PAYING FOR PAST WARS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11326, 2 October 1930, Page 2

PAYING FOR PAST WARS

£l2 CLAIM FROM 1812. ARGUMENT THAT MAY NEVER . END. Although America is very interested in determining who is to pay for t last war, there are still 'some lively arguments .progressing in that country as to who ‘shall pay lor Civil War , liabilities, and .even some incurred in the war of 1812 agamst Great Britain, say:, the Washington correspondent of the British United Tress. 'J he Attorney-General of New York State has received an audited claim for <58.67 -dollars (about £l2l, winch was originally lodged by a soldier, Carlos Carter, who fought in the war of 1812. and who sought reimbursement for wearing his own clothes through the campaign. Forty-seven years later the State legislature passed'a- Bill recognising such claims and providing for payment, and the claim for the 38.07 dollars was' duly put forward and approved. But there'was a’ “joker” m the bill; a stipulation that the claims ay soldiers should only be met “when the State of New York received moneys from the Government of the United States." The “joker” is still in operation, for no money lias been received hy New York State and Carlos Carter’s claim, along with hundreds of others, is still unsatisfied Elsewhere, in the august hails oi the Congress, a battle is going on a* to who should pay for damages during tho American Civil War of 1861-186-5. During General Sherman’s famous “march to the sea” his declaration “War is TIcll.” was underlined by the destruction of Columbia. .South Carolina, by fire, and vitb.it. tbo Washington Street Methodist Church and the Catholic .Ursujuie Convent of Columbia. And now Senator Blease. of South Carolina, is trying to get * a J.i!i through Congress to secure payment for tho damage done to the church and tho convent, having been given heart by tHe fact that the Senate recently passed a Bill providing for damages to a Church which bad boon burned in Alabama during the Civil War more than sixty-five years ago. How seriously the Senator regards tho matter can be judged by the fact that lie has supported Ins' 17-'lll 7 -'ll with a mass of evidence which fill' s forty-five pages of small typo. . .Unfortunately, thy re is a serious d'.iferenco of opinion as to who burned Columbia. If General Sherman, Commander of a Union Army did it, Senator -Blease mav win, .but- Shwman himself accused tho ; G’onfederalos of starting, the fire when they, o vacua tod the town, and ,it appears that the argument may never, never end • , . - .. ..v ,