Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-06-04

%~SeS 1&3s
Of Berkeley County, West Virgin
ia. Martinsburg, w. Va.
My Dear Sir:-Referring to the cor
respondence heretofore had with You
in relation to the claim of Berkeley
County against the United States for
use, occupation and damage o the
courthouse, Jail and other property Of
your county by the military forces of
the United States during the late
Civil War, beg to enclose D OF
bill introduced by me, together with
copies Of correspondence had with
Hon. Charles b. Law, chairman of the
Committee on War Claims Of the
House Of Representatives. Although
this claim was referred to the Court
Of Claims by a Senate resolution or
bill, and reported back to that body
by the court with its findings. yet It
is not included in the Senate. Omni-
bus Claims bill now pending in that
body.
My purpose in Introducing a spe-
cial bill for its payment I'M address,
ing the letter to the chairman of the
House Committee, was TO have that
committee amend the Senate bill when
1t to the House, by inserting a |
paragraph providing for its payment.
have followed up my letter with
personal arguments to the committee.
Mr.. Laws letter contains most graft
flying assurance that he will take
n~1pacura in uroino favorahIa aa+inr
and that it seems to be most meritor-
ious, and if it is to be paid, ought not
to be longer delayed.
| shall take great pleasure in fol-
lowing it up closely, and hope your
court may have the pleasure of re-
ceiving and applying the amount due
on your county Indebtedness incurred
in r~emodeling our courthouse. I am
Sincerely yours,
GEO. c. sTURGIsIs.
Mr.. Sturgiss introduced the follow
ing bill; which was referred to the
Committee on War laims and ordered
TO be printed:
A Bill.
For relief of the County Court IF
Berkeley County, West Virginia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Unit
ed States of America in Congress as
sembled, that the Secretary of the
Treasury be, and he is hereby. author
lied and directed to pay, out of any
money in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated, to the County Court of
Berkeley County, West Virginia. the
sum of seven thousand nine hundred
and twenty dollars, for the use and oc-
cupation of, and damage to, the court
house and Jail property OF said county
by the military forces of the United
States during the late Civil War; said
sum being the amount of the findings
of the Court of Claims in an opinion
filed May Is. 1905, as apears in Sen
ate document So, first session, 59th
Congress.
Washington, d. c., May IS, 1910.
Hon. Charles B. Law, Chairman House
Committee on War Claims.
Dear Sir:-The United States Court
OF Claims delivered an opinion in May,
1905, in the claim of the County
Court of Berkeley County, West Vir-
ginia, against the United States for
the use and occupation of and damage
to the courthouse and jail property
of that county by the military forces
of the United States during the late
Civil War, finding that such use and
occupation and damage to said prop
erty were reasonably worth the sum
of seven thousand nine hundred and
twenty dollars 1920, the original
claim having been made for $13,733.
This allowance of $500, was in
cluded in the Senate Omnibus Claims
bill in the Sixtieth Congress, but was
not included in the bill recently re-
ported by the Senate Committee on
Claims.
More than forty-ive years have
elapsed since this claim originated.
! The county has been importuning Con-
gress to have this just debt ascertain
ed by the finding of a court of its own
creation, to be due for damage to the
county's property caused by its use
and occupation for war purposes. Thei
county suffered great loss during the
period of the Civil Wal by It's occu-
patton from time to time by the arm
les of the contending military forces.
in addition to the amount above spec
flied. The county has recently repair
ed and remodeled the courthouse, and
incurred a large debt for which the
County Commissioners are personally
liable because the debt is in excess of
the amount they may lawfully levy
and collect, though the necessity for
the work was very great and justified
by the condition and the taxpayers
have no disposition to impose this pep
atty on the County Commissioners.
The payment of the county's claim by
Congress would greatly relieve all
parties in interest.
Under all the circumstances | feel