The Van Buren press., 1899-01-21


funds must be invested in bonds of the
state or of the United States, | think
it advisable TO make new issue for
the principal sum due on these bonds,
bearing. as | before stated, not
exceeding 4 per cent interest Six per
cent is too much for state TO pay.
-Four per cent is enough. No just eom-
plant can be made at this reduction
on new bonds The state already pro-
vides as we'll as, If not better than, any
other state in the Union for the eduea-
ton of her children, and this has been
done all the time while no interest was
paid upon these bonds belonging to the
school fund.
After the adjournment of the regular
session of the last general assembly,
the Fifty-fourth congress of the United
States having failed to approve the
settlement made by Governoc Clarke
upon the part of the state, and the sec
retaries of the treasury and Interior
upon the part of the United States, l
felt II TO be my duty to take the neces-
sary steps TO carry into execution the
provision of the statute approved April
s. 1889. entitled, IAN act to authorize
the governor to compromise and adjust,
prosecute and secure all claims of the
state of Arkansas against the United
States for lands heretofore granted
and all other claims under existing
or future laws, AID fer other purposes.
Section 4 of said act provides, that in
exercising and carrying out the powers
conferred by this act, the governor
may. under written contract, employ
attorneys G agents to act for the state
in prosecuting any claim, or in locating
and selecting any lands due the state.
and such attorneys O. agents 10 lie
compensated in measure to be stlp-
ulafed IN such cnu "te 5. dnd paid out
of the proceeds of any claim prose
cuted by them, whether in land. land
scrip, money, or other thing, in kind.
or in money received from the sale of
land, land scrip, or other thing re-
covered or secured to the state. not ex-
ceeding. however, - per cent of the
amount recovered. Provided, that the
state shall in 10 event become liable
for any costs in the preparation or
prosecution of any claim, or action. or
for any expense in selecting any lands,
or locating any scrip, except as herein
provided .
Acting under this power | entered in
TO a written contract, of late April 16
1897, with Ex-Governor James p.
Clarke, on account of his we'll known
ability as a lawyer and his perfect
familiarity with the matter, to do all
and singular those acts and things
which an agent and attorney was. by
said act and the laws of the state. au.
thoriZed to do in connection with q
final adjustment Of any and all the
matters then in dispute between the
state and the United States and certain
railroad corporations of the state: tc
prosecute in any court, or tribunal. al!
claim which the state then had. OF
might be entitled TO for the recovery
Of the possession of any land not held
by innocent purchasers thereof, and
in such cases to pursue the person ol
corporation so wrongfully receiving
said purchase money belonging to the
state to recover the same, as well as to
recover for and secure to the state any
lands, land scrip, securities, money, OF
other thing of value, either from the
United States or the said railroad cor
porations. 1t was expressly stipulated
in said contract that any proceedings
taken by said attorney should not i'm
pose upon the state any liability for
costs, or expenses, and that said at
torney should have no authority to con-
clude any compromise or settlement
without having submitted the same to
the governor for his approval, as pro-
vided in the laws of the state; but that
any settlement or compromise other
wise brought about or effected without
the cooperation of said attorney should
not have the effect of depriving him
of compensation for the services be
might render. which compensation
should be paid in kind as mentioned in
said act, but in no event to exceed %
per cent of the value so recovered or
Governor Clarke thereafter pro-
ceeded to execute the duties imposed
upon him by said contract and had pro-
gressed so far as to encourage the be
lief Ii hin aLn in myself ;'iit fair
and reasonable compromise with the
corporations concerned would
be effected, when the Fifty-flfth coD.
gress Of the United States assembled
and the senators and representatives of
the state therein assented to and
pressed TO its passage the act Of CON
gresS which confirmed the settlement
made by Governor Clarke and the sec
retaries Of the treasury and interior.
with what is commonly known as the
Meikleiohn amendment thereto. AS is
well known this Meiklejhol amend
ment obligated the state to surrender
all claims 10 the lands in dispute be-
tween the state and the railroad cor
amounting TO 2T3,O00 acres.
| did not believe in the justice or the
policy of this amendment, nor do |
now believe in it, because ii gave
away without any consideration. what
ever, 2T3,000 acres of the states val
liable lands to underserving railroad
but inasmuch as the gen.
eral assembly of the state at its last
regular session. sanctioned it by con-
current resolution, over my objections.
and the senators and representatives
Of the state voted for and secured its
passage through the congress of the
United States, there was no course left
for me TO pursue, except to yield unwil-
ling consent and let the settlement be
carried into execution. which was done.
BY this settlement the United States
to the state 81 ,529.240 in
The states bonds and coupons. In con-
sderation of the services rendered by
Governor Clarke under said contract,
md as full compensation therefor, |
paid him one of said bonds, being
funded bond No. 2099 of the series Of