New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-18
NEW.YORK CITYS WAR CLAIM.
REIMBURSEMENT OF MORE THAN 100000
,AsKED FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

REIMBURSEMENT OF MORE THAN SSoooooV
ASKED FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
MAYOR STRONG. CORPORATION COUNSEL SCOTT
AND CONTROLLER FITCH APPEAR BE-
FORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
ON WAR CLAIMS.
fBY TELEGRAPH THE rRrBUNE.l
Washington April 17.-Mayor Strong. Corporation
Counsel Scott and Controller Fitch, Of New-York
City appeared before the Committee on war Claims
Of the House of Representatives to-day In Dehai vi
the bill Ito reimburse the Mayor, Aldermen anu
Commonaity Of the city Of New-York Tor moneys
expended for the United States in raising, equippng'
.unplvinx and arming militia and volunteer forces
and In other ways to aid in suppressng the Rebel
lion" The amount OF the claim, Including interest
at the rate OF per cent annually IRON, the oates
OF the disbursement OF the money by the CITY VI
New-York is 1905 634. The main argument In sup
port OF the bill to-day made by Mr.. Scott. ana
1t evidently made a favorable impression upon the
committee as Chairman Mahon subsequently SAID
to a Tribune correspondent that the bill would De
considered and probably be flvorably reported 10
me House at this session. Before the measure Is
taken up in committee, however Controller fltch
Is to supply certain necessary data, showing the
amounts Of money disbursed, the dates Oh payments
and for what purposes.
The claim appears to have been forgotten for a
long period. The disbursements which form the
groundwork Of II were from money borrowed by the
city Of New-York by authority Of an ordinance
dated April 25 1861 and made by the City Con-
troler upon vouchers approved by the Union Dc
fence Committee Of the City Of New-fork,' whch
consisted Of the Mayor. Controller President or the
Board OF Aldermen, President Of the Common Coun-
ell and twenty five prominent citizens. In August
1861 Fernando Wood, then Mayor. wrote to the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury. calling attention to the fact
.I1 tad p1a1 ahnfif on
OF troops raised under the call of President Lincoln.
The Third Auditor Of the Treasury, in reply to this
letter, that Congress had made provision only
for the reimbursement OF States on account OF the
raising and equlprng OF troops In January lSo''
Fernando Wood then a Representative In Congress-
introduced bill for the payment OF the claim then
stated l,72O and 1t was referred to the COM
mittee on Ways and Means, where 1t was allowed to
sumber
The claim was not again heard OF in Congress
until February. 1885, when Bourke Cochran intro-
duced bill for It's payment. which was referred 10
the Committee on Claims, where 1t also slept. Inc
same fate overlook bill for the same purpose
which was introduced by Samuel s. Cox. also In the
same Congress, and referred to the Committee on
War Claims In the LID Congress another Dill
was offered and referred to the latter committee
and two reports made. One provided FOR an
examination and report by the Secretary OF the
Treasury, and the other provided for the ADJUST
ment and payment of the New-York claim and
many other claims OF similar nature. Neither OF
the bills received action.
Il seems strange that this claim has been SO long
neglected 1t is nearly thirty-four years since the
Union Defence Committee ceased its dsDurse-
ments under the ordinance OF April %. 1851 and
went out OF existence. Nearly all the members OF
the committee are dead, although William M Evarts
ard perhaps few others still survive hst Oh
the members OF the committee may be OF interest
1t is as follows: John J. Cisco, James T. Brady
Simeon Draper James s. Wadsworth Isaac Bell,
James Boorman Edwards PIerrepont. Samuel sloan,
a. w lafSG s Prosper we,more Aba A. Low
Milan MTsfs rIq DODGE Noses Greene q Brohon Wam 81
Evarss' Richard H. Blatchford Alexander I. Stew
Marshall and Rober, H. Mccurdy
The services OF the committee were warmly ,, ap,
is members on November s. 1861 General Scott
said: ION the breaking out OF this great Civll war
recoect the great and important services rem
dered by the Union Defence Committee: | remem-
Der how you sustaneAthe Goysrnmen IN providing n
by your zeal in equpping and sending IgTwar9
patriotic and excellent troops which came in good
time the tide OF rebellion which commenced AT
Country nii, The Government had not the means OF
defending Itself where they were most needed dhIs
committee came nm forward and applied the remedy
In its report on the bill In the IIIId Congress. the
volunteers raised In response TO the call OF ne
President were equipped. companies were cohsoli-
subsisted In New-York until ready for the field and
were then furnished with arms and clothing ana
Transported to Washington. all without expense 10
the Government. In fact this committee for a long
time was the only authority in said city charged
with these important duties. and through its exer-
lions from ten to fourteen fine regiments OF New
York troops were expedlilously furnished for the
military service OF the United States
As now stated the total amount OF the original
on account OF arms and ammunition furnished was
repaid By the War Department. The several Items
OF the claim are follows Arms. ammunition,
tents wagons etc t2z7. is3 49, rations and medical
stores S2473 10: clothing and equipments $ss 400 q;
aid 10 the families OF volunteers $230.IO The last
item was disallowed by the House committee In the
last Congress on the ground that II was not
necessary element OF the cost OF raising arming and
eauipping troops for the field.
In discussing the matter to-day. Mr.. Scott re-
marked that the Union Defence Committee would
not have been able send the men to the front so
promptly, II at all. unless IT had pledged Itself TO
care for their dependent families during their alb
sencs In the field.