direct tax spportioned by the act Of
August 5, 1861, unless some general
act be passed otherwise disposing Of the
matter; aad providing that any unma-
tured bonds Of any Of the States held
by the United States shall, with the in
teIest due and unpaid to July l, 1870,
be credited and deducted in the settle
ment as Of that date.
The Government holds the bonds of
the State OF Virginia issued in 1860, to
the amount Of 1851, 800. which will not
mature until 1894, and also holds
similar bonds Of the State of South
Carolina. The date July /, 1870 was
adopted by the committee because it
seemed to them equitable and just.
On the lst Of January, 1859, as
shown by the report Of the Treasurer,
there was due the State Of Virginia
over one million dollars, of which more
than two thirds was interest. She had
been demanding a settlement and pay
ment for years. Not being able to OBJ
tain what she asked she borrowed from
the Government the amount represented
by the bonds above mentioned. To re-
quire these bonds not get due to be nor
paid, with the interest due thereon,
seems unjust, as it would in effect allow
the Governmental 1860, with fund that
should have paid portion Of the in
terest she then owed, to create an
Understanding fund which would, if
she should arbitrarily delay the settle
ment long enough, absorb the larger
debt which she justly owed the State.
1t was insisted that the bonds should be
applied as a payment, or set-otf as Of
their date in 1850, but the committee
adopted July |, 1870, because that
seemed to them equitable and just, and
because at that time a SIMILAR bill for
the relief of the State Of Massachusetts,
was passed, and there seems no valid
reason why the settlement should not
then have been made with the other
States.
VIRGINIA CLAIM OF lSl2-'l4.
The following statement will explain
The condition of the claim Of lSl2-'l4;
The principal was 1899, 2l2.
According to the bill as amended and
ordered by the committee to be re-
ported, the principal and interest to
January l., 1856, is sl,570,50S. De-
duct the bonds of the State held by the
Government for the Indian trust fund
and interest on same to July /, 1870,
less two years interest already paid,
$SI3, Gl0; balance due the State jan
uary /, 1856, s72G,SS9. Deduct the
balance due on the direct tax appor-
toned to the State Of Virginia-s2l2,-
50l.30-the balance due the State will
be 1913, 5000.
This also, as Mr.. Trigg remarks,
settles and pays s5Sl, 500 Of Virginia
bonds, which. with interest to January
|, 1856, amounts to 81, 3S4,GS4. Ii is
probable, however, that no deduction
will ultimately be made Of the direct
tax, as there is a strong sentiment in
favor Of not only releasing the amounts
claimed on this account from the diff
ferent States, but Of refunding the
amount which was paid on account Of
direct tax. Virginia paid on that ac-
count $5l5, 599.72, and it will aid her
considerably if that amount shall be re-
funded. The amount Of direct tax ap-
portioned to Virginia was $129, O1l.O2.
CLAIMS FOR MONEY ADVANCED.
The bill to pay Virginia and Mary
land for money advanced for the cree
ton of public buildings, which the
committee has instructed Mr.. Shaw, Of
Maryland, to report favorably, gives
the State Of Virginia Principal, sl2O,-
geo: interest from January l, 1850, to
January /, 1886 (thirty-six years.,
$3.50, 200-total due January /, 1886,
S37Q. 200. If this be added TO the
claim for lSl2-'I4, as recommended in
the bill TO be reported by Mr.. Trigg,
s796, sos, the balance due January /,
1886. to the State of Virginia will be
Sl.l06,09S. Should the balance of the
direct tax not be released, deduct it
viz, s2l3,50l. 30-and there will re-
main due Virginia, 1899, 5000.
IL the direct tax should be released,
as proposed by the Hepburn substitute
to the Hammond bill pending in the
House, the amount heretofore paid by
Virginia on account Of direct tax would
be refunded, and the Government would
owe the State 81, 600, 694.72. All Of
the friends Of this measure are highly
pleased with the shape in which it is
now to be put before the House, and
there is strong hope thatitwill pass. Mr..
Trigg strongly opposed the amendment
requiring the direct tax to be deducted
because it is unjust, and he thought it
was already provided for by the law.
This, however, does not change the law
of the case, as this would have been de-
Quoted on settlement at the Treasury as
the law now stands. DIR. Trigg was
therefore willing that it might be en-
braced in the report, the majority OF the
committee having so decided.
PERSONAL NOTES.
pa,rasan,ot;y. Tucker and wife were