The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-07
Urges Increase of Limit tn Two and q
Half Millions. sGoo. 900 to he
Available at Once.
VICTORY FOR ovERsTREET
HIS FINANCIAL. BILL APPROVED BY
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
Two Amendments Agreed To-Debate
ON the Measure 10 Begin on
Monday and End with Week
necial TO the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. Ex-senator Far
banks set the machinery in motion to-day
to recover to Indiana s714.47o paid out by
the State In interest and discounts on Sz-
600 900 bonds, sold in 1862. to equip. trans
port, feed and pay soldiers employed In
suppressing the rebellion. Under a ruling
of the Treasury Department in 1855 the
claims Of Indiana and other States were
knocked out. The government does not
pay interest on amounts claimed, and the
department held that these claims were In
valid on that account. Later. In 1871. the
Supreme Court of the United States held,
in a New York case identical with those
ruled out under the department decision
that the "clairn of the State for money
paid on account Of interest 10 the commits
sioners of the canal fund (from whom the
money had been borrowed) was not one
against the United States for interest as
such. but was a claim for costs, charges
and expenses proper incurred and paid by
the State in aid of the government, and
was embraced by the act OF Congress de-
claring that States should be indemnihed
by the general government for moneys so
expended
Indiana accepted the decision OF the de-
partment as final and took no appeal
Later when the Supreme Court upheld the
validity of New York's -elaina, an attempt
was made to secure a rehearing on reversal
Of the ruling, but without avail Last
summer another effort was made to reopen
the case. Assistant Controller Mitchell OF
the Treasury Department, rendered an
elaborate opinion indorsing in strong terms
the justice OF the claim. but declining to
reverse the ruling of former controller as
being against the practice OF the depart
ment The opinion, though against the
claim on the face of IL, really paved the
way for getting action through Congress
favorable not only for Indiana. but for sew
eral other States similarly situated. Sem
ator Fairbanks has accordingly Ia EN- the
earliest opportunity to set the ball I'm mo-
ton. The text of the bill introduced by
him to-day follows:
"a bill to authorize the Court OF Claims to
assume jurisdiction and render judgment
In certain claims of the State of Indiana:
BE Ii enacted by the Senate and House
or Representatives Of the United States os
America: in Congress assembled. that the
Court of Claims be, and hereby is, given
Jurisdiction to try and render fiaai judg-
ment in the claims Of the State OF Indiana
for interest paid on moneys borrowed aud
Tor discounts upon bonds negotiated, and for
costs, charges and expenses incurred ia
raising, subsisting. clorning. arming. equip
ping, paying and transporting troops TO ps
employed In suppressing the rebellion. here
tofore filed in the Treasury Department.
under the act OF Congress approved July
"a, 1861, entitled An act TO indemnify the
States for expenses incurred by them in ths
defense OF the United States. and the 'joint
meaning Of sct 9b bere ae snd
claims 10 be filed In said court within one
year carr from % the passage Of this act. and said
Claims shan be unaffected by any statute
held therein in said Treasury Department.
provided however that either party may
the Court of Claims within sixty days from
the entry thereof to the Supreme Court OF
the United. states, and said claims shall
| nave precedence In said courts"
A second section authorizes the secretary
Of the treasury to pay out OF any funds at
his disposal the amount found for the State
| by the Court OF Claims.
The bin was read twice and referred TO
| the committee claims. OF which its au-
| thor is a member. Senator Fairbanks also
introduced a general bill OF the same tenor.
taking in all States similarly situated, COW
ering about ScOoOOO.
Senator Fairbanks introduced another bill.
of interest especially 10 the people Of In
! dianapolis. II 10 increase the limit OF
the appropriation for the indianapolis fed
1
Immediately available to pay for the site.
The bill was read twice and referred to the
committee on buildings and grounds. OF
which the Indiana senator is a member.
| The basis OF the plea for larger appro-
priation is that in view OF the higher price
| for building materials now prevailing IL will
take S2.5oO,oOo 10 put up such a structure
as Congress originally intended Indianapolis
( should have sss
Before he left Washington Mr.. Hernly,
OF Indiana, strongly urged upon Senator'S
Fairbanks and Beveridge their duty as Re-
| publicans to insist upon the removal OF
| Sergeant-at-arms Bright and the selection
OF loyal Indiana Republican 10 all his
place. The position naturally belongs 70
Indiana, and Mr.. Hernly assured tht sena-
/ tors that there would be no difficulty in
finding a Republican qualified TO discharsc
/ the duties of the nficA