Milford chronicle., 1892-02-12
waloott's Eat Fee for Nothing

SUI ludu G&-OGhdlOI Ell fOdulSDulls
Walcott's Eat Fee for Nothing.
There is nothing like being in the po
litical ring at Dover, if you want to g
rich quick, without working for tn
money. A correspondent of the Non
ing MezOs gives the following points o.
this subject:
"The publication of the fact, last week
in relation to the 1872 war claim, tn
State of Delaware has against the Uni
ted States, and the further fact that, b
joint resolution slid through the Leg
islature just before its close last winter
James L. Walcott collects that littl
claim for a commission of rs per cent. o
the amount, has given rise to much dis
cussion here. It is a singular fact tha
many we'll posted on State affairs wer
so thoroughly convinced that the join
resolution had been defeated after i
had reached the Senate that they wer,
almost willing to wager rE1ssything that i
was killed. A glance at the laws, how
ever, will reveal it in all its beautiful
symmetry.
The resolution was ought into tht
Senate on April 2s; after it had passed
the House; but, on motion of Senator
Hail. was laid over for further consid
Grafton. There it lay till May "a, tn,
last week of the session. Senator Hal
had foughtit all along. He saw, evidently
that it was job, but he was worked in al
last, and with slight amendment il
passed, allowing the rs per cent, although
Senator Hall had concluded thai S pei
cent was sufficient and further that il
was the province of the State treasurer oi
the attOrney-general to collect all such
claims. 1t is there, and there's money in
it."
To lobby through joint resolutions ssof
this kind is part of the business of the
Dover lawyer politicians, and they are not
slow in getting their work in on the leg
islative members. Now we ask our far
mer readers if schemes of this kind are
honest9 If the national government
owes Delaware six thousand and more
dollars, why should rs per cent, of that
money go to lawyer for lobbying joint
resolution through the Legislature, when
the claim should have been collected for
a mere trile? 1t is high time that the
farmers of Delaware gave these legal
robberies their attention. It has not
been many years since an exhcrbitant
charge was made fer collecting an old
claim for arms due the State of Della
ware-we believe it was about $1,000 that
was paid for collecting $4,000 which
the national government admitted was
due to Delaware.
In giving the facts in this last case the
Meas and -4dveytisey last week pup
lished the following:
"The following joint resolutions,
adopted by the General Assembly of this
State on the 18th of last May, and printed
on page s7I, Laws of Delaware, volume
Io, part may throw further light on the
subject;
-. That James L. Wolcott shall have full
authority for the State of Delaware to
apply for aud collect any claim the said
State may have against the United States,
and to execute receipts and acquittances
for the same, provided, however, that the
same skall be done without expense to or
future claim upon the said State. And to
this end he is hereby authorized and EN-
powered to employ, at his own expense,
such person or persons as he may deem
necessary to ascertain and secure the pay
ment Of such claims. AS a compensation
for his services the State treasurer shall
pay him IS per cent. on all such claim
or claims which existed prior to the year
1860 etc, etc.
It is not apparent that the Legislature
that passed the resolution quoted knew
Of any particular claim that this State
had against the United States, else it
seems probable that it would have been
named aud described The Legislature
having recently had its attention drawn
to the refunding Of the direct tax fund.
probably had a vague idea that there
might be other sums due the State from
the same source, and that if So it would
be well to secure the money and so help
reduce the surplus. One-fourth seemed
on general principles, to be a big per
centage for collecting, but the friends of
Mr. WoIcot recited how good Demo.
rrst he was, how deserving he was Of
reward, if there sheuld be any in this
case, and how very difficult it was to "as-
certain" or discover ii anything was due
The State. They argued that it was III
the nature Of a doubly-doubfful contin-
gent fee; that he might, after ardqous
labor, discover some claim, or that he
might after searchiug the record for
Fearss discover nething. aud have only his