The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-01-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Changes In COngress-LOng
and Roosevelt.

Especial Correspondence
The court Of claims was engaged for
several days in hearing case that will
be of interest to the legal departments
and people of 10 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 the 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 II the
claims are allowed 10 or 20 other
states, with claims Of probably 3d.
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 I'm armlng 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 1t
found that money would be necessary
levied a 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-Representatiye Dockery Of Mis-
souri, has been visiting his old haunts
at the capital and has been warmly
greeted by his old associates. On the
4th of January he will be inaugurated
governor of Missouri, and his visit to
Washington is for a pleasure trip. Mr..
Dockery entered the house at the be-
ginning of the Forty-ejghth congress
and retired voluntarily at the close Of
the Flfty-ffth congress to become a
candidate for governor, as his friend
and committee colleague. Governor
Sayers Of Texas. had done before him.
Sayers' first term as governor Of Texas
expires two days before Dockery's term
as governor Of Missouri begins.
-"When the house heard eulogles Of
Governor Dlngley of Maine on the 18th
Of February, 1892" said Governor
Dockery to a reporter, IL remarked
that there were then but Is members
Of the house, taking both sides, who
served with me in the FOrty-eighth
congress. Looking about me now find
but - Of these left, and one of the II,
Boutelle of Maine. is i'll and absent. OF
the IS who were in the house on the
18th Of February, 1899, three-Biand,
Ermentraut and Harmer - have been
removed by death, and three-Reed,
Brumm and myself-haye retired. The
only men now In the house who were
here when first entered congress are
Payne, Ray and Wadsworth Of New
York; Henderson and Hepburn Of To-
wa, Cannon and Hit of Illinois, Steele
OF Indiana, Pierce Of Tennessee and
Bingham of Pennsylvania. This sug-
gests how rapid have been the political
changes within the past few years"