The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-02-21
A Dead Claim
RevitaliZed.

No congressman, on a single issue
not national in its Importance, has
made more reputation than Hon. Frank
Clark, of this state, in his advocacy of
the refunding TO the Southern States
of the cotton tax illegally collected
during and after the war up to 1868,
That issue had become one of those
wellnigh hopeless equitable claims
upon the National Treasury, of which
there have been many during the his
tory of the government, until Mr..
Clark, with the vigor of a new and
ambitious congressman and the earn
estness of intense conviction, took
hold of it, revitaliZed 1T, and pressed
1t right home to the conscience of the
republican majority in the house.
He has made a special study of this
case involving nearly $70.000.000 be-
longing justly to the Southern people,
and is thoroughly familiar with every
fact connected with it. Before the
present session OF congress he dis
Dussed the merits of the claim per-
sonally with many republican mem
bers, and was assured by them that
1t was just. and they would support
a measure to refund the money. He
has introduced that measure, and has
recently advocated it by most ex-
haustive speech dealing purely with
facts and figures and which put the
case SO convincingly that it made a
great hit, not only with the house, but
throughout the country, and has
aroused and concentrated public SEN
timent in favor of the bill to a re-
markable extent.
1t was a profoundly discouraging
task to take up this issue, for the
claim had been steadily discredited by
= republican congress ever since the
war, but Mr.. Clark has marshaIled his
facts and stated his case in way
never done before, and there are excel
lent reasons for believing that the
present congress will take favorable
sotion in the matter. The Gainesville
Sun has this to say on the subject:
Hon. Frank Clark is receiving nu-
merous requests from ell parts of the
country for copies of his speech re-
gently made In the house of represen-
tativeS relative to the refunding to the
Southern States the money Illegally
collected as taxes on cotton between
the years OF 1861 and 1868. In his ell
oquent address Mr.. Clark gave a full |
history of the situation and discussed |
most interestingly the question from a
constitutional standpoint de proved /
beyond possible doubt that it was an
fATfy f.dn
might made right"
Mr.. Clark is now hard at work in
bringing about a favora BILE sentiment |
to support a bill which he has intro
duced. which provides for refunding |
of $6S, 100000 of cotton tax money,
which was, in violation of the Federal
constitution. levied and collected from |
the cotton states between the years |
of 1861 and 1868. The bill further pro |
vides that each state shall be pro |
rated the amount OF money paid to the |
government during this period as taxes |
st the time, provided bona fide claims |
be presented for the amount so paid |
The amount of this fund remaining |
after the bona fde claims have been |
paid viii be deposited in the treasury |
of the state.
For forty years has this unchal- |
lenged injustice remained as thorn in |
the flesh OF all southerners, and an |
Insult to the pride of our fair south /
land. In undertaking this work Mr.. |
Clark is to be Landed for his noble /
purpose and already he is receiving as
surance of support, from all southern |
mem bers, and even among the ranks
of the republicans there is a murmur
Of approval. Mr. Clark entertains the !
expectation that he will be able to
force this proposed legislation under
serious consideration at an early date,
and believes that it will ultimately be
enacted into law.