Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March ga
writer by the pseudonym Justice"
has published a letter to correct some
alleged errors about claim agents.
Though the communication was dated
Memphis, March end, 1880, the let
ter which perturbs his sense Of "jus-
tice" was published March 18th. So
it took a notice of ten days to have his
attention called to the wal claim let
ter ofyour correspondent. III thought
this pseudonymous writer actuated by
a d~isinterested sentiment, | might
give him a lecture. But it may be
that psychologists originated in Wash
ington, and has reference to the well
being and continued well pay
of the claim agents. Ten days
elapsed before Justice" had the
psychologists, and it is doubtless true
that he caught the disease in Wash
ington. Possibly the name he as
sumes suits his purposes better
than the name by which he is known.
He may be a man, a wise man, PROB
ably a statesman, but he is also an
impudent man when he attempts to
gull any intelligent person with the
assurance that special agents, carpet
bag claim agents, peripatetic thieves,
who have for years preyed upon the
interests of the southern people, are
pure, stainless and sinless. Not only
are these assurances absurd, but they
are insulting to the intelligence Of the
public, and | hope that the most lib
eral charity will ascribe no worse
motive than stupidity to that writer. |
hope for the sake of his seeming SIN
certify hat he is not a claim agent.
If 80 | trust he will give a
list of the claims he has had, the
amount of money he has collected and
the fees he has obtained. | demand
that he show who in Washington has
been his congressional lobbyists, and
the consideration usually given for
such work, The present house of
representatives is democratic, and the
war claims committee, in addition to
the republican, has the following dem
ocratic members: Gen. e. S. Bragg.
Of Wisconsin. II. w. Robertson az
Louisiana; Gibson Atherton, Of Ohio;
Gideon 7. Rothwell, of Missouri;
Phil. B. Thompson, jr., of Kentucky,
and Q. B. Simonton, Of Tennessee
As to the fraudulent character oil
these war claims, the action ofthoc com
mittee needs no endorsement. How
ever this chief Justice" of opinions
says "as to the fact that Of a larger
number of allowances for East thar
for West Tennessee, there are two
very good reasons" Now listen Ia
his two reasons, for he adds: There
is a much larger proportion Of the
citizens of East Tennessee who are
able to make proof required blythe acI
of congress governing the settlement
Of war claims" This is true, for the
people, much larger proportion OF thC
citizens of East Tennessee was Iowa
and hence can make this the most i'm.
portant proof necessary to receiv,
compensation. So Justice, you hav,
unconsciously admitted that there 81
amuch larger proportion Of fraudu
lent claims originating in Yves
Tennessee, and yet you thinl
all the claim agents exemplars oil
epotlesS integrity. Do you %seriousl
think this? Do you expect tn
LEDGER readers to believe this? d.
you presume thatI am ignorantof you
true name, and the real interest tina
has actuated you to the publication q
your letter?
Now, the people Of Memphis viii
read this letter Tuesday, March Both
Let us see how and how long it wi
be before the paper reaches you, an
how long it will be before your Eat
tention is called to the publication;
and please tell us why your attention
should be called thereto; and why 70.
have been selected or constituted t
make a reply; and tell me now wha
will you charge to collect a judgmen
against one of these honest CLAIM
agents2 Come up and let mo know, 0
you will hear something more iron
this correspondent. And you say tina
"for the last two years there hav
been a larger number ofspecial agent
OF the quartermaster's department 70
the taking Of evidence and investiga
ton Of claims on duty in east Tennes
see, this being chiefly due to the prev
alence Of the yellow fever in 1877
aud 1879 in this section Of the state
In 1873 the first case of yellow feyeI
10 Memphis, Mrs. Kate Bionda, cor
ner Of Front and Adams streets, wa
officially noted by the board Of health
August 18th, and the euidemic wal