The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-25
THE DAKOTA BONDS
Matter Now in Hands of
Joint Committee On
Claims.

Vb0btAbOB
The joint committee on claims of
the House and the Senate met yester-
day afternoon in the Supreme Court
library to ScuSS the two resolutions
offered by Mr. Lockhart, of Arson, in
the House, and Senator Williams, in
the Senate, relative to the determl-
nation of the matters growing out OF
the bonds of the State outstanding III
the hands Of South Dakota and the
Schaffer Brothers.
After considerable discussion a res
olution offered by Mr.. Biggs, of Dur
ham. was adopted by which the en-
t re matter of the bonds, both those OF
South Dakota and those represented
by Schaffer Brothers, is taken into
consideration by the full committee
for report to the Legislature, instead
Of the plan proposed by Senator Will
ans of referring the matter 10
small subcommittee to be formed or
two members from the House, two
from the Senate and one to be APP
pointed by the Governor. In speak
ing to this resolution, Mr. Williams
stated that the plans embodied IN the
resolution offered by him had been
submitted to and approved by Cover
nor Glenn.
All the resolutions were vigorously
opposed by eX-Judge A. w. Graham as
we'll az by Representative w. a. Ora
ham, who stated that he thought that
the committee should thoroughly In
vestigate the matters which had been
set out in the News and Observer be-
fore anything else was done.
There was discussion as to whether
there was anybody on the ground who
represents the State of South Dakota
OF the Schaffer bondholders. In
stated that he understood unofilclally
that there were gentlemen here who
were ready to come before the COM
mittee, If their presence was desired,
especially Mr.. Ricaud; that he had
said that he would notify these gen
tlemen if their presence was desired
by the committee.
Mr.. Biggs and other members OF the
committee stated that they knew that
there were sa q To bS gentlemen here
representing the holders of the bonds
but they had purpoSely avoided meet
ng the gentlemen.
The matter of hearing from the at
torneys for South Dakota or the
Schaffers did not meet with any APP
parent enthusiasm and the question
before the committee finally drifted
down to the decision as to which of
The three pending resolutions before
the two houses should be adopted.
OF these the Lockart resolution in
troduced In the house and the " l.
Jams resolution Introduces In the Sem
ate were practically synonymous, ex
cept that the Lockhart resolution pro-
vided for the submission of the ques-
ton to the Judiciary and the VIII
Jams resolution to the Joint claim
comm ttee, both providing for com
mission TO investigate the subject.
MIR Williams explained his resolu-
lions by stating that he thought that
the full committee would be cum
bersome body TO deal with the ques-
ton and that a commission such as he
had proposed would be the most prac-
ticable and the quickest method of
expression of what WAS the duty OF
he Legislature in respect to the
bonds.
There was considerable objection on
the part Of several members, MI.
udell and others, to any measure
which should in anywise bring the
Governor into the matter OF the IN
yestigaticn, and several speeches, es-
pecially on the part Of ex-Judge Ora
nam, strenuously opposing any inVes-
igat on of the matter except In so
far as the South Dakota bonds We're
concerned.
Mr. Powers, Of ,Rutherfordton, and
Mr.. w. A. Graham, of Lincolnton
were both members of the (LegiSla-
.ure of 1879 which passed the COM
promise proposed by the State for the
settlement Of the bonds at issue and
Mr. Powers made q short talk IN
which he outlined the proceeding at
that time providing for the payment
Of the bonds which should be offered
at the price OF twenty-five cents on
the dollar. He stated that the Schaf-
er Brothers had all along refused toI
accept the offer of the State for the
securities which they held.
At the end of a considerable dis
;usison the Biggs resolution finally
prevailed. Judge and Major Graham
and one or two other members Of the
committee who took the ground that
there was no occasion for any lnVeS-
tigation of any except the South pa
kcta bonds, voting mo.
The resolution offered by MIR. Biggs
and adopted by the committee is as
follows:
"Resolved by the House Of Repre-
sentativeS, the Senate concurring:
Section /. That the committees on
CLAIMS OF the Senate and House OF
REPRESENTATIVES, be and they are here
by authorized and empowered and dl-
reeted TO meet in Joint session for the
purpose Of considering the matter OF
the judgment held by the state OF
south Dakota against the state Of
North Carolina aud the bonds OF the
ssuo upon which said judgment was
obtained.
i ITO that end they may advise With
the State officers and the counsel en-
ploycd by the State of North Carolina
N its recent litigation. Said commit
zee shall make such further and adtii-
tional investigation as to them may
seem proper and necessary to preserve
the interests of the State.
"SectiOn 2. That said committee