The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-05
EX-GOV. PRICES CLAIM.
Early Prospect Of His Recovering
$4,000 from the Gov
ernment.

&0N'N
WASHINGTON. Jan. 5. 1S9L.-The bill re-
funding Ex-Governor Rodman NJ. Price.
of New Jersey, certain money loaned the
Federal government in 1850, recalls a bit
of the history Of early California with
which few are familiar. The report
which accompanies the bill, and which
was drawn up by Congressm man McAdoo,
briefly rehearses the facts. Mr.. Price,
who was then a purser in the United
States Navy, was ordered to California
by the Secretary of the Navy in 1s4s,
which territory had recently been &C
quired by the United States, and in addi-
ton to his ordinary duties as Durser in
the Navy he was ordered to establish him
self as fiscal agent of the United States
in order to facilitate government dis
bursements on the Pacific Coast.
The recent discovery of gold on that
coast ard the disturbed monetary con
dition of affairs caused some anxiety on
the part of the Government with respect
to the finances of The United States. and
1t was deemed important to prevent the
expectation of gold to England and to
secure a means of exchange on New York
and Washington. This important duty
was assigned TO Pur5er Price He pro-
ceeded to California, arriving there in
February, lS49. The duties assigned him
were performed until December, 1S49,
when he was relieved by A. NJ. Van
Nostraud, acting purser. He turned over
TO his successor the public property and
funds for which he was responsible, and.
as no authority was vested in
Van Nostrand TO procure additional
funds Mr.. Price, at h solicitation
of Commodore Jones. the COM
mandant Of the station, advanced for the
use of the navy on January IA. 1850, the
sum of $75, 900. This latter advance be-
came necessary by reason of the fact that
the demand for money in California was
so great that governments bills of ex-
change could not be cashed az less than
ten per cent. discount, and even at that
rate no one after Prices departure would
be authorized to draw drafts. The money
so turned over was receipted for by Van
Nostrand, in his official capacity, and it
appears from certified copies of his re-
ceipLs, and of his account. that the sun
so advanced by Purser Price was re-
ceived and charged in his official ac-
counts with the department.
On being relieved from duty Price
started on his way home. and while en-
route TO Washington the steamer Olean
st. John, upon which he was a passenger,
was, Oh March 5. 1850, destroyed Dy lire
coming up the Alabama River and all his
vouchers, accounts and personal prop
erty were lost, he barely escaping With
his life.
In the meanwhile, and before Price
could duplicate his accounts, some con-
tenticn arose between the Navy Depart
ment and Commodore Jones in regard to
the appointment of Van Nostrand. the
Secretary of the Navy disapproved the
appointment of the latter and Price was
refused credit for all moneys turned over
to his successor. This state Of affairs re-
suited in a suit against Price, who was at
that time Governor OF New Jersey, in the
United States District Court for New
Jersey, where the validity of the appoint
ment of Van Nostrand was affirmed and
credit allowed for sufficient OF the one
turned over to acquit Price of an indebt-
edness TO the United States, and had it
been competent for the court TO lave en-
tered Judgment against the United States
the. jury from the evidence would have
returned a verdict for the full amoun
From that time to this Mr.. Price has
never been paid a cent of the money
loaned by him. and Congressional action
is the only thing which will enforce it
His bill has passed the Senate aud will
shortly be considered in the House. There
is very little doubt as to ths result.