The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-17
THE KANSAS UNIVERSITY.
A Favorable Report ON the Bill Pro-
Niding for Its Relief.

Niding for Its Relief.
The Committee on Claims of the House
OF Representatives his presented a favor
University of Kansas.
The report recites that the present bene-
ficiary of this bill the University of Kan
sas Kansas corporation. is the assignee
or transferree of the original claim for
damages against the United States sus-
! tanned by the New England Emigrant Aid
Company, Massachusetts corporation, in
1856.
This claim grew oft OF the early troubles
in Kansas. preceding the late civil war,
the material facts and circumstances in
relation TO it being substantially as fol-
lows: On the 21st day OF May. 1856, the
New England Emigrant Aid Company was
the owner in fee of two lots on Massachu-
sets Street, in the city Of Lawrence. Kan.
on which it had erected large and we'll
constructed hotel, thoroughly furnished
and equipped and certain outbuildings
This hotel was three stories high, with q
basement. and was known as the Free
State Hotel" or Eldridge House. 1t was
said at the time to have been the finest
hotel west of st. Louis. and, together with
its furniture and the other buildings, was
worth about S25, 900. t-. r.
On the 9Th day OF May 1856, the grand
jury of Douglas County. Kan. made a
presentment against this structure, in
which it was set forth that the same was
a nuisance and had been constructed with
a view to military occupation and defence.
thereby endangering the public safety and
encouraging rebellion and sedition in the
country" and they thereby recommended
that the nuisance be abated
Thereupon. on the 2lst day of May. 1856.
a deputy United States marshal, claiming
to act under the authority of the United
States District Court for the Territory, as
sembled large posse and RACED the struc-
ture to the ground making it total loss.
The report continues:
1T seems TO be clearly demonstrated
that this action of the grand jury, on
which the deputy United States marshal
assumed TO act, was unjustitiable, and the
destruction Of the property by positive and
direct orders of the officers # the United
States was therefore clearly unwarranta-
BILE
The New England Emigrant Aid Com
pany memoralized Congress several times
on the subject and sought to have REIN
burSement Of the loss it had sustained but
not succeeding in its own right, ana de-
sparng of ever being able to secure any
thing for itself out Of this claim. recently
assigned the same 10 the present benefc-
larry of this bill.
lin the light of all the facts, which are
more deliberately set forth in memorial
of the University of Kansas and its ex-
hibits which is attached to this report as
Exhibit A and made a part OF it, and for
the reason that the assignor was nom
resident of the territory and could not
have been guilty as charged Of the offences
against the Government and since the
amount of this claim is bat $40, 600, which
is $1,000 less than the value OF the prop
erty destroyed, your committee are Of
opinion that the claim IS proper and just
one for allowance by the United States. and
therefore recommend that the bill as Of
fered in the Senate do pass"