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of the State's Indian War claims now
pending before Congress, in lieu of
S I. Walles.
[Seal] (Signed)
 HENRY L. MITCHELL,
Attest: Governor.
JNO. L. CRAWFORD,
 Secretary of State."
 "I am informed by the Secretary of
State that there is no other record
relative to the appointment of any
other person or persons as agent or
commissioner or otherwise on this
subject, as appears from the records
of his office.
 "I desire to advise you that on or
about the 21st of February, 1901, Mr.
W. E. Wailes, of Selma, Alabama,
came to my office, in Tallahassee,
Florida, and presented to me an
original memoranda dated June 9th,
1894, signed 'Henry L. Mitchell, Gov-
ernor,' attested, etc., above referred
to, and made application for a renewal
of such authority and the grant of
some authority to act as agent for the
State of Florida in the matter of the
State's Indian War claims then pend-
ing before Congress, which applica-
tion was then and there declined and
refused, and no authority whatever
was given to him, and has not been
granted to him or any other person
or persons by me.
 I desire to be advised of the vali-
 dity, power and effect of the above
 Instruments, and, therefore, have the
 honor to request that you furnish me
 with an opinion on this subject, cover-
 ing the following points, especially:
 (1) Did the powers and duties, if
 any, under the commission issued to
 S. I. Wailes cease upon the appoint-
 ment of W. E. Walles?
 (2) Does the appointment of W. E.
 Wailes carry with it the powers and
 duties set out at greater length in the
 commission issued to S. I. Wailes?
 (3) Is the commission issued to
 W. E. Wailee in force at this time?
 (4) If not, when did it expire,
 either by operation of its conditions,
 the operation of law or the constitu-
 tution;
 (5) Has the Governor the power
 to make such appointment, and, if so,
 would such appointment when made,


seat of government, who can give
neither money nor personal attention
to securing their rights.