The record-union., 1896-08-12
MONEY DUE TO CALIFORNIA.

IN another place In this issue will
be found a very interesting article con-
cerning the sums of money claimed to
be due from the Federal Government
to the State Of California on account Of
expenditures made by this State in be-
half Of the Government in furnishing
defenses and In prosecuting military
movements With interest, costs and
charges, California's claim against the
Federal Government amounts to very
nearly 100000. It has for thirty
years remained unpaid, and all efforts
10 secure the due of the State nave sig
nally failed.
It will be seen from the article, in
which Will be found official correspond
ence upon the subject, that 1t has re-
manned for Congressman Grove L.
Johnson of this district to originate
plan that has approval as the one Of
all others that Is likely to secure to
California at an early day the large
sum Of money claimed for her from the
Federal Government, il anything at all
ia justice is due to her. and 1t is con-
oeded that something is.
1t is scarcely necessary to go over
the ground Of the matter which Is set
forth in the article referred to. It may,
however. be stated that war claims
have been allowed to other States in
a sum aggregating between forty and
fifty millions Of dollars, and that they
have been paid. Nevada and California
alone have not received their claims.
In July, 1861, Congress passed an Act
under which there was vested In the
Treasury Department power to exam
Inc. allow and pay the war claims of
States against the Government, for
defense In arms made for and by re-
quest Of the Federal Government, and
ordered by the State Legislatures. The
sums thus allowed and paid will be
found set forth La detail.
But it happens that the services rem
dered and expenses incurred by Cali
fornia and Nevada were all subsequent
to the Act Of 1851, and heretofore have
been held as incompetent to be pre-
fsrred under the Act. This relegated
the California and Nevada claims to
Congressional legislation, or to estab-
hshmsnt In the Court of Claims, where
they might struggle along for half
century and still make no material
progress All ths labors of previous
Congressman have bean of no avail in
getting these claims paid in tho usual
way. Indeed. all prior work In that d.
rsctton has but developed friction be-
tween Congress and the Treasury. and
the Executive Departments. and al
ways to the detrimezt Of the claims
preferred In behalf OF this and cur
neighboring State.
Mr.. Johnson early took up the study
OF the question, as Is known by CORE
spondence published in these columns
last June. and worked out a plan for
relieving Congress from the necessity
Of passing bill, the Executive from
the power to veto the measure, and the
0~PoA ]A4iCAAl II OiIt IAlc dIuOy-
ance of rejecting the claims under the
Act Of 1861. His idea is that Congress
is competent to interpret the Act of
1851 to mean and include war claims
proved up for services and expendi-
lures subsequent to the passage of the
Act By this Interpretation there would
be retained in the Treasury Depart
ment the jurisdiction originally con-
ferred upon 1t, and 1t would be quail
fed to pay the California and Nevada
claims just as 1t has paid those of other
States. Congress can make this inter-
probation and it becomes the law by
joint resolution, and that form Of Iegis-
lation does not require the Executive
approval.
Accordingly last spring Mr.. Johnson
introduced the necessary resolution
making the Interpretation suggested.
and there u every reason tn bal1aya