The sun., 1901-01-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
States Went Nation tn Reimburse
Changes In ConKress-Long
ana Roosevelt.
Especial oorrespondence.l

Especial Correspondence.l
The court of claims was engaged for
several days In hearing a case that will
be Of interest to the legal departments
and people of 15 or 20 states. 1t is a
case Of claims by Pennsylvania, Maine,
New Hampshire and Rhode Island
against the United States for arming
and equipping troops during tie civil
war. Under the Bowman act the secre-
tary of the treasury referred the claims
to the court of claims for adjudication.
The amount claimed by the four
states is about 100000, but If the
claims are allowed Is or 20 other
states, with claims Of probably $15,-
100000, will ask for what they think Is
due them. The present cases are there
fore tests, and the other states are
waiting to see what will be done.
All the states have been reimbursed
for the principal of the amounts ex-
pended in arming and equipping troops
for the civil war. About five or six
years ago, however, New York entered
a claim for the interest on the principal
of the sum expended. The supreme
court decided In favor of New York.
The other claims have followed.
New York's claim differs somewhat
from the others. That state when II
found that money would be necessary
levied tax. In advance of the collec-
ton of this tax money was borrowed
for short term. The principal tax
was collected. In the case Of nearly all
the states now entering claims bonds
were issued, the states paying interest
on them for many years. 1t is this in.
terest that is demanded.
Mr.. Pradt, assistant attorney general
is conducting the case for the govern
ment. He holds that there is much diff
ference between the New York claim
and that of the other states.
Changes In Congress.
Ex-Representative Dockery Of Mis-
souri, has been visiting his old haunts
at the capital and has been warmly
greeted by his old associates. On thu
4th of January he will be inauguratet
governor of Missouri, and his visit t.
Washington is for pleasure trip. Mr.
Dockery entered the house at the be
| ginning Of the Forty-eighth congress
and retired voluntarily at the close O.
the Fifty-f1fth congress to become |
candidate for governor, as his frient
and committee colleague, Goyerno
Sayers of Texas, had done before him
Sayers' first term as governor Of Texa
expires two days before Dockery's tern
as governor of Missouri begins.
when the house heard eulogies 0
| Governor Dingley Of Maine on the 11tl
Of February, $780," said Governo
Dockery to reporter, II remarked
that there were then but IS member
of the house, taking both sides, VIII
served with me In the Forty-eight
congress. Looking about me now fin
but IL of these left, and one Of the 1.
Boutelle of Maine, is Ill and absent O
the 1S who were in the house on tn
11th of February, 1899. three-Blant
Ermentraut and Harmer = have bee
removed by death, and three-Reet
Brumm and myself-have retired. Th
here when l first entered congress ar
Payne, Ray and Wadsworth of Ney
York; Henderson and Hepburn of Il
wa, Cannon and Hit of Illinois, Steel
of Indiana, Pierce of Tennessee an
Bingham of Pennsylvania. This suf
gests how rapid have been the politici
changes within the past few years."
m
Standing together at the White Hous
centennial exercises were Secretar
Long and Governor Roosevelt of NeV
York. Eyes, this Is my old chief" sal
Governor Roosevelt, "and never ha
more pleasant one In my life. Unit
became assistant secretary Of til
navy / had really never had any on
over me In my public service; that Il
any one with whom / had to work |
close contact, directly under and wa
responsible to-" Then, In his peculia
earnest way, the next vice presider
continued: II never had more happ
! relations with any one in my life tha
with the secretary, and / will alway
look back on those days with the grea
est pleasure. There was never any fri,
tion."
"Well, that was because you alway
bossed me-" added Secretary Ions
with smile.
Governor Roosevelt laughed hearth
at the sally, and these two men, S
prominent in the history of the cour
try, went on chatting over the cordia
relations they maintained with eac
other when associated together off
cially.
Want to BE States.
Governor N. o. Murphy of Arizon
called on the president during the Ger
tennial celebration and talked with hir
about statehood for Arizona. Notwitl
standing Arizona has steadfastly re
mained q Democratic territory Gov
ernor Murphy, " ho Is an ardent Re-
publican, wants to see state made @
1t. ARIZONA is in every way entitle
to self government" said Mr.. Murphy
I'm population. wealth and progressive
ness Arizona is far ahead of a numbe
OF states In the Union. 1t has increase
about 30 per cent In population sine
1890 and now has about 122, 900 people
Yes, l ran for delegate in Novembe
and was beaten less than 1000 vote
by Mark Smith, Democrat, but Gel
tainly think the territory is entitled t
statehood and ought to get 1t at thl
session of congress-"
Dennis Flynn, delegate from Okla
homa, will open a determined contes
for the admission of Oklahoma, an
unless the adjournment on March A !
| fO0 papIv for hio r,1ore btc oep1u%