492 COMPTROLLER. [ART. 19

all cases where said claims accrued prior to and including the
year 1902, and whether said claims be in the form of judgment
or otherwise; and for the purpose of closing all such cases the
comptroller is fully authorized to compromise the same by
abating the interest that has accrued, or any portion thereof,
or any part of the principal debt, in his discretion, so as to best
subserve the interest of the State, and shall grant discharge to
said parties and their sureties upon the payment into the
treasury of the amount required by him to be paid in settle-
ment as aforesaid; the comptroller shall be satisfied, after
thorough examinations into the claims, that the same could not
be collected by the State by legal process; and further, that the
governor and treasurer for the time being shall each approve,
in writing, any such abatement before the same shall be
effected; and provided, further, that no discharge or acquittance
under this section shall be effective unless the party or parties
to be benefited shall first pay the attorneys who shall have the
case in hand the legal fees and all fees of clerks and sheriffs.

1888, art. 19, sec. 38. 1884, ch. 116, sec. 2.

38. For the purpose of bringing all unsettled balances due
the State to a speedy settlement, the comptroller is directed to
employ such attorney or attorneys as in his judgment will best
subserve the interest of the State.

Ibid. sec. 39. 1884, ch. 116, sec. 3..

39. In all cases where the comptroller shall require the
services of an attorney or attorneys to assist him in executing
section 37 of this article, he may allow such attorney or attor-
neys, as compensation, a commission of ten per cent, on any
State claim such attorney or attorneys may collect or assist him
in collecting, where the amount of such claim does not exceed
the sum of five hundred dollars, and a commission of five per
cent, on all sums which such attorney or attorneys may collect
or assist in collecting as aforesaid, where the claim exceeds the
sum of five hundred dollars.

Ibid. sec. 40. 1884, ch. 116, sec. 4.

40. Whenever any claim of the State shall be compromised
or settled by the comptroller, without payment in full, he shall
make and keep among the records of his office a statement of
the evidence or facts upon which such settlement was made.