The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1907-01-10
Indian War Claim.

So much has been published Goa.
corning Floridas ancient claim, first
presented in the Senate by Senator
Yulee, in 1859, for moneys expended
In the payment of troops and other
wise in suppressing the Seminoles in
the years of 1856 and 1857, chat little
need be said of its earlier history,
with which all Floridians are familiar.
When Mr.. Taliaferro entered the
Senate the previous efforts Of the
States representatives In the Con-
gress had resulted in having the Sec
rotary of War make and state an ac-
count showing the respective amounts
mutually due from the state and from
the United States. With a view t.
the successful advocacy of the claim,
he planned for a place on the Com
mittee on Claims, which he secured
After many months of careful study
of the details of the claim and the ex'
isting situation-in which he had the
invaluable assistance of Hon. VIM.
Bloxham, who furnished much of the
data and probably knew as much
about the matter as any other person
Nving-Senator Taliaferro decided
that the best way to secure favorable
action upon ii was to present 1t as an
amendment to the Omnibus Claims
bill, then pending in the House, and
which embraced a large number OF
claims involving the iterests OF nearly
every State in the Union. He ac'
cordingly offered an amendment 10
that bill, making provision for the
payment OF the claim. In this policy,
and throughout the entire course OF
legislation in the matter, he had the
united and enthusiastic cooperation
of the other representatives OF Florl'
da in the Congress.
From the beginning the delegation
encountered active and determined OPP
position from other members who rep
resented claims embraced in the bill
BY shrewd and bold insistence upon
his rights as Senator and upon th2
rights of the State, Mr.. Taliaferro sue
ceeded in neutralizing such opposition
in the Committee and the Senate, no
tally In the case of a prominent SEN
ator of another State, who feared that
the allowance of Florida's large claim
might endanger the. chances OF his
own. BY carefully studying the mer-
its of this opposing claim he was pre-
pared to disclose its weaknesses, had
This been necessary; but this claim
was defeated, and the opposition TO the
Florida claim did not materialize.
Nevertheless. other obstacles inter
posed. The bill, which originated IN
| the House, was amended in the Sen
ate to contain a provision for the pay
meat of the "Selfridge claim" FOR
moneys lost in building ships for the
Government during the Civil War
The House refused to concur In the
amendment. and asked for confer
ence. The other Senate amendments
being involved in the conference, sen
ator Taliaferro and his colleagues Ia
bored with the conferees for the sal
walton of the bill the advocates OF
the Selfridge claim having threatened
lis defeat IL that claim was not In
cuded. Finally, Mr.. Taliaferro sug
gested that the Selfridge Claim be re
ferred for settlement to the Court OF
| Claims in a separate measure, ana tnis
solution of the controversy being ac
cepted opposition was withdrawn, the
| Conference Committee reported the
! hill favorably with the Florida claim
intact, and the bill became law
Shortly afterwards the Governor O.
Florida was enabled to go TO WASH
jngton and receive the warrant.