The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-28
TIE OYSTER CLAIMS BILLS.
The Amount of the CIaims reduced One
Half and Allowed.

Half and Allowed.
The everlasting oyster claims hobhcd
m in the House yesterday ON a substi-
tute offered by Mr.. Rountree. of -,ew
Hanover. for the report of the Com
mittec on Claims.
In presenting this report Mr. Rountree
spoke III advocacy Of It's adoption.
The substitute. he said, left the Car
tcrct county claims just as they were
in the committee report: also the claim
of the sheriff Of pamlico. 1t provided
however. for investigation OF the claim
of the clerk OF Pamlico county by Il
commission of disintercsted parties, one
half the cost of the investigation 10 no
paid by the State and one half by the
claimant.
He reviewed the history of these noto-
rious cases. There was nut on the
statute books in 1893. he said. stat
ute compelling the solicitors in Eastern
counties To bring actions to compel for
fixture of certain oyster grants. in
compliance with this statute Il great
many suits were brought. Later it was
decided in test case that the actions
would not lie, as those holding the
grants acquired vested rights. 4 mo-
tlOH WIS " lin tiit toStS uSdlHSt
the State. That motion was success
full. 1t was taken to the Supreme
court, which struck out certain items of
costs and the costs were retaxed.
Mr. Justice a member Of the Com
mittee on Claims, explained that after
relaxing the costs they amounted to be-
tween S3,S00 and $4,000. After some
five or six sittings, consuming some
tVa ptx-f five az fb;,f,- hon fhn Iti
had been cut down by the committee
to about $1,000 The claim had been
carefully and thoroughly investigated.
and many costs were found in the bill
that should not have been there: all
these were stricken out and only sach
accounts rs were considered just and
right were allowed.
Mr.. Allen, of Wayne, stated that the
clerk who issued the snmmonses in Pam
leo was dead, Sthe solicitor who brought
the suits was dead and the substitute
offered by Mr.. Rountree simply asked
that the claim be investigated by Il com
mission of competent men.
n These claims ought not he tried on
the unsupported evidence of two UNI
sworn lawyers who were employed, paid
out of the State Treasury, and sent to
make investigation Of the matter after
libel suit had been brought against
Mr. Worth. the State Treasurer The
evidence they collected was to defend
him IN this libel suit.
Mr.. Worth is pretending To save the
State money. and yet he has paid one
I lawyer as much as $500 to appear be
/ fore the Supreme court against payment
of these claims And yet when the cast
was argued this attorney was III Wash
ipgton city Worth has paid bctwcei
/ -. 800 and 81 900 out of the State Treas
+ ury to keep from paying this claim. Anf
much Of it was 10 get material to de
1 fcnd him in his libel suit.
/ Mr.. Allen further stated that he ha'
! not appeared before the commission
/ in regard to this claim and had takoi
1 40 part in prosecuting il before the leg
/ islature because he had been connected
ltwith it as attorney. and he arose nov
merely for putting some facts before the
/ House which ought TO be known.
Mr.. Council read the report of th'
/ committee and argued that it ongh
TO be accepted without further conten
ton over the matter before a commits
sion at additional cost TO the State
Mr.. Winston favored the substitute
He thought the claim ought to be inyes