The record-union., 1896-09-11
CALIFORNIA; CLAIM TO FOUR
MILLION DOLLARS.

In June last, and again in August, the
Record Union" explained at length the
condition Of the California war claims,
and pointed out how at last there has
been developed plan for securing the
money from the Federal Government so
long due to this State.
In letter to the Placerville Mug
get" which we reproduced in the Rec
ord-Union' on Monday last, ex-Sur-
veyorGeneral Shanklin took up the
subject. indorsing the plan outlined in
these columns, and confirming all we
have said on the subject. Mr. Shank
lin for many years made the Cali
fornia war claims his study. It was his
official duty to do 80, and he as well as
any man living knows what is their true
status.
To briefly recite. BY request of the
United States Government California
expended nearly S4,0O0.000. including
interest, in fitting out troops for the de-
fense Of the Union, and in defending our
borders against assault. Other States
expended large sums also. In 1851 the
United States provided for the payment
of State war claims which was to be
made out of the general fund by order
Of the proper department, when ap-
proved vouchers were filed.
All the States except California and
Nevada have been paid under this plan.
But the expenditure made by California
was after the passage Of the Act for
payment Of the State war claims.
Therefore the department has always
held that Congress must approve the
claims Of California by bill. Mr.. Shank
lin collected the vouchers for our claim
and proved it up before the department
and there the matter has rested. Con-
gressmen have tried to have the claims
paid, but could never get bill through
or secure. the approval Of bill for that
purpose by the President.
So the matter has stood for more than
thirty years The other States have
been paid, California has not, and our
Congressman have completely failed in
every effort to enforce payment. When,
however, Hon. Grove L. Johnson was
sent to the lower house he entered upon
study Of the matter, and he arrived at
these conclusions: First, that Congress
can by Joint resolution construe the Act
of 1861, under which all the other States
have secured their money, to be appli-
cable to California and Nevada Sec
ond, that 1t would be essential to have
the proper auditing department concede
that Congress has that power.
He thereupon set about to accomplish
these results and entered into corre-
spondence with the proper department
on the subject and presented to it elab-
crate briefs In defense Of his position.
in August we printed in full a letter
from the department to Mr.. Johnson, In
which 1t was conceded that If Congress
should so construe the Act Of 1861, the
department would find no objection to
treating the California claims as 1t had
those of the other States.
To put his plan into operation Mr..
Johnson introduced House Joint Resolu-
tion No. 1S5, constituting the Act Of 1861
to embrace claims for expenditure made
by request of the Federal Government
This resolution is legislation that does
not have to go to the President for his
approval and does not call for an ap-
preparation. What remains to be done
now, therefore. Is to secure the passage
of the joint resolution, and this 1t is be-
lieved its author can effect better than
any man in the Nation. Mr.. Shanklin
Is firmly of that opinion, for In his letter
to the Nugget" he says that he speaks
not at random or without full know
ledge. and he knows that Mr.. Johnson
has done more for California Ia this one