The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-20
CHANCES ARE GOOD.
X. U. Will Probably Get That Twenty
Thousand Dollars.

Washington, Jan. 20-The chances
are very good of the University of
Kansas receiving an appropriation of
$4,000 at the present session of con-
gress for the loss of the old Free State
hotel at Lawrence.
This matter has been hanging fire
for 40 years, and it is now about to be
closed. The court of claims has found
the facts in this case, and an omnibus
bill has already been introduced in the
house of representatives. When it
reaches the senate, Senators Long and
Curtis intend to see that the universi-
ty claim is included in the bill.
The Free State hotel case is a nota-
BILE one. The structure was built by the
New England Emigrant Aid society of
Massachusetts. This Institution was in
the hands of such men as Eli Thayer,
S. c. Pomeroy afterwards United
Rev. Edward Everett Hale, then, and
now, president of the society. DR.. Hale
is now chaplain of the senate, and was
much interested in the assignment of
versity of Kansas and the subsequent
tortuous passage the claim had through
congress and the court.
The hotel was razed to the ground by
United States Marshal Donaldson and
his deputies about May 20, 1856. nearly
that the marshal and his posse were
acting on the findings of a federal
grand jury sitting at Lecompton. The
United States court, the jury, and the
marshaIs force were part of the
Franklin Pierce administration, which
was proslavery and anti-Kansas. Hence
the way the claim first saw light.
After having been in congress for
many years. the Free State hotel claim
was finally sent by senate bill to the
41a; ho a n
Tucker acts, for finding of fact. About
a year ago, the case was threshed out
in the court, all attorneys. by the way.
being Kansans. The government was
represented in resisting this claim by
John @. Thompson of Pratt, assistant
to the attorney general in charge of
claims, and recently appointed by the
president to be assistant attorney gen
eral of the United States. The Univer-
sity of Kansas, or rather the state, was
represented by John c. Nicholson OF
Newton state claim agent; and also
by Edward C. Colladay of Hutchinson.
member of local law firm employed
by Mr. Nicholson to assist In this case
In 1897 the New England Emigrant
Aid society, almost despalrlng OF ever
collecting the claim. which had been
continuously in congress since the
Thirty-seventh congress, or the year
1851 assigned the claim to the regents
of the university.
The court of claims FOUND all the
facts alleged to be correct, and the
clerk certified the same to the congress
iust about a year ago. Since then eff
forts have been made by Senator Long
ara other Kansens to secure it's pay
ment. No good opportunity was pre-
sented until this session, when the
house of representatives decided to
have an omnibus claims bill. into which
when it reaches the senate, the total
claim may GO
This viii be quite an addition to the
university funds, and will also settle
after more than so years, claim grow
ing out of the bitter terrlforiai days
ubich was founded on Justice Credit
belongs to former United States Sena-
tor Harris. to Senators Long and Cur
tis. and to state Agent Nicholson and
Mr. Colladay his assistant, for the prom
| Use of favorable outcome that the case
now presents.