The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-04-09

Ahb ktlotl ctl8uIlttf0 INTO senate BIB
duced By Senator Jackson, which was enacted into CHAP
5C34 Laws Of 1907
Governor BrOWard appointed sc members of ihs Com
mission created BY the Act Of 1907 Hen Chas ~ Davis
Of Madison County; Hon. j w. Knight, Citrus County
and Hon. j. II. Haryel Santa Rosa County. Thesa Coa
missoneFs have ed Comprehensive report setting ont
claims which had been submitted 70 them Of TIE face value
Of $780, which, with interest nom Jan l. 1858 would
now amount to approximately two hundred. Thousand
dOars Said report will be submitted BY SPECIAL mes
for the information Of the Legislature In said report
1t is made clear that the claims which are now being
pressed against the State for alleged services auhss
enee, forage etc rendered during the Indian Of
1855, 49, 81 should not be sOped f TIE rcasOR thet
such claims not used By the State Of FOTtda y
making itS claim against the government Of che TASTED
States and not G0Ced AID paid By The OoUermesf
Of the United States to the State Of Florida
The Commission Of 1907 delegated one Of its members
Hon. j. W. knight to proceed to Washington to obtain
what evidence and data he could with regard to the
statement Of the account between the state Of Florida
and the United States government for Indian war
services in the years 1856 49, 6 and Mr. knight made
report to the Commission which clearly illuminated the
real status Of the present day claims Mr. Knight Says
~ went to Washington strongly believing that some II
not ALL the claims which being made against the
State for services subsistence forage transportation
etc. had been included in the statement by the State Of
Florida against the United States government and
therefore felt that the State Treasury held money that
really belonged to many not ALL Of these claimants Z
but upon investigation made as indicated above Derv
concluded that these items amounts and claims had
not been included IN the account made By the State
against the National Government
II seems from the evidence on file in the Capitol that
during the years of the Indian hOses 1855 49, 49,
there certain companies organized under the author
ty Of the State government for the purpose Of sup
pressing such hOsites which companies we're IN regular
form received and enrolled in the service Of the United
States Payment Of these regularly enrolled companies
was made by the State and such payments afterwards
became the basis Of the States claim against the United
States government.
It appears further from evidence on Ae in the Capitol
that there other companies in the nature Of Home
Guards with various numbers Of citizens members and
with less regular organizations which companies
however, received enrolled recognized
in the service Of the State Of the United States IT,
appears that after the suppression Of Indian hOstea
large number OF State warrants were issued aecOun
Of the alleged services rendered by such irregular
panies and there are public and official charges Of fraud
having existed in the issue Of such warrants is evil
denced by the official documents which have been sub
mtted to former Indian War Claims Commissions and to
former Legislatures.
It seems to be settled from the records Of all the officers
and commissions that such claims form part Of the
basis Of settlement between the State Of Florida and
the United States government which concluded and
adjusted in 1902 and that the State of Florida has not
received from the United States government any money
which should be used in payment Of such claims.
The amount refunded to the State simply reims'
busement Of money actually paid out, and claim not
actually paid in cash by the State allowed in such
settlement There probably exceptional case that
Of Lieutenant Alderman Carlton to which your attention
will be invited This is not part Of the Williams
rants The claims represented by the Williams warrants
Blue Scrip all rejected by the United States
government and the State never received a cent on
account Of such claims from the government froany
other source.
The warrants upon which these numerous claims are
based issued by Comptroller r. G. Williams under
an Act Of the General Assembly approved February s.
1861.
The Constitutional Convention in session on July q,
1862 adopted Ordinance No. co. as follows: "Be It or
daned by the people Of the State Of Florida in
ton assembled That the Act Of the General Assembly
nnnrnved Eehrnnry 1861 and entitled Can Act 70 pro