Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-23
THE STATES CLAIMS.
UNEMPLOYMENT OF AGENTS FOB
THEIR COLLECTION.
Investigation of the Subject by the
Last Legislature-Its Report,
and Action Taken.

the unpaid claims OF this State against tn
United states, and many of the statement
made from time 10 time have evinced
want OF full ana accurate information upor
this subject. We therefore give to- day tn,
action taken during the last session of tn,
Legislature, etc.
On January %, 1889, under Assembly
Concurrent Resolution No. 5, specia
joint committee was appointed by the Leg
islature to examine into and report the
facts, and their conclusions and recon.
mendations relative to said claims, and
upon all matters recited in said resolution
The report made by this committee
dated March 5, 1889, was printed in full in
the Assembly journal of March 18th and in
the Senate journal of March IA, 1889, and
was adopted unanimously in the Assembly
March Is, 1859, and in the Senate March
16, 1889, by vote of 26 ayes TO noes, in
a resolution as follows
Assembly Joint Resolution, No. IL
WHEREAS, A special joint committee was ap-
pointed under Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 5, adopted January 25 1889 to examine into
and report upon all matters relative to the un-
paid claims of this State against the United
states. etc; and, whereas said committee has
submitted report i'll writing thereon there
fore, be il
Resolred by The assembly of California, the Senate
cofacNrrtn9, That said report be approved, and
the same be, and is now hereby, adopted.
The report of said committee is as fol.
lows:
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL JOINT COMMITTEE.
Appointed under Assembly Concurrent
Resolution No. 5, adopted January 25,
1889, relative to the unpaid claims of the
State Of California against the United
States:
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS
SACRAMENTO, March 5, 1882
President pro tenn. Of the Senate and Speaker OF
the assembly: The special joint committee APP
pointed under Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. b, adopted January IS, 1889, in these words ::
" In view of the importance and amount of
the unpaid claims OF this State against the
United states, and in order that the Legislature
may have full Information in regard thereto,
and as TO whether the good faith of this State
has been maintained with all persons employed
TO collect any claims of this State against the
United states; therefore, be it
"Resoued By the Assembly, the Senate conclrrino
That all matters which in anywise relate to the
unpaid claims of this State against the United
States, and 10 the efforts to secure recognition
and collection thereof from the United States
made by this State or by any of its officers, and
all matters involving the good faith of this
State toward any persons employed to collect
any claims of this State against the United
states, be investigated by special joint COM
mittee of seyen-three from the Senate to be
selected by the President pro tenn, and four
from the Assembly, to be selected by the Speaker
when joint committee is now hereby ap-
pointed Tor the purpose aforesaid. Said COM
mittee, at the earliest date practicable shall re-
port al the facts and its conclusions, and may
submit al any time its recommendations thereon
by bill or otherwise
Having had under consideration the matters
recited in said resolution, now respectfully sub
init the following report:
First-Iour committee addressed to each Of
the Stale Executive officers circular letter, to
which replies were made by them. and which
letter and replies are set forth in the proceed
1ngs OF this committee printed as part No. T. en-
titled Correspondence between the Executive
officers of this State, etc, with your committee,
ETC."
second-A large mass of information, too
voluminous to be now printed with this report,
has been laid before the members of your COM
mittee.
And from the evidence so presented, and from
other matters, due cognizance of which has
been taken, your committee find the following
facts, to wit
/. That the Legislature iu Senate Concurrent
Resolution No. SO, adopted March 1, 1872 page
95S. Stat lS7l-72), authorized the Governor of
California to employ agents to collect the prin-
cipal OF the unpsid Rebellion war claims of
this State against the United States These
agents were TO collect said claims at their own
expense without any cost or expense TO this
State. The compensation for their services was
to be commission OF ten per cent. of said
claims, 10 be paid out of such collection con-
tngent upon their success
2fThat on March Is, 1872, the Governor OF
California, Hon. Newton Booth, employed James
Z. Hale and Thomas NJ Nosler as such agents
TO collect said claims.
