The record-union., 1896-08-12
TotalI1lI So 686,sl6 63sla, 567 oa 24s 81

The unpaid balance of SO 759, 24S 81
may be summarized as follows: Inter
est and discount, S3.27S,774 rs; claims
for which there is no authority of law
to examine and settle, s., ,3S2, 1872 or;
claims paid on account of troops not
mustered, $195,260 49, generous and
patriotic advances, including mass of
miscellaneous items not considered with
in the term of the law of 1861, So, ,903, :
0S1 &c; total, $9,759, 24S 81.
These claims have been passed upon
and rejected, and in many instances re-
opened, reconsidered and again decid-
ed that they were not within the
provisions of the Act of July 27, 1861.
But this balance represents but a
small part of the amount which the res
olution designs to reimburse. 1t cannot
be foreseen or calculated what sums
would be involved, as no general de-
mand has been made on the United
States by the several States for the re-
endorsement of a class of supposed
claims, such as interest, coast defenses,
extra pay, bounty, etc.
In addition to the rebellion claims
enumerated in schedule above, there Is
one by California now on file In the
War Department aggregating several
millions of dollars. This Office has no
official knowledge Of its general details,
except the information shown in a re-
port by the Secretary of War wide Ex
Doc No. IL, Senate, Fifty-first Con-
gress, first session, PIP. 26 and 30
Also a claim by Nevada wide Ex. Doc.
10, Senate, F'iftyfirst Congress, first
SESSION. 1t appears from the reports
that these claims are composed largely
Of items Of interest, extra pay and
bounty, and hence in the opinion of
this office would be primarily covered
by the terms of the resolution.
The second section of the resolution
which provides for claims by cities,
towns and counties when similar to the
rebellion claims by the several States,
is not in harmony with the preamble,
as the Act of 1861 did not provide, In
any manner, for such demands. Re
spectfuly yours,
T. STOBO FARROW, Auditor.
The situation, therefore, in brief is
this. California has a claim against
the United States Government for de-
fenses put forth at the request of the
general Government and in its defense
and for interest, costs and charges
hereunder in equipping soldiers, pro-
curing money for supplies and so on.
amounting to over So. .951 ,915.
Instead of having these claims hang
fire between the Treasury Department
and the action of Congress by bill, or by
reference to the overburdened Court of
Claims, Mr.. Johnson's proposition is
that Congress has the power, and should
declare the intent Of the Act of July,
1861, to be to include charges, costs and
expenses of that character, where au-
thorized by the legislative action of any
State, after July, 1861, as we'll as prior
to 1861.
If Congress may declare the meaning
Of the Act of 1861 to include expenses
incurred by States in aid of the Federal
Government after as well as before the
passage of the Act of 1861, then the
Treasury Department will be relieved
of the causes of friction that have de-
layed these claims and will have re-
tanned in it the jurisdiction originally
conferred upon it, and all it will have
to do will be to ascertain the business
of the claims and make payment of
them, precisely as it has done of
claims for State aid to the Federal Gov
ernment rendered prior 20 the passage
Of the Act of 1861, and win be seen that
It is held by the Treasury Department
that If the resolution passes the Cali
fornia claims will be covered by it.
There is every reason to believe that
Congress viii accept Mr.. Johnson's view
Of the matter, and that it viii pass his
joint resolution declaring the intent of
the Act of 1861. This win not be sub
ject to the approval or disapproval of
the Executive, and win speedily and di-
rectly settle the matter that has been
one of contention for thirty years and
over.
Under such Interpretation. which GER
tainly Congress is competent to make,
California viii receive the money due
to her without further legislation on
the part of Congress, and this State
Will have in hand at an early day nearly
81 100000 which 1t can (waste. extrava-
gance and useless construction to be
avoided) order expended in wise and
needed public works, such as State road
building, for instance, that viii put the
money into circulation throughout the
State, prosecute beneficial works and
give employment to a large number of
artisans and workmen. Aside. however,
from what the State might chose to do
with this money it will at least go into
the treasury and be thus great relief
and substantial aid to taxpayers.
1t is to the credit of Congressman
Johnson that after all these years, and
all that has been fruitlessly done in
Congress to secure payment of Cali
fornia's claims, he alone has hit upon
the plan that seems most likely to sue
ceed, and that has not the antagonism
of the Treasury Department and which
brings to the support of his joint resolu-
ton the interests of Nevada which