Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
History Of the Texas Indemnity Claim
for Frontier Defenses-The Credit
Due 10 Congressman Ssyers.
An Example of Senator ResKan's Way of
OhamPIoniDg the Cause Of the People
Against Monopolies
THE TEXAS INDEMNITY.

WASHlSGTONt ApIu D -luhsuuCu 90 i
the big sum of money that the general
government is going to pay ever to Texas
by way of indemnity for frontier defense,
is q matter Of public interest, 8 brief re-
sumo OF the more r. cent history of the
case may prove readable. As Ia gener-
ally known the credit for the expe-
ditious methods by which Texas
adds nesrly sl,sjo,OO0 10 its
fnances belongs to exLieuteaant
Governor j. D. Ssyers, now member OF
Congress from the Austin district. dis
active and patriotic brain was the motive
power that led to such quick and substan- !
tial RESULT. When Major Sayers resched
Washington in December last he found
the claim still in the hands Of the board
OF army officers. Through bis Efforts the
examination by this board was finished
by the end of the month. Then
the claim went to the Sec
rotary of War, was examined
By him and referred TO the Secretary OF
the Treasury. Thence 1t went to the
Third Auditor, who at Major Ssyers' re-
quEst doubled mis- force OF clerks engaged
upon this subject, as there wss need to
do Ia order
TO EXPEDITE THE WORK.
which en- arsced the examination Of over
500 vouchers. Then the Second Comp
trohsr took charge, also doubling his
Gle ical force, and every voucher was for
Toe thIrd time scrutinized and audited.
TIE last official reported to
the Secretary of the Treasury
who, on the l4th OF March, at Msj)r
Ssytrs' special request, cent a messenger
WIN mis- report to he House of Repre-
sentatives, to which 1t was delivered the
following day. The urgency deficiency
bill which had passed the House several
weeks before, had gone to the Senate,
and been returned by that body with sun
dry amendments. 1t was now before the
House again, and on the 18Th Ct March
Msior Sayers induced msjoIlty
OF the committee on appropriations
to add the Texas CLAIM IS
an amendment to the Senate
amendments of the urgency deficiency
bill. Major Ssyers' amendment passed
the House, and thus the bill sgain went
to the Senate. A conference committee
was appointed, of which Major Sayers
was appointed a member, and the result
WAS that the bill including the Texas
item passed both Houses snd was duly
SANCTIONED BT THE PRESIDENT.
This is but s skeleton outline Of the mat
terssnd gives not the faintest idea Of TIE
immense amount of patience, energy, tact
and ability required to bring the case to
8 successful issue. That Major Ssyers
received the proper corporation of his
colleagues is not questioned, but that he
was tie leading spirit In working Hp and
pressing the claim toa most satisfactory
conclusion Is conceded by them all. Hsd
it not been for his incessant labor the
matter might have dragged along for
years to come.
ALWAYS FOR THE PEOPLE.
When 1t comes to chamPionins the
cause OF the people against monopolistic
combinations or oppressive and unjust
Laws, Senator Reagan of Texas, can al
WAYS be relied on to defend the people.
The otper day in q debate that arose on q
bill to give 8 naval officer extra com
pensation that he had in no wise earned,
having been on the retired list at good
salary for several years, Mr.. Reagan ex-
pressed his ideas as follows:
Mr.. President, desire to say word
about this bill. l will not discuss the
merits OF this particular csse at sill, but
have q word to sSy on another point.
l suppose it is hardly necessary for m;
to protest that am against the idea o.
creating an American aristocrscy or ,
privileged class, who are to live Off the
labor and earnings Of other people be
cause they happen to be more fortunate
than others in getting high position undel
the government and high salaries while
In service. That being the case, wher
they are retired from service they expect
to be supported OF the earnings Of othe
people. have never been able to under
stand the reasons why this should b
done.
1t may be said that 1t il the duty Of tn
government to take care Of gentlemen
who have served Ia the array or in tn
navy during their vigorous manhood. Tn
salaries paid to the officers of the arm
and navy now ere sufficient, with reason
able economy, to enable them not only t
live well during their service, but to hsv
the means of living comfortably duripi
the wears that follow their active service
II they choose to Esusnder those mean
In dissipation, in extravagant living, the
have no right to ask that other people, q
good as they are, should labor for thei
support.
II we sre to support the officers OF th
army and Of the navy after their service
why should we not support the privat
soldiers and the private sailors who's
services and suffsrings hsve been greater
And why should we compel any citizen
psy for the support Of another citizen
idIeness under our system OF govern
ment?
car understand why under the BIRTHS
government 1t is done, because the polio
of that government is to keep up an arls
tocracy, privileged classes, to be SOL
ported of the earnings of their people
They give titles and privileges in order
establish and maintain privileged classes
on which their system OF govern
meut rests; but under our sys
tenn OF government 1t Is entirely difteren
and no such thing existed here for three
quarters OF 8 century after the adoptio
of the constitution. Men served In offic
aud received their pay, much less In form
er years than now, and when they wei
out Of the public service they took care
themselves. We hsd not then reache
the point of establishing an America
arIstocracy and privileged class reeeiv