davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
PENSION HARPIES.
How the Pension Claimants Swindled
by Pension Attorneys.


by Pension Attorneys.
Extracts from Speech Of Hon. Thomas NJ. Browne
The pension agent or attorney sends cir
cular into the various neighborhoods of the
United States, and obtains the names of all
the soldiers that he can find there They
give their names, companies, regiments,
places of residence, usually signing their
names to petitions asking Congress to pass
an equalization bounty bill or some other
measure in the interest of the soldier. The
petitions are returned to the claim agents in
this city, under the pretense that they are to
be sent by him to Congress- He transcrbes
on his books the list of names, etc., and then
he may send the petition to Congress. He
Immediately issues circular to each of these
soldiers, asking them to state the time and
place of their enlistment; how long they
served when they were dis
charged; whether during the time of
their service they were sick; if SO, what was
the matter; in what hospitals they were
treated, and, finally, their present condition
of health. Now, almost every soldier was
sick at some time, or disabled in some way,
during his service. The soldiers to whom
these circulars are sent fill up the blanks and
return them.
Then the agent or attorney sends them a
blank application for pension, stating that
upon the record which they have given the
attorney believes the soldier to be entitled to
a pension. A declaration is filled out and re-
turned. That declaration, when returned is
filed by the attorney in the Pension Bureau
and he gets an acknowledgment that the pen
sion claim has been filed, and that if any test
imony is wanted to support it the agent will
be notified The agent then sends the soldier
all the correspondence and asks him for So to
$5 as part of the fee allowed by law After
while, when the Pension Office reaches the
claim, it calls for more evidence, and the
pension agent then sends out for the addi-
tional evidence, and asks the payment OF
another installment OF the fee, which is paid.
From time to time they ask the payment of
these fees in installments until they get $40,
when, having all the fee the law authorizes
them to receive, they suddenly lose all in
terest in further prosecution of the claim.
But suppose the claim to be allowed
Their entire fee has been paid. They then
organize within themselves another agency
or firm OF attorneys, called by some other
name, and send out circular, saying to the
pensioners "We have been at the Pension
Bureau, and have discovered that you are
allowed pension of $4 or $5 month. We
are satisfied from the evidence on file that it
is wholly inadequate, and if you will send d
petition for the increase of your pension we
will have it increased" The petition is
sent, and they go to work until they
get $40 more for prosecuting the clai m
for an increase, Suppose that claim is
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
THE srAR-RoUrE TRIAL.
Rerdell Acknowledges that He Made a False
Affidavit.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-Rerdell continued
his testimony in the star-route trial to-day.
The court refused to admit in evidence the
musterroll offered yesterday. The witness
said Dorsey's instructions regarding the fill
| ing out of blanks were specific.
| Mr. Merrick stated that he should per-
haps, recall the witness TO further examine
him concerning papers not yet in his pos
session; otherwise he had concluded the ex-
animation.
The cross-examination of Rerdell was then
begun by Mr.. Ingersoll The witness denied
that he had received money compensation of
any kind for making his affidavit.
| Mr.. Ingersoll asked him what he intended
to swear to about the false books he pre-
pared for the congressional committee. This
was objected to by the prosecution.
Mr.. Ingersoll argued that if the witness
was ready to swear to falsehood then, he was
equally ready to do it now. The objection
was sustained by the court.
The witness identified a paper presented
him by Mr. Ingersoll as being in his hand
writing, except the words 'and Others" He
had signed and sworn to it.
Mr.. Ingersoll then read the paper. 1t was
an affidavit by Rerdell, dated July 10. 1882,
in which he swore that s. w. Dorsey, J. w.
Bosler and Brady had never by verbal or
written direction or inference, committed
any wrong; there was never an improper act
or suggestion by Dorsey or Bosler. T he state
ment that he Rerdell, had books and papers
showing that they had been engaged in a
scheme to defraud the people was false; no
such books or papers ever existed. The state
ment that Dorsey and Bosler paid so per cent.
of their remitted fines, or any percentage to
Brady, was pure fabrication and neither
Dorsey nor Boser ever secured increased SER
vice by corrupt means. In short, all the
stories told of unlawful operations on the
part of Dorsey and Bosler were fabrications
gotten up for newspaper purposes,
and this statement was made voluntarily, to
| vindicate them. The witness said he de-
sired to explain the circumstances under
which this affidavit was made. A few days
before its date he had notified Dorsey that he
intended to go over to the government and
make full statement Dorsey then called
him into Willards Hotel and threatened to
prosecute him for perjury if he did this.
| Dorsey also produced two letters which he
| (Rerdell) had been foolish enough to write
to a woman in this city, and said he would
break up his family relations if he did not
make this affidavit The witness was very
much frightened, as he supposed these let
ters had been destroyed. Yielding to these
threats, the witness consented to make the
affidavit. Dorsey wrote it, and the witness
copied it and carried it to Dorsey and Basler
The witness acknowledged that the affidavit
was false in every essential particular.
The question of entries to smith and
Sam Jones' come up again, and the wit
ness said there was another entry from his
check k-book of 50, 900 to the credit of James
B. Belford, member OF Congress This was
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY MORNING. FEBROARY aa 1885,

