The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-18
rnE TEN-,1ILLIoN Dill.

I'm 1853 a fund was created in the federal
treasury from the sale of captured and
abandoned property ia the Southern states.
Additions were made TO it until the end
OF the Civil War. The reports show that
about 81 90. go was collected IN this FUND.
Or this amount about $1OOOOOo was paid
10 approved claimants. while approximate
" the same sum went for expenses and
other matters. Thus there was left i'm the
treasury something over 100000. which
remains there TO this day. This money be
louged to people of the South; ii stn right
fully belongs to them. and should be re-
turned to them.
Last December Senator Mason OF Hi
nois introduced in the Senate bill provid-
ing for the distribution Of this fund, and
removing all tests Of disloyalty which were
formerly required of all claimants. The
bin was referred 10 the Committee on
Claims. with an amendment in February OF
the present year. but no further action was
taken.
About the same time "a similar bill was
introduced into the House by Representa-
tive Maddox, of the Seventh district OF
Georgia but no action was taken on it,
The appearance of these efforts in both
branches OF Congress to have the fund
distributed, created much interest and ex-'
cited the hope that after many years The
government would 10 justice to the own
ers Of the captured or abandoned" prop
erty. But that hope has been deferred.
The matter however, is in good shape to
oe taken up again at the approaching SEES
sion. The attention Of Southern Senators
and Representatives has been called to the
bill, and they have been urged to exert
their best efforts to secure its passage.
The Governors of the Southern states have
also been requested, in the interests of
their people, to use what influence they
have in favor of the bill. 1t IS believed
that, in consequence Of the good feeling
which now exists between the two sections
of the country, strong backing for the bill
can be secured from Senators ana Repre-
sentatves of the North and chat the gov
eminent can thus be brought to do a tardy
act of justice TO the people of the South.
The sum which is proposed TO be distrib-
utcd is not very large, and the amount
which individual claimants would receive
would necessarily be small; but it needs
not to be said that even that little would
be boon TO those who were impoverished
by the war. The claims would, of course,
have to be adjusted through the Court
of Claims and it is probable that, owing
TO the number of claimants, the amount
finally allowed would probably not be
much if any more than per cent. of the
amount claimed owing to the limited size
of the fund from which the payments pro
rata would have to be made But even 5
per cent. is much better than nothing.
Georgia's claims, in all probability, would
be the largest, with the possible exception
Of those of Virginia; but if Georgia's pro
portion should be only 100000, that sum
in The hands of its rightful owners, who
have been deprived of it SO long, WOULD
do much good. 1t is proposed that claim
ants shall have from one to two years In
which to file and prove claims; ali claims
TO be debarred after the expiration OF that
period of time