g. That about nine years having elapsed sub
sequent 10 the date of said employment, and
said Rebellion war claims not having been then
collected. the Legislature in Senate Concurrent
Resolution No. u, adopted February 20, 1881,
page 100, Stat lSSi) recited that ten per cent.
commission was totally inadequate compensa-
ton, etc, aud authorized and directed that said
ten per cent. commission be increased to a
twenty-five pc ceDt. commission OF said claims
To be o paid to said agents out of said eollec-
tons, without any cost to this State
L. hat Oh March /, 1881, the Governor of Cal
iiOrnls, Hon George G. Perkins, fixed said COM
pensation of said agents at said twenty-five per
cent. of said claims. TO be paid to them out of
the collections thereof whensoever made.
s. That the principal of said Rebellion war
claims aggregates about s2,9Ss,62S y, more or
less
G. That bill. 10 wit: Senate bill No. $500
Fiftieth Congress, first session. introduced by
Senator stewart, passed the Senate, and was
favorably recommended in the House, author
iZing the Secretary Of War to fully examine and
report to Congress all said claims. But this bill
failed 10 become a law when the Fiftieth Con-
gress adjourned sine die, so far as your commit
tee is now informed. But In anticipation OF
such result Senator Stewart secured the pas
ton TO accomplish this same examination, and
report 10 tue Senate.
z Tha; on November l, 1878, the Surveyor
General, Hon. William Minis employed John
Mullau 10 collect the unpaid claim of this State
against the United States for the five per cent.
or the net proceeds of the cash sales OF the pub
lie lands made by the United states in this
State. The compensation for his services " IS
TO be thereafter fixed by the Legislature.
s. That on July u, 1882, the Governor OF Cali
fornia, Hon. George c. terkins, employed John
81.
OF this Stsie against the United States that were
cogniZable un -er the Act of Congress approved
June %. 1892. he compensation for his services
was thereafter to be fixed by the Legislature.
California. Hon. George G. Perkins, employed
John Muilan 10 collect the unpaid direct war
tax claim OF this State against the United States.
The compensation for his services was 70 be
thereafter fixed by the Legislature.
10. That in January, 1888, the Governor Of
California, Hon. George q. Perkins, in his
General Hon. James w. Shanklin. in his
regular biennial report, duly and respectively
reported said employments to the Legisla-
ture, and Governor Perkins in said message
recommended that his said employments be
ratified aud confirmed by the Legislature.
II. That on March 5. 1888, the Legislature In
Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. - page
s9i Stat 1888 ratified and confirmed each OF
said employmcnts: and therein authorized and
directed that the compensation that was to be
paid for services rendered aud TO be rendered IN
a commission of twenty per cent. of each OF
said unpaid claims. said commission TO be paid
out of the collections OF said claims, whenso-
ever made; prorided that the services were to
be performed without any cost or expense TO
this State other than said contingent commits
sion.
- That bills 10 pay said FIVE per cent claim
(which aggregate not less than five hundred
thousand dollars were introduced in the
Fiftieth Congress, first session, in both Senate
and House; that the Senate bill passed the
Senate aud was iavorabiy reported on in the
House. IS was also the House bill, but no final
action was had on either thereof, so far as your
committee is now informed, when the Fiftieth
Congre adjourned sine die.
claim (which aggregates s2le,si7 81. this being
IS per cent o s25f5SS 81, which was Caiifor.
MAS quota of said war tax, levied under Act OF
Congress, approved August 3. 1861 the other
Is per cens of raid tax, TO wit: SIS, $50 81
having already been collected by John Mullan
under his aforesaid employment, and by him.
in September 1884, paid 10 the Governor OF this
State, Hon. George SLOVENIAN. who, in January,
1881 duly informed the Legislature thereof In
his regu ar biennial me-sagel passed Congress,
but was vetoed by the President; but said bill
notwithstanding said veto, was, on March ?
1889 again passed by the Senate by vote of s.
ayes 70 = noes, this being the only action had
thereon when the Fifeieth Congress adjourned
sine de- so far as your committee Is now in
formed.
IA That on January q 1889, John Mullsn. un
der his said employment by Governor Perkins
on July T. 1881, which was ratified and con
-. a. 4 al