The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-02-08
STATES BIG CLAIM
SHOULD Be SETTLED.
Representative Evans Inter
ested in the Matter.
THE LEGISLATURES WILL ACE
SOON.

The Legislature will have forcibiy
brought to its attention the advisa.
bility of pushing the States Revolu-
tionary claim against the Federal
government as an offset to the claims
of the United States against South
Carolina.
Representative N. G.. Evans of
Edgefeld introduced q concurrent
resolution providing that the ways
and means committee of The house
and the finance committee of the
senate should appoint a joint SUBJ
committee to investigate the matter
and report upon the best steps to be
taken 10 secure the payment Of the
claim. This resolution passed both
houses, and under it joint commit
tee was appointed consisting of Sen.
ators Graydon, Williams and Glenn
and Representatives Weston, Wyche
and Mellow, who are now about
ready to submit their report and
suggest the necessary measure which
should be provided for to go about
the collection of the claim.
Mr. Evans believes that the claim
can be established without doubt,
and he has collected much data upon
the subject, some of which was con.
tanned in the editorial in the State
of the 31st. Similar claims against
the Federal government. were held
by other States notably Alabama and
Mississippi, which were paid. Both
the senators from this State are max
ing efforts to have South Carolins's
claim settled, and they write that if
the matter is put into the bands Of
responsible party to look up the data
the State can be saved a good deal
of money Gov Hampton, in 1878.
undertook to make an agreement as
governor with three parties, two in
Washington and one 10 Columbia,
who were to represent the State
The Washington parties died, and no
definite results cane of this attempt,
but the claim was found during their
investigation
1t is known that the State owes
the Federal government S125, 900.
the amount of the bonds issued in
1855 to build the present state house,
and the interest to date, represented
by the coupons, is $l23,750, making
total of S24S,750 There is no
doubt, says Mr.. Evans, of the valid.
ity of this debt, but Under the act
of 1880 the bonds Of 1858 and all
bonds issued prisr to JAN i, 1866,
with coupons, were made exchange
Bile for 6 per cent. consolidated bonds
with interest from Jan l, 1880 The
real claim since the bonds were Or
dered funded in consoi5 at a reduc-
ton of SO per cent would amount
to $l24,375, but the United States
would doubtless resis. the settlement
on this basis. The money which the
United States put into these bonds
was tae investment of the Indian
trust fund.
South Carolina's original Revoiu-
tionary claim against the United
States was $3.50. 600. and if interest
be allowed it will now amount to
about $2,000,000, SO that settle
men. satisfactory and advantageous
to South Carolina seems reasonable
to hope for, and would include the
! amount recently expended by Gov.
EIlerbe e equipping The soldiers
from this ate
1t is Mr.. Evans opinion that
should it be found impossible to dis.
cover the report of James A Black.
the special agent. the work DE did
in arriving at his conclusions should
be followed up so that the facts may
be attained and advantage taken OF
them.