The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-11-20
RATHER CHEEKY.
The OstracIzed Pension Attorneys in the
Circular Business.

| CIfcuihF huhlnebs.
WASHINGTON, November l9.-The fraud
ulent pension claim agents keep up an i'm
pertinent 'front.' One Of the most brszeu
circulars yet discovered Is one now being
mailed 10 the clients OF N. W. Fitzgerald
& Go. It Is a fair illustration Of the def
ant attitude which several Of the strong
agencies maintain towards the Commits.
sioner OF Pensions. The open threat to
stop work on all cases where the fee is not
paid Is both illegal, and Is held by the
rules of the offices to be proper cause for
suspension. The circular In this case is
regarded as an attempt 10 rake In all the
money possible before the concern ia shut
up by the operations Of law. The follow
Ing are extracts:
We again call your attention 10 the
amount OF fee due us for the prosecution
Of your pension claim. We are entitled
by law and justice to receive our fee Of ten
dollars il advance. Much has
been said lately in the newspapers against
the soldiers and attorneys. The monopo-
list journals, owned in The great cities by
money kings, are calling the soldiers and
pensioners frauds, and demanding that
pensions must stop. The same monopo-
list journals, owned by the same money
kings that seek to control courts and Leg
isatures and Congress, know full well that
the surest way to prevent the soldier from
getting his dues is to break down his attor-
ney.
The monopolist press has contained,
within the last few weeks, the fullest de-
nunciation OF pension attorneys, calling
them cheