The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-08-15
WILL BANKRUPT THE TOWNS
THIS, TT IS SAID, WILL BE THE EF-
 EJECT OF THE BOUNTY ACT.

EJECT OF THE BOUNTY ACT.
 An Effort May be Made to Have Governor
 Coffin Call Special Meeting of the Gem
 Present Law,
 The act passed by the general assem- bly, concerning soldiers and sailors at its recent session, entltling them to any bounty voted by any town in the state, is likely, so it Is said, to cause no end of trouble and will, it is claimed if car ried out, bankrupt the treasury of near ly every town in the state.
 The first claim to be made under this act to the town of New Haven was made Tuesday night at the meeting of the selectmen, when Edmund Shelley put in a claim for $1,430, At that time Selectman Bretzfelder stated that the town would be liable to the amount of at least half a million dallars, and it might exceed that amount. It was also stated that if all the claims were paid the town would become bankrupt.
 This condition of affairs is also caus- ing serious anxiety to the other towns of the state, and it is intimated that the towns of the state may in the near future decide to act in concert with a view to avoid paying these claims and thus save themselves from the bank ruptcy with which they are threatened. This is especially the case in the towns of Branford and Madison. Attorney Edmund Zacher of this city who re- sides in Branford and Is counsel for both towns, has advised both towns to de- cline to pay the bounty until the last possible moment in order that in the meantime an attempt may be made 10 have the present law repealed, even if | 1t should be necessary to call special session of the general assembly to ac- complish this purpose.
 l It was stated last evening that an effort would be made immediately to secure concerted action by all the towns of the state in reference to the matter with view to inducing Governor Coffin to call a special session of the legisla- ture to either repeal the law or at least l to amend it to such an extent that no interest shall be paid on the claims for bounty money of the veterans. With this object in view the selectmen of the several towns are being communicated with in order to determine what steps can be taken in the matter.
 It is also claimed that Meriden has had so many claims for the bounty and interest presented that were it to pay them all the town treasury would be completely bankrupt It is also said that Waterbury, Derby, Wallingford land other towns in New Haven county are in similar plight, and Hartford and the other towns are in no better condition.
 The act in question reads as follows; Any person who enlisted or re-enlistad lin the army or navy of the United States for the suppression of the rebellion, and Iwho was honorably discharged from ser vice, and who thereby became entitled to any bounty voted by any town, and has not heretofore received the same may recover from such town the amount of any such bounty in an action
 upon this statute. Any such persor shall be entitled to judgment against a town upon proof from the records of the adjutant generals office by a certificate duly attested by the adjutant general
 or his assistant, that he was duly en- listed and credited to such town, an6
 that such vote has been passed by
 the town, and where a town has beer divided, or a portion of a town has beer set off to another town since such en.
 listment, the claim shall be against the
 town now containing the territory with.
 in which such soldier or sailor resided at the time of his enlistment. The stat
 ute of limitation shall not be pleaded
 by the defendant in any such action"