Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-25

fed; making the matter one of trust,
against which no statutory limitations
can apply. The heirs hold that the obli-
CATION is a debt of the government and
that the 14th amendment to the constitu-
ton explicitly sets forth that the public
debt, authorized by law, shall never be
questioned-that is, shall never be extln-
guished by limitation or reputation, but
shall run until paid.
In 1871 there was still 10000 acres OF
land in the reserved district, held subject
to the warrants OF revolutionary of1cers
and soldiers, and this land was transfer
red to the state. of Ohio. When Wash
ington died, as is shown by his will, ne
believed himself worth $5So,O0O. But when
his estate was settled there was only
$124OOO realized, aside from the lands not
sold Much of this shrinkage rs represent
ed by the loss of the Ohio lands.
The heirs are not asking that they be
put in possession of the lands which once
belonged to the estate. Neither are they
asking the government to pay them what
the lands are now worth in their highly
improved condition. If they did, their
claim would amount to millions. They
simply ask that they be paid what the
broken forest-s1aO per acre, or 1905, 100 in
all. There is little prospect Of the claim
being granted at this, session of congress,
as that body is now trying to economic.
The government took good care Of
most of the other Revolutionary heroes.
General Lawson got 10000 acres of land'
Peter Muhlenburg received $4,000 acres,
Daniel Morgan was assigned $4,000
acres, General Steuben was granted
Is. 900 acres and an annuity of $4,000 Tor
life. General Lafayette was given 1l'52O'
acres/of land at one time, and later a
whole township. He was also given
5000, 900 in gold at one time. and $4,000
at another Arnold Henry Dohrman,
whose name Is not familiar to the aver
age American, was given $4,000 acres.
In all these cases it was a pure gratuity.
In the case of the Washington estate
the heirs are simply asking that what
was washington's in law and equity be
restored to them. Washington never &C
cepted foot \of land or a dollar of
money for his services, and yet even
the land he acquired by purchase was
not protected in his possession.
-
Heroes of war usually have Jared we'll
at the hands of their countrymen, finan-
cially as we'll as otherwise. And they
have never, except in the case of Wash
ington, refused the financial return that
has gone with the reward of honor and
affection. /Englend has always been lib
eral to it's heroes. After Waterloo the
Duke of wellington was given the estate
at Strathf1eldsaye, valued at more than
$1,000, 900. Lord Wolseley received
1925, 900 for the completion of the
Ashanti campaign. Sir Hugh Gordon and
Sir Colin Campbell each received a lifo
annuity of $4,000 for services rendered
by them. Lord Roberts received $780,
600 for his South African services, and
Lord Kitchener $15O,0O0. The expresi-
dents of the French republic receive an
annuity of $4,000.
1t must not be presumed, however,
that the Washington case is the only
just claim that is pending against the
government. The aggregate face value
of the unsatisf1ed claims amounts to a
shade less than $4,000, 00O, 900. Per-
haps half of these might be considered
improper or questionable claims. OF
the others, perhaps half might be scaled
down at least so per cent But the
others! What tragedies are looked up in
the records of those claims. Estates
lost, people beggared. hopes deferred
and hearts made sickl However just
the claim there is always years of heart
breaking delay. and in many cases the
grim spectres that haunt the halls of
congress tell bitter tales of defeat, des-
pair and starvation.
Who has not heard of the famous red
apple lobbyist? For years and years he
camped in the corridors of the capitol
with red apples for statesmen. The
Federal troops had transformed his
orchards and gardens into military en-
bankments for the fertilization of Wash
ington. Congress gave him a few hun
dred dollars, but only enough to empha-
size the injustice. Then one house voted
him new relief, but congress expired be-
fore the other branch voted on the meas
, ure. Six times one branch or the other
approved his claim, but only once did
both approve during the same session.
This time 1t went to the president, but
congress expired before he signed the
bill. Despalring of relief at the hands
of congress he sought a laborer's job in
one of the departments. He got tenn
porary appointment that soon ended.
And now the red apple lobbyist is out in
the cold of a Washington winter. He Is
old, sick and sorrowful. He is keeping
body and soul together by selling news
papers.