Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-13
SOUTH MAY Be PAID FOR
C0NFIsCATED COTTON
Judge Bartlett of Georgia May
Secure the Millions Now in
the Treasury

WASHINGTON. d. C.. June lO.-Per-
sons who have given thought and study
10 the matter believe that the southern
people are in the way OF getting from
the government the millions in the
treasury. that represent the proceeds Of
cotton that was seized in the southern
states after the close Of the civil war.
The thanks OF the claimants are due to
Judge Charles L. bartlett. or the Sixth
Georgia district. for an enabling amend
ment. which may restore this money 10
the heirs Of IT'S rightfui owners
Judge Baruetts amendment, which is
now law. gives she court OF claims Ju-
rlsdiction over ali claims for cotton
taken BY the government during this pc
Rod. and there is now in the treasury
millions OF dollars rightfully belonging
to southern people.
The question OF loyalty does not enter
into The adjudication Of the cotton claims.
but the people of the south should not
confuse the cotton claims with the mis-
cellaneous war claims. that have been
pending in the court Of claims and be-
fore congress for many, many years
Claude n. Bennett. formerly OF Geor-
gla. who is AT the head OF the congress
sional information bureau, has made an
exhaustive study OF the cotton claims
question he Is probably the best posted
man IN Washington as 10 the method or
procedure In these cases. and is now
giving many OF the claims his personal
attention
49, CLAUDE BENNETT TALKS.
IN discussing the cotton claims. Mr..
Bennett today said:
Through the initiative Of Judge Bart
lett, OF the sixth Georgia district, con-
gress at its last session placed under the
jurisdiction OF the court Of claims ali
claims for cotton taken by the federal
government after the close OF the civil
war. There is now in the treasury mil
lions OF dollars which are the proceeds
from the sales OF such cotton This forms
hut a small part OF the cotton actually
taken Many OF the government agents
kept their records inaccurately- In many
Instances il has been impossible TO
trace the cotton 10 the person from
whom IL was taken. In some cases Il has
only been possible to follow II as part
ola large quantity composed OF seevral
lots mingled together
The sales were made at semi-monthly
intervals between July. 1855. and Octo-
Lar. 1886 After each sale the proceeds
we're deposited in the National Bank OF
Commerce. Of New York. which was
United States depository. and transferred
from time TO time TO the sub-treasury
Al New York The funds were finally
covered into the treasury as receipts
from captured and abandoned property
This cotton brought around % cents q
mound. or $50 a bsie-in some cases
more in some less. The various eX-
penses OF the handling and selling Il
amounted 20 something ike 50 or 80
hale. The amount IN the treasury covers
the net proceeds
<sF4eretotore il has been impossible 70
recover this money. II Is now believed
that upon proper proofs made through
proper procedure, il can be recovered
with reasonable promptness- The gov
eminent records viii be the proofs chif-
II relied upon
LOYALTY NOT QUESTIONED.
s..Iu the collection OF these claims the
question Of loyalty TO the union does
~ enter The chief difficulty IN col
1ecrinr most southern claims has been
the necessity Of proving that the claim
ant was loyal TO the union This mas oeen
particularly difficult because In most
eases the claimant was not loyai-1ne
better southerner he was the less lAely
was he 70 be loyal TO the union in those
ararlous DAYS Some good day when
congress is IN generous mood and patrt-
osfc enough TO recognize that the south
e arafn the hest part OF the union. Il
ne remove the loyalty clause so that
without regard TO loyalty all worthy
claims OF which there is proper PROOF
can be collected
but these claims for cotton taken
after the war should not be confused
With the great raft OF miscellaneous war
claims. many OF which cannot be collect
ed. Many people-as shown by inquiries
"a members Of congress and TO the con-
gfessionaI information bureau-have the
idea that the legislation OF last session
made possible the quick cohecuon OF
an var claims In several instances
claimants have sent in requests 10 col
Sect the money and send II to them oy
next week.