disallowed Then another organization
within the same body of attorneys is made,
by whom the applicant is informed that they
have examined the papers on file in the PEN
sion office and discovered that the claim has
been rejected They knew it bad been re-
jected They did not ascertain it in the PEN
sion bureau at all. They say: Your claim
has peen rejected. We have seen the testi-
mony. The claim ought to have been al
lowed. Send petition to have the case re-
opened, and we will have the case reviewed. "
The petition is sent, and these agents go on
and get another $40 from the same claimant,
until they have collected from $50 to $50 in
each case When these agents fail in all
these ways they then have bill introduced
in Congress and sent to a committee, and
they get their fee for that. Under the pre-
sent law they never stop bleeding the claim
ant. The fact that this little fee of $40
has been allowed as a maximum fee has
invited, as the report shows, almost every
body to become claim agents-men, women
and children. They are sending out their
circulars, and undertaking to prosecute
claims.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
RIVERS AND HARBoRs.


senting the Bill.
WASHINGTON Feb. 21-Mr Page, in be-
half of the House committee on commerce,
has submitted to the House of Representa-
tives voluminous report, to accompany the
new river and harbor bill, which they rec
ommend for passage. The committee advert
to the last bill of this character, and say;
THE President, exercising his constitu-
tional prerogative, returned the bill to this
House without his approval, and Congress,
exercising its constitutional right, by two
thirds majority in each house passed
the bill, Notwithstanding the objec-
tions of the President and it be-
came a law. Thereupon the newspapers
at the great railroad centers raised a hue and
cry against the act and against those by
whose votes it had passed, bolstering the at
tack with every possible form of misrepre-
sentation and personal abuse in the endeavor
to blind the people to their own best inter
ests. At the reassembling of Congress the
President, i'll his annual message, took occa-
sion to again advert to the appropriation for
rivers and harbors and, evidently misled by
deceptive official balance sheet expressed
the hope that no similar measure will be
deemed necessary during the present Con-
gress.' AS if in harmony With this intima-
ton, the Secretary of War disregarded, in
parts, several provisions of the law He failed,
also, 10 IurnlSn 10 the secretary oil the treasury
the chief engineers estimates of appropria-
tions required for the service during the fiscal
year ending June 80 1884, rs required to be
transmitted to Congress with book of esti-
mates. This left your committee in the
dark, hence they reported aresolution which
was adopted by the House, calling upon the
Secretary of War for the reports and esti-
mates of the engineers department aforesaid
and certain other information touching ap-
propriations and expenditures for rivers and
harbors to which the Secretary of War return
ed an answer on Jan. 4, 1888, Upon receiving
the reports and estimates of the engineers
your committee proceeded to examine the
same, and found that number of imDor-
tant river and harbor works would not have
a dollar left at the expiration of the present
fiscal year ending June 80, 1888; that fail
ure on the part of Congress to make appro-
priations for the coming fiscal year. ending
June 80, 1884, would inevitably result
in great loss to the government in
the matter of plant the filling up
of channels, and otherwise, and that such
failure would be equivalent to throwing
away the vast sums already expended in the
interest of commerce, and rendering worth
less many uncompleted improvements, as
well as subjecting many completed works to
great damage. Notwithstanding, therefore,
the adverse views of the President, your
committee are impelled to present to the
House q river and harbor bill, as to act
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
PRESIDENT ARTHUR.
An Estimate of Him as a Man and an Ex-
ecutive.

