The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-03-12
g Payment Of
Wales Claim
Fhi WIN Be Made-c Congressman
ark o. Florida, VIII Repre-
sent claimant.

..|"'| H|-tAAN. ~ ~ 10y NAAhtHN - 49,
4 Walles. who has for lengthy PEI
od held q claim against the State the
sal.iity 81 which cannot be questioned
Is view Of its repeated authentieation
bg various governors and congressman,
and whose work in this connection re-
suited II the payment by the govern
nect into the treasury OF the State OF q
sun ogzreeating 81. O89, 1885.
"A determined effort viii Be made at
The forthcoming session. which con
venes April 6, 10 collect this claim, and
Che claimant has employed Congress
yen Clark, Of the Second district, one
81 The abLest lawyers in the State, 10
push the matter, and q brief has been
prepared which is nov being mailed to
the various members Of the legislature
setting forth the salient features of.the
case.
The legislature Of 1877 authorized the
Governor Of Florida 20 appoint an agent
90 settle the claims Of the State against
che United States government growing
out Of the Indian hostihties from the
year t8l9 20 1857 inclusive.
10 was on June ~, 1879, that Governor
George r. Drew wrote a letter 70 Col.
s. 4. WALES expressing satisfaction
with certain work for the State that
Col Wales had been employed to do
and informing him that the State had
decided 70 employ him as the State
agent TO collect the Indian war claim.
Three conditions were attached to this
proposed employment first, that Col.
WALES should associate with hun Col.
IA. X. Beard. q citizen Of the State;
cecond, that Col WALES should pay all
expenses incident 10 work, and third,
that his compensation should be Is per
cent of the amount collected The re-
suit was that Col. WALES accepted the
err li0ymeEt and kept continuously at II
twenty years, oncounterinR and sur
81 jntlug many difficulties IN the way OF
q lctiOn and spending OF his own funds
mount above $50, 600 in the mean
ito say nothing Of bis own labor
,ss1ded IN the effort until the sum was
eventually paid into the State treasury.
NEVER PAID A PENNY.
So far Col. Wales has never received
ohs cent Of compensation Tor bis serVi-
ces. The legislature Of 1903 voted him
en- appropriation Of $25.O0 in eOmpen-
sati0n, bat this amount has remained
from that date IN the State treasury
subject 70 bis call, Il is true, butspurn.
Cd BIZ him as beng totally inadequate
and insufficient 10 cover the actual ex-
penge Of the cost Of collection, and even
though the claimant is now in poverty
lho vial not accept this sop, az Il were,
contending for the full amount pledged
him under solemn contract with the
State. ~
In the brief which has been fled By
ne attorneys for Col Wales II Is sta
Ted there are two ways 70 settle the |
matter. One Is for the legislature 20 |
carry out the contract as made by Gov |
Drew By apprOpriating S163, 373. % 10 /
the payment Of the claim, this being Is |
per cent of the total amount Of cash, /
ard States obligations placed in the |
States treasury through his efforts, or /
b. enacting appropriate legislation per-
hitting Col. Wales 10 90 into the |
courts with his claim to decide between /
him and the State
IT cited In the brief that Il n con-
trary 10 the law Of Florida 10 sue the /
State without the consent Of the legis- |
lature, and further that this matter |
Phoud be settled speedily and finally In /
justice 20 ell concerned. IL Is averred |
that The plain duty Of the legislature /
under the express terms Of the contract |
e 10 pay Col Wales the rs per cent Of /
the 81, Qeo, 1880, which Il the amount
recovered from tbs federal government, /
Is this b what the courts would proba- |
BY decree between persona, and that
tie State should BE- a. iuat aa che courts I
Woub require Individuals % BE-. The