The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-03-24
HISTORY OF TIE
WALES-BEARD CASE
Natter win Bs Presented 81 the Con-
ind Session Of LSSislatuEe.

Col s. l. WALES, whose claim with
that of the estate Of w. X. Beard de-
ceased against the State Of Florida for
pavment for services rendered in con-
nection with the collection of the Indian
xvar claim from the United States gov
ernnent has attracted so much atten-
t;or Re- In Pensacola for a few days.
Col Wales was seen by Journal rep
resentative yesterday in reference 70
s,Is Il your intention" was asked Of
hin, .sto again ask the Legislature TO
take up and act upon the Wailes-bearo
ut certainly is, " replied Col. Wales;
eft is not, however, claim, Dut Vescen
right. under q contract entered INTO WIN
a Governor of the State, by autnoIlty
of an act of the Legislature. AND 70
add to the solemnity OF this contract,
the Governor had attached thereto Ine
great seal of the State OF FLORIDA: Inc
last Legislature passed Dill, Wnlcn pc
came law by the approval ana sigma
ernor m nav TO s. I. WALES, and 70 the
estate Of ". X. Beard, deceased, the
snno of s25. 600 The State either owed
me ali that the contract called for, VIZ:
tx ner cent on 81, 089, 1853. 66, the amount
allowed the State by the United states,
which amounted to $163, 373. %, and due
under the contract the day the 81, OoS,-
I59. 66 was paid into the State treasury;
or the State did not owe us dollar
"There never was, nor can there De,
q nratense that we did not fully and
Faithfully perform our part Of the con-
tract. II would probably be more sat
;sfsctorv. however, to the people OF the
Stste Of Florida, to read not what
think of the obligations Of the State
$ander that contract, but what your DIS
,-{ingnished townsman and State Sena..
tor. w. A. Blount, acting chairman OF
the judiciary committee OF the Senate
of the last legislature, said after hve
weeks spent in investigating TINS mat
ter. After the examination OF ex-goV-
ernors. eSS-senators and ex-represehta-
tiyes of the United States Congress, as
we'll as Judge Rainey, VINO, as attor-
ney-general, drew this contract, mes
sa9es of governors and reports OF COM
Toiftees of various legislatures, on TINS
onntTect he made the following report:
Senate Chamber,
Tallahassee, Fla, May ", 1903.
"Hon. Frank Adams,
"President of the Senate:
"Sir:-The undersigned, minority
of the Judiciary Committee, concur IN
eli of the views of the majority, con-
Famed in its report, filed May II, 1903,
800, the claims of S. l. Wales and
ofhers. in the matter of the Indian War
Claim Fund. except as to that portion
,,h;ch Axes the amount recommended
~ he Maid to s. |. WALES and Mrs. l..
q BEARD. at fiftesn per cent. OF the
indian War Claim allowed by the
limited States. That is, of $26l, 1874 81,
less the 1892, 900 of bonds OF the State
held bv the United States to-wit, fif-
teen per cent. of Sl29, 9S4.Sl, with in
.s STf undersigned are Of the opinion
that the compensation to be paid Wales
AMI Mrs. Beard, ought to be f1fteen per
cent. upon the amount allowed 70 the
state by the United States on the
Indian War Claim, This amount was
$l,Gs9, 1880 90 and mo the % compensation
tsIfnder the contract made between
.ha State and WALES by the commits
s:on given by Governor Drew, to
Wailes' July 10th, 1879, and the &C
centance oft by WALES, he was to re-
ceIve fifteen per cent. Of all sums col
iected from the general government
mon such Indian War Claims. There
was collected the sum above mentioned,
of 81, O89, 16S. So. and he Is entitled to
ffteen per cent, of this.
''The majority say that the State was
;ndebted 20 the United states IN the
ann Of SI3, 600, and that WALES did not
collect this. This is true. but ne did
Collect the whole Of the Indian WaI
Claim. and the fact that a part OF this
colleetiou was required TO pay the debt
of the State, did not make the collection
SThe amount which he collected,
brooeht In cash to the treasury large
snn,. and cancelled debt Of the State
amounting 70 another large sum, and
the aggregate Of these are u 49,
1886
.sif the State had not been indeblsd
he clearly would have been entitled u
Rfteen rer cent. Of the whole. Doe,
thS fscf that the State was indebteC
IeSaen the benefit derived by him.
dSThe transaction preet ely q, that ~
hroslcsht 20 the State the whole I'll ~,
1se e6. and that the State paid with !
ths eis2, 600 Of bonds and interest, snS
hes ~ balance in cash 20 that he ben
eAfted the State 20 the full amount o.
,rlieh Il thus made upe.
ssAreordinR 70 the reasoning Of tn
rnaforitV. that no account eho1d b
taEeY1 q fixing his compensation Of IN
Seht due 20 the State by the Unite