An Estimate of Him as a Man and an Ex-
ecutive.
Gath in Cincinnati Enquirer
Talking to an eminent Washingtonian-
possibly a cabinet officer, though I do not
give him away-I CLEANED some interesting
information while on my way back from that
city last night. While his views are no doubt
tinctured by his prejudices and partialities,
they contain no untruths, since the man is a
gentleman.
Said I; "What do you make out of Presi-
dent Arthur"
"He is quite study. He is sensitive, al
most timid mani mean with reference to
his responsibilities He is also moody man.
Whether those moods are in his nature or some
from his stomach cannot determine. Some
times I have thought that the turning of a
man whose vivacity lies altogether in the
night hours into day bird wears him.
Meeting him out at different times to dinner,
1 observe that he grows at his best after we
have left the table, when he generally re-
mains-sometimes with the ladies-and then
comes into the smoking-room among the
men. He then appears to me to pc more
nearly natural and happy than at any other
time. He will chat on a variety of pleasing
/ little things, "reminiscences, military anec-
! dotas, etc, with Zest that makes us feel he
| is a kind of boy. But when you go into his
/ Office in the morning-tnere YOU see a man,
| oppressed with either duties or the inversion
of hls natural hours, or staggering under a
sense of responsibility which he does not
like. The presidency is very heavy office
for q man without audacity to carry, because
its incumbent must do everything himself.
| When Arthur was collector of the port he
| had subordinates who would act for him
| in many things, and he merely seemed
! to be carrying out their recommendation
orR findings. But in the presidency he
/ cai9not delegate much, and the successive
and his desire not to offend either public
| op'nicn or the large personal influences
/ 'Eass.E mako IN bis Tarty, keep him in a
measure stunned uncertain and in any
event moody, possibly unhappy"
why, he is more like Garfield than had
supposed then?'
"You are right" said my acquaintance;
"neither of those men liked blunt RESPONSE
| bilty. Now, If Mr.. Arthur had been Gar
! fields clerk or chief secretary, he could
! have acquitted himself better than Garfield
in saying yes or no; but having to say yes or
no for himself is a very different thing. He
! is sensitive to public rebukes, such as the
late elections; sensitive to the drift OF his
party under his control; sensitive to COM
ments upon him, particularly to comments
on his capacity. His physical education has
run down, too. He does not like exercise.
He ought to walk three or four miles day,
and at the right time of day, too; but he
| gets up too late for that If he had the
| right kind of doctors it seems to me they
would warn him that without exercise he
may close his days in the White House"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
The Chicago Tribune's Dead Editor.

CHICAGO, Feb 21 The Chicago Press Club
met this afternoon to take appropriate ac-
ton as respects its late president, s. j. Me-
dill, who died at Quincy, ILL.,, yesterday. A
committee of escort was appointed and left
tonight to accompany the remains to this
city. The funeral will be held on Saturday.
A memorial meeting of the Press Club will
be held on Friday.
ASpringfeld, Ills, dispatch says: "a meet
ing of the representatives of the local press,
and gentlemen connected with the press in
different parts of the State, was held this
evening at the Leland House, with Paul
Selby in the chair, to take suitable action
relative to the death of Samuel J. Medill, of
the Chicago Tribune Appropriate resolu-
tions were adopted and ordered engrossed and
transmitted to the widow and friends of the
deceased"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
But ir Is Very Certain the Measure will Be
Strongly Opposed by the Democrats
and the High Protectionists.
The Pennsylvania Iron Interest Earn
estly Fighting the New Bill.
An Enjoyable Reunion of Indianians-An
Interesting Day in the Star-Route
Gase-Notes and Gossip.
THE SENATE TARIFF BILL.
Its Fate Still in Doubt, the Only Certainty
Being Democratic Opposition.
apecial to the IudianapOlis Journal

