The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-31

bellion the claims OF this state against
| the United states were presented, and
| those that were allowed We're paid, but
no one then supposed that the interest
| paid out by the state on moneys bor-
rowed 10 enroll subsist, clothe, etc.
| our troops, could be charged to the
| United States. But after the above de-
cson OF the supreme Court In 1896, the
General Assembly, by joint resolution
| passed May 2Sth. 1896. authorized and
empowered the general treasurer. with
the approval OF the governor, 10 APP
| point and employ an agent or agents
on behalf OF the state, 10 present pros
ecute, and recover those claims of this
state against the United states.
| The general treasurer. under that au-
thority, with the approval OF the gov
| ernor. appointed Messrs. Needham a.
Cotton, OF Washington, and Amasa Nj.
Eaton as the attorneys of this state. 10
| prosecute this claim. Owing TO the
lapse - time and the death OF all the
gentlemen in Office at the time this
| claim accrued, ii was found 90 be "A
task Of great difficulty To unearth the
particulars and to make out the claim.
1t involved a thorough examination OF
| the accounts kept in the general treas
| urers office from 1861 to 1868, verify
ing each item by comparison with the
account of the issuance and redemp-
tion ~ all the bonds issued by the
state.
4 Rlltf DtlnR SO lldu' up IL Was pre-
scented to the Treasury Department of
the United States, and. after critical
examination by the comptroller and
auditor OF the United States. IL has
I been agreed by them and by the states
| attorneys to refer the matter to the
Court OF Claims. and the case has been
filed there. 4 commissioner viii be APP
pointed to hear the parties and their
evidence, and TO make report thereon
TO the Court of Claims. The case VIII
then be ready for argument, upon the
| findings OF the fact as determined by
the Court of Claims. LII is too early yet
To determine what the amount of the
cfalms will turn out To be, but we have
the assurance of the gentlemen acting
as the attorneys for the state that II IL
a claim of considerable magnitude.Th
other loyal states. twenty -four in num-
Der. are preparing their claims of the
same nature. but. through the activity
Of this states attorneys, our claim is
| the first one fled
PARIS EXPOSITION.
The Board OF Trade Of the citv Of
Providence has prepared a resolution
/, | to be presented to the Honorable Gen
! | eral Assembly, at this session, asking
that such action be taken as will en-
: | able Rhode Island tn be properly repre-
sented at the exposition. 1t seems To
me that it would be very wise move
: to make reasonable appropriation for
, ! TINS purpose.
MEMORIAL TO INDIANS.
/ beg leave 10 call your attertion To
the propriety of the states acquiring
by purchase. THE land upon the hill
surrounding the NarraRansett Indian
buryng ground. at Charlestown. II. /.
This burial place OF the Narragansett
Indians is a spot of the greatest his
toric interest, and the land about II
: could, in my opinion. BE- purchased at
"A reasonable price. If the hill belonged
. To the state, and the owners OF the
! land upon the hills betoeen the Indian
burying ground hill and the water
would cut away the woods IL would be
= one Of the most beautiful spots along
our southern shores, and a monument
erected upon this site could be seen for
, miles around. At the present time
most inaccessible cart path leads from
. the main road to the top of the hill,
and the little plot of ground in which
| the state has interest is pilgrimage
for many strangers visiting our shores.
: | There is no doubt in my mind but IL
| the state should control this hill, with
, | the right Of way to it, and make such
:, arrangements with the owners of other
= | property to have the woods cut away,
!, that the different societies interested in
the early history Of the state would be
. | very glad TO inaugurate movement
= | looking toward the erection OF n suit
able monument. No more fitting trib-
9 ute could be paid To the original own
: ers Of our soil than TO place this memo
e | rial upon the spot where they carried
,r their dead and left them in the hands
y of the Great Father.
JOHN WATERMAN MEMORIAL
h 1t is to be regretted that the propos-
n ed site for this memorial at Valley
"a Forge is still in litigation and that un-
n | til the injunction is removed, and the
l. condemnatory proceedings Of the Val
g ley Forge commission of Pennsylvania
sustained. the monument to Rhode ISL
~ | and soldiers cannot be placed in posi-
IF tion.
~ The monument itself has been fin
10 ished for a long time. and is at West
a erly. waiting the order for its removal
n and setting up.
l. STATE RECORD COMMISSIONER.
" The state record commissioner in
forms me that he has devoted much of
l. his time TO the work he was ordered to
l. 60 by the General Assembly in com
1t pfling a list of Colonial and Revolu-
t. rionary soldiers. Between eight thou
Ia sand and ten thousand slips showing
the services of men who fought in the
l. | Revolution have been made from rolls
D mostly obtained from private sources,
lt ! and which have been kindly loaned 10y
III those interested in the work and who
lie desire to have IL complete. There still
L. remains to be examined the rolls in the
I'd office OF the secretary Of state, those In
d. the custody of the Rhode Island HIS
torical Society another lot or rolls IN
\, | Washington, and over two hundred pa
O. pers and rolls known 10 be in private
r. | hands These rolls eventually VIII he
M | turned over TO the secretary of state
TO for the use OF the public. The commits
r. sioner states that there Is yet much to
O. do, and that, as was anticipated in the
b. ! beginning. IL will require an additiona
| iat N cDmnletH
10 REoRG GANIZATION OF THE. MILL.
Ia TIA.
ed 1t IL admitted everywhere that the
u militia system throughout the country
n was found to he of little value in rais
'h ing the volunteer army called Tor pA
the war with Spain
In this state II was practically use
loss This was no fault of the officers
~ | 80 ,no ,,en--it was entirely the faul