Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-24

Iowa ........... l Texas .......... 4
Louisiana. Virginia ........
Maryland ......... 4 West Virginia ...... 8
Massachusetts. ..... Wisconsin. -.
michigan ......./a -
Mississippi ........ 8 Total. l08
No effort is mado by Democrats, how
ever to dispute the correctness of
this estimate, except by the statement that
Randalrs friends do not expect to secure
this large vote until after several votes
shall have been taken. Randall's large
following at the south is explained as fol-
ticians are of opinion it will
be perilous to party success to
reopen the tariff controversy; Second. be-
cause the repeal of the whisky and tobac-
CO taxes, which, is an important vote of
the Randalrs programme, is universally
popular in the south. Bat there is no
abundant ground for the belief that every
where in the south the prospect of
free whisky land tobacco is more
alluring to the masses than the
hope of free goods. It is comprehended
more readily among people who are de-
prived of public schools. Randall foresaw
the efficacy of such an appeal when he
adopted it, and the free trade preachers of
the south will not be able to hold in check
the pander to popular craze.
IWestern Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23.-Upon the recon-
mendatiop of commissioners of pensions
the secretary of the interior has ordered
the sus pension of the following named
pension attorneys: J. R. Colby, Rockford,
Me-; Francis Register, Philadelphia VIM
II. Druen, Philadelphia; Milo B. Stevens
& Co., Cleveland, Washington, Detroit and
Chicago and William H. Wells g. Co.,
Washington, and James Russell u c., Tren
ton, N. j. The commissioner recommend
ed that the above named be debarred. Sus-
pension, however, is preliminary to dis
barrment if the charges are proven.
DISHONEST PENSION CLAIM AGENTS.
The following letter of District Attorney
Corkhill is the first step in a movement on
the part of the government to put stop
to the pratices of dishonest pension claim
agents. In the course decided upon.Attor-
ney General Brewster, Secretary Teller and
Commissioner Dudley werecordially united
Col. Corkhill is very DESTROYS that all sol
diers or others having copies of deceptive
circulars from agents in this city or kuowl-
edge of any fraudulent transactions on
their part should so far interest them
selves in this attempt of the authorities to
protect soldiers and their families as to
send him oil the information, to the end
that each case may be put In shape by
special agents for legal prosecution.
U. S. DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. %.
Hon. Henry M. Teller, secretary of the
Ioterior-Sir: Some days ago had an
interview with Hon. W. w. Dudley, com
missioner of pensions, in regard to a num-
Der complaints 1 have been receiving for
some time concerning the methods en-
ployea by certain attorneys or claim
agents in this city, in the presentation and
prosecution of claims for pensions filed in
the pension Office. beg to say have
since been making a careful examination
of allegations from various persons re-
garding the subject, and have become sat
isfed the grand jury of this district
should give these complaints
thorough investigation, so that innocent
men may not be subject to unjust imputa-
tions and the guilty may be brought to
answer the charges made against them. I
have consulted with Attorney General
Brewster upon this subject, and recited to
him in brief the charges. He has directed
me to proceed to full and exhaustive ex-
animation of the complaints and assures
me shall have the earnest cooperation
and assistance of the department of JUS
tice and its officers. The character of the
enormous frauds which are being perpe-
trated upon the applicants for pensions
by certain claim agents in Washington,
will, if the allegations are sustained by
evidence, surprise the public. The devices
employed are as numerous as the
skill of dishonest men can contrive. Some
cases before me are heartrending in their
details. Manned and deorepit soldiers
and widows and helpless orphans of SOL
diers pay their pittanoe of one, two, four
or ten dollars to agents who must know
their claims are worthless and can never
be paid, and these agents merely file an
formal application TO enable them to col
lect money from their deluded clients. If
the present law is inadequate to prevent
such transactions, congress should pro-
vide an efficient remedy. l am sure
you Will agree with me that some
action should be taken. In order to pro-
coed effectively l shall need the assistance
of the pension offica in the investigation,
and l have, therefore, the honor to re-
quest you will direct the commissioner of
pensions to detail an examiner to report
to me for temporary service, with author
ity to investigate all claims in connection
with which charges are made against attor-
neys, and to specially examine such cases
as shall desire to present to the grand
jury for their consideration and action.
The persons defrauded are poor and COM
poratively helpless, and form a class to
whom the country owes special protection.
If the representations made to me con-
corning the devices used to defraud
them of their little earnings are true, they