The record-union., 1896-06-01
War CLAIMS.
Congressman JOhnSOn'S Work In Behalf
Of California.
Nearly Four Millions of Dollars Due
This State, and He VIII Get
1t, if Possible.

The State of California has claims
against the United States for the ex-
penses incurred by the State IN ueIrdy :
ing costs. charges and expenses incurred
by it in placing at the disposal OF the
United States 10, 725 volunteer troops
under calls and acquisitions oIIlclaliy
made on California therefor py the
proper civil and military authorities or
the United States during the repelhon
between 1861 and 1865, amounting TO
the sum of S3,951, ,915 AZ. For several
Congresses this matter has oeen
brought to the attention of Congress ano
bills to reimburse the State have been
pressed, sometimes with the result OF
passage through one house, but never
so far, have they crystalized into law.
Since the Hon. Grove L. Johnson, Con-
gressman from this district, went TO
Washington, he has been diligently at
work in this matter and has introduced
various bills and had many consulta-
tions with members of Congress and
committees and others in reference TO
the matter.
The States of Oregon and Nevada are
also interested in this matter, because
they have claims similar to those OF
California, and the three States have
been working together for some years.
Mr.. Johnson found that number OF
Eastern States and cities had claims
of a similar character and he has
worked with the Congressman from
those States and tried to secure unity of
action. He prepared a substitute Tor
certain bills in the House and OBJ
tained from the Committee on War
Claims report In favor of the passage
of the same.
Subsequently it appeared to Mr.. john
son and other friends Of the measure
that the matter could be reached in a
more expeditions manner by the pas
sage of a joint resolution by Congress,
declaring the intent and meaning Of the
Act of Congress of 1861, which author
lied this expense He therefore pre-
pared and introduced House Resolution
No. 1S5, which reads as follows:
Joint resolution declaratory Of the in
tent and meaning of a certain Act
named he1 ain. Whereas doubts have
arisen as to the true intent and meaning
of the Act entitled An Act to inden-
Nifty the States for expenses incurred
by them in defense of the United
States, approved July 27, 1861 12 U. S.
S, 615), declared by the joint resolution
of Congress approved March s, 1862
ito apply to expenses incurred as well
after as before July 81, 1861" (12 U. S.
s.. 616) Therefore,
Resolved, by the Senate ad House OF
Representatives of the United States OF
America in Congress assembled, that
said Act of July 27, 1861, shall be con-
strued to apply to any cost, charge
and expense" of any kind or character
incurred by any State for any of the
purposes named in or contemplated by
said Act; provided, that the same were
incurred or contracted under or by
virtue of any Act or resolution of the
Legislatures Of such States enacted
therefor or which constituted part Of
the extraordinary war expenses Of said
States, made necessary, in the judg-
nent Of their Legislatures, appropria-
ted and expended in order to place said
States on a war footing to aid or to be
in readiness to aid the United States to
anywhere maintain the common de-
fense in suppressing the late insurrec-
tion and rebellion against the United
States. If any of said ''costs, charges
and expenses" SO incurred by said States
under the Acts and laws of their Legis-
latures, respectively, were for interest
paid on money by them borrowed fol
war purposes, or for discount, premium
brokerage, exchange, printing, salaries
expenses of loan commissions, repelline
raids, coast defenses, extra pay and
bounty paid to their volunteer. militia
or other State troops, whether employed
in field, fort camp or garrison, whether
mustered into the military service ot
the United States or not, during the wal
of the rebellion, the amounts of all such
costs, charges and expenses shall be
allowed said States, and shall be set
tied and adjusted under said Act Of July
27, 1861, by the proper accounting Off
GERS Of the Treasury Department, and
shall thereafter be duly reported t
Congress; and none Of said claims shal
be affected by any statute of limitations
or by any action heretofore had on any