Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 7.pdf/435

Rh was continued until all the claims were audited. On the 2d day of December, 1850, the territorial Legislature memorialized Congress for an appropriation equal to "the sum estimated by the 'Commissioner on Cayuse War claims.' " Claims to the amount of $87,230.53 had then been audited and the Commissioner estimated the probable expense of the war at $150,000. On February 14, 1851, Congress appropriated $100,000 for this purpose. By February 3, 1854, claims to the amount of $96,775.41 had been paid. On December 17, 1853, the territorial Legislature, by joint resolution, requested its "delegate in Congress to urge upon Congress the propriety and justice of the further appropriation of $75,000" to pay the cost of the war and the expense necessarily incurred in determining such cost. On July, 27, 1854, Congress appropriated the "further sum of $75,000 to pay the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the Provisional Government of Oregon in defending the people of said Territory from the attacks and hostilities of Cayuse Indians, and for such allowances for the expenses of adjusting the claims on that account as the Secretary of the Treasury may deem proper not exceeding $5 per day to each commissioner." By the terms of this act the claims had to be presented in the next fiscal year. However, on March 3, 1857, the time for presenting claims was extended. Through these two appropriations the people of Oregon were fairly well reimbursed for the financial losses sustained in the prosecution of the Cayuse War."