The New York herald., 1868-08-29
TIE BOUNTY FRAUDS.
Further Developments-Il0wt the Claim Agents
were Intcrcsted-The Manner in which the
Negro soldiers were Assisted by the Rndi.
cnl..

Further Deveiopmcnts-Il0w the Claim Agents
were Intercsted-The Manner in which the
| Negro soldiers were Assisted by the Rndi.
| cnls.
WASHINGTON, August %, 1858.
AS there is now fair prospect Of the Lincon Con-
| gressona or some other committee going into the
investigation OF the picking and stealing that has
| been carried on so long in the settlement Of the
claims OF coored soldiers. 1t will perhaps not be
amiss to aid them in their labor with all the informa
ton obtainabe In the matter. Since the suggestions
made by your correspondent on the cath inst few
other important points, bearing directly upon the
subject under investigation, have transpired.
In the first place, there were several clerks OF the
Second Auditors Office who were summoned to
testify before the committee, but having been ex-
cused from examination at the time they appeared,
on one plea another, Congress adjourned, and the
committee quit work before they had oppor
tunity to dsburden their minds. This result may
have been foreseen by the aforesaid reluctant clerks
it is well known IN the Auditors office that these
gentlemen would much prefer being promoted to
telling tales their superiors but be that as 1t may
these clerks known to be observant individuals
and have 1t in their power to entertain the com.
mtee with many interesting little stories concern
ing the nodus oDerdndi OF liquidating colored
claims. The committee should not fail to
examine them. Among the valuable Information in
the possession OF the excused clerks they could
plain TO the committee how 1t has been for long
time past q standing order in the Auditors Office
and up to certain time it had beenlrIgidly enforced,
that no agent or attorney In the prosecution and
collection Of soldiers bounties and arrears was
authorized to delegate or assign his authority to any
other agent attorney without the express consent
| Of the claimant. violation OF this order by any
auditing clerk was regarded as sufficient cause for
| dismissal. A few months ago, however, q great
many OF the Auditors clerks were surprised to find
| this peremptory order suddenly relaxed. few OF
them were not at all surprised but all OF them were
| taught TO mind their own business along with the
| rudments OF their clerical education, 30 they
merely looked astonished and said nothing
| What tended TO increase the mystery sur
| rounding this sudden relaxing Of the Official
clamps was the fact that 1t was done In favor OF two
leading firms OF claim agents here. both firms being
| famous Grand Army republicans. These two enter
claim agents In the city In all such claims as require
to be prosecuted In the ONCE OF the Second Auditor
and these sales OF claims to the two firms indicated
| were made without the consent OF the claimants.
One OF these firms paid claim agent OF this city
| $4,000 for claims Of the kind mentioned. Thus two
the business in the Auditors ONCE and an official
printed list OF the OF oil the agents and attor-
who were 1ougn on nm n win a IN, me
| OF the office, and the attention OF the
Clerks was authoritativey called to the an
a heinous ofYence for any clerk to send the certin.
Gates of pay bounty to any other claim agent than
the monopoists One witness Is prepared TO testify,
il called upon, that on occasion lieutenant who
was residing at Prairie du Chen WIS.,, being here on
business applied IN person =. ,ne Aas ana @o
| months previously he had employed claim agent in
Wisconsin TO prosecute small claim ne mad against
| the government, and this agent engaged the ser.
vices OF one Of the monopolizing firms OF this city.
When the certificates Of pay for when the lieutenant
had applied himself were ready ne was tod tnat they
would be sent TO the monopollsts Ihis was M tne GUS
tom, In order 10 10 the agent the fees Tor col
lection. The officer earnestly protested against such
a proceeding He said that he never employed the
monopolists-did not know them. Notwlth.
| standing hts protest, the certincates were sent
| 10 the Wisconsin room, with orders 70 recog
nize only the Washington nrm. The clerk navinR
charge OF the Wisconsin room at hrst objected 10
comply with the order giving as his reasons Tor so
dong that the Washington agents dld not appear az
having rendered any service In the case and be-
| cause " was IN direct violation OF standing oruei
In the Bureau. This clerk was severely reprmandeu
l0r MS onciousness, and was Obliged 10 yieu one.
dience to the order. Thus the washington claim
agents received fee they never earned ana the ON
GER was compelled to pay for service which he MIN
self performed.
The committee would also do well to call for the
leuers on ME IN the Bureau, written by Responsible
persons In the SOUTH stating how the negro soldiers
tnere were being swinded by the running agents Oh
| connection with the agents OF the Freedmen's Bu
| reau. These agents combined induced the
negroes 10 believe that their principals enjoyed pc
cuar facilities for the prosecution OF claims In the
Second AUDITORS oiice and induced them TO sell
tnelr claims Tor 500 bounty for $50, took the ne.
gIoes notes ior tloO with the understanding entered
INTO win the Freedmen's Bureau agents that when
the bounty OF 500 was paid II should he paid TO the
claim agents In cancellation OF the note The Audi
tors Office did not neglect the Information given In
| these letters; they were referred to the Commits
si0ner OF the Freedmens Bureau with the request
going on yet n is supposed, as nothing has been
| heard the matter since.