New-York tribune., 1869-03-30
THE BOUNTY CLAIM SWINDLES.

FRAUDS on COLORED TROoPs-sTARTLING DE-
YELoPMESTs-A SCHEME FOR THE WHOLE
SALE PLUMBER OF THE TREASURY.
A few days ago the Second Auditor OF the
Treasury reported to the Chairman OF the Senate Com
mttee on Pensions the result OF his Investigations In
gard to the fraudulent practices Of claim agents in tho
collection of bounty and pensions due to coOred yolun
teers The report was published In THE TRIBUNE OF tho
2eth inst, and is to this effect:
The headquarters Of the fraudulent claim ,ge9i, 'pp..r 70 be
in an. 1sq. ,S.q. h'"Ps ''pS'sss Ss r s'" f5. os}
who conducted ihs inys'ig,ioa tOot with him to MS@;
for collection and found that nearly every one was Fraudulent VIZ
tbe wow bad never them married aa hd
been the places shsre the naIag were said to hls been
hunters and bad been paid from TO 80 Tor each psfs nl - r
epo ssepi a. Memphis ss zach one CLERK acting as deputy cauy
CLERK for .ss paos Of sdmasHS M oAIss 70 is a' ,sG ss
them they had managed nonsous ssiem cf ssnlg
suo was not able to ehsoi frauds, bat by daiehnS iru
ss! 70 The principal & ss S u sbs be S .ea" oo .
rumber Of claims amodntng Soo In the Views
took prevent farther frauds upon bis department
Yesterday afternoona representative OF THE TRIBUNE
had an interview with n gentleman lately an oniee-
holder nt washington, who made the fooWng statement
proyoked by the report above-aluded to:
Before the bill was passed allowing pension and bounty
70 eoored volunteers the late war our Informant Mr.
* was approached by an ex MajOrGeneral, who invited
him to enter into money-maMnR scheine WHICH nc
sad required Investment OF $4,000 on the part OF Mr.
y.
the General told Mr. X that 1t consisted In purchasing
the claims OF coloied soldiers for bounty
Mr. X-But there Is no Law granting either pension or
bounty TO cOlOred troops.
Maj -GenTrue. But such law will soon be passed.
and unless take time by the f0rcock the field will be
occupied by thousand agents. and our opportunities
Mr.. x-what better opportunity have we than any.
Major Gc,,-I have already been promised by -
| OF the profits IN consideration OF services.
Afr. X.-What becomes OF tho balancei
M0dof-I Ip11- 4 van iuye
ar. &-That' three nfths. How about the other
Major. Gen.-They divided equally between -
- Gust appointed Governor Of one ~ the Terr0rcsl
and -, United States official at covingtOn, KY
| Mr. X.-And what do You expect to make
Bor Gen.-some In the neghborhood OF $500 600
Major Gen-The ignorant blacks who have served in
the army especially those who enlisted in kentucky aud
anything IN fact, they do not know that they have any
claims against the Government We proposelo 10 send ont
agents aud buy up their discharge papers ut expense
OF from 81 SO EACH procure the necessary documents
TO accompany them, and send them all to ne proper
officer at Washington, who will not delay In l9uidatiug
the claims, and pOcketing his share OF the pront
Mr. Xlistened with patience to elaborate explanation
OF the PLAN learnedI the and position Of
gentleman who expected to take part In tho fraud
and ITS proceeds, and them according TO his statement
refused TO have anything whatever TO do with th,
business.
II is not deemed advisable at this time to make public
the names OF the parties TO this projected fraud fo
reasons which are sufficiently obvious When fhe proper
time comes that u.s. when adjudication ofai that has beer
omitted Of this affair shall not IN tend 10 deea
the ends OF justice the OF tile Interested parties
will be gwen. Whether the statement made by Mr
who is business Of repute Is true or false, we have
no means OF knowing II true IL inculpates gentleman
who has held an honorable position in the army anohc
who has occupied places Of trust aud responsibility io
many years. and third VINO ha. until very recently Dcei
tho recipient Of valuable favorS from the Government