Its Fate Still in Doubt, the Only Certainty
Being Democratic Opposition.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-The fate of the
tariff bill is still involved in doubt. 1t is recog-
shadowing importance, but no half dozen
entertain the same views with regard to its
prospects of success. The Democrats have
fully agreed upon their programme, which
is to filibuster in the preliminaries and do
all in their power to keep the Senate bill
from coming to a vote, but to cease their op-
position when the measure arrives at the last
stage. Many of those who are now fighting
it bitterly will vote for the bill when brought
face to face with the last alternative. The
Democrats will be aided in their policy of
resistance by the Pennsylvania Republicans
and their high-protective friends, who are
ready to sacrifice the good of the country and
OF the party upon the altar of their district
interests. 1t is the opinion of very
many of the Republicans, tonight, that the
friends of the bill have not strength enough
to amend the rules to enable a majority to
force it through, owing to the fact that a
considerable element is opposed to establish
ing a precedent for breaking down estab-
lished rules. Should they fail to amend, it
will be necessary to fight the bill through
under the existing rules-a tedious and
doubtful process. General Browne and
others of the Indiana delegation are con-
vinced that this is just what will have to be
done. They say the bill will pass, bat if its
friends have not the power to amend the
rules by majority vote, it is difficult to
understand how they are going to succeed
any better by travelling the long road.
The Pennsylvania delegation in Congress
is being literally overwhelmed with tele-
grams and letters calling on them to oppose
the passage of the Senate bill through the
House with every agency at their command.
The iron men are working the wires and the
mails for all they are worth. The Pennsyl-
vania people are jubilant tonight, and are
betting that the bill will fail; it is dead now.
they say.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
A Wife's Singular Freak.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WINDFALL, Feb. 21.-Mrs Eliza Marker,
wife of Alexander Marker, drayman of thi.
place, unceremoniously departed for parts
unknown under the most mysterious circum.
stances. She and her husband went to bed
at the usual hour last night, she taking the
two smallest children to bed with her and
the husband occupying senarate bed with
their two Oldest children. About 2 o'clock
at night Mr.. Marker wa awakened by the
cries of the youngest chiid, Becaiied 70 his
wife, but receiving no reply went 10 lei
bed, only to find the two ci dren. the wie
having gone, taking her c. thes nd shst
money there was about the house She Wa
seen to get on the Panhandle tran eoius
north at o'clock A. NJ. Where she has gone
or what her motive was in this strange freak
is more than anybody can tell. Her father,
mother, one brother and two sisters reside
here. All are respectable citizens, and Mrs
Marker has borne good character She
leaves her husband and four children, the
youngest three and the oldest ten years OF
age. Her family relations were pleasant SC
far as known to the public.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
GENERAL AND PERSONAL.

An Enjoyable Reunion of Iudianians Resi-
dent at the Capital.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-The Indiana peo-
pie in Washington held a social reunion to-
night in Masonic Temple. About 500 were
present. Nearly all the Indiana men here,
with their wives, were in attendance, as we'll
as Senator Harrison, Colonel w. w. Dudley,
General Foster, General Reynolds, General
Tom Crittenden, General Mcmillan, Repre-
sentatives Butterworth of Ohio; Lacy, of
Michigan, and many other distinguished
gentlemen, nearly all of whom were accom-
panied by their ladies. The young people
were dazzling and numerous. The proceeds,
$3.50 or $500, will be donated to the Indiana
flood relief fund. The party was very ell
joyable.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
The Situation at Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, Feb. 2l.-The river continues
60 decline at the rate of an inch an hour, and
Is now low enough to allow steamers to use
the public landing The inundated district
is covered with wagons and filled with busy
men. There seems no ground for alarm from
the accumulation Of filth. The relief COM
mittee has kept the streets clear as fast as the
water receded. Additions to the relief fund
to-day. $4,000, making total of $146000. A
life-saving crew from Buffalo, which has
been here since Saturday last, left for home
fo-niObf
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
Above the Danger Line at Memphis.

MEMFHIs, Feb. 21.-The river tonight is
thirty-four feet three inches-three inches
above the danger line. Many thousand sacks
of corn are reported ruined in New Madrid
Bend by the rising water, which has also
flooded the sunk lands of the upper ST.
Francis river and has caused a suspension of
work on the line of the Kansas City, Spring
field & Memphis railroad
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
Suicide of a weu-Known CAPITALIST

DETROIT Mich, Feb. 21-James B.
Amsden, wealthy farmer and capitalist of
Grand Rapids, committed suicide this after
noon by morphine and strychnine, while la
boring under temporary insanity.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
burglary and Arson.

Special to tho Indianapolis Journal.
CRAwFoRDsvIILE, Feb. 21.-Burglars gained
entrance to Tinsley & Martins hardwar,
store on Washington street last night, b,
cutting out panel of the back door, and
took number of fine revolvers, cartridge
and cutlery. The parties either accidentally
or purposely set fire to the store after getting
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
w WHELN
CLOTHING STORE.
THE REoEDING RIVERS.
Four Hundred Yards of the o. g. NJ. Track
Washed Out.

Washed Out.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
VINoENNEs, Feb N.-As indicated in my
dispatch of last evening. the Wabash came to
a stand this morning and has fallen during
the day about two inches. No further dam
age is now apprehended, although it will be
several days before those who have been
driven from their homes can return thereto
Some idea of the flood can be gathered from
the fact that for nine miles due west from this
city it is one unbroken sheet of water, and
skiffs navigate the whole distance. The 0. &
M. railway has suffered the loss of over 400
yards of the road-bed one mile west of here,
and still further damage is feared.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
The Michigan Deadlock.

DETROIT, Mich, Feb. 21.-The first ballot
of the JOINT convention OF the Legislature
to-day resulted Newton, Democrat, Al;
Thomas w. Palmer, 81; Burrows, IL; Willis,
40; Ferry, TO- with % scattering on different
candidates. st -
Second Ballot-Newton, 40; Palmer, 2S;
Burrows, IL; Ferry, 10; Willis, 8, with %
scattering Adjourned.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
An unexnlained Death.

NEwcoMERsTowN, Feb. 21.-At Middleburg,
a village south OF here, in Guernsey county,
the dead body Of Samuel Compton, of that
place. was found hanging in barn. last
night. Some persons suppose he committed
suicide. His hands were tied to his person,
and there may have been foul play. The
body hung from the rafters by clothes, line
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22

DUCKS charge everybody with being q "quaok,"
and there are but few who are exempt from
she goslih accusation. DR.. Bulls Cough syrup is
certainly an exception to the rule, as it is no
soubt the greatest remedy offered to o suffering
people.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
Death of a Venerable Priest.

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 21.--Father st. Cye who
died here to-day, was the oldest Catholic
priest in the United States, and one of the
oldest in the world, being over eighty years
of age. He was the first priest to celebrate
holy sacrifice in Chicago.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
Secure Feeling at Cairo.

CAIRO Ill, Feb. 21-The river here came
to a stand this morning at fifty-one feet ten
inches, about one inch below high water
mark of last year. The levees still remain
. intact. 1t is the general opinion that the
danger to Cairo is over.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22

otherwise would be palpable and serious
neglect of their duty to the House and the
nation"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22

MR.. GEORGE H. ]. WILSON, Operation block
Indianapolis, testities that Browns Iron Bitters
cured him OF biliousness.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-22
FANCY HOSE.

We are selling many lines
Of our Gents Fancy Hose, Of
the better qualities, at prices
that other dealers get for COM
mon goods. Our assortment
is the largest in the city, and
embraces all that is new and
novel in Gents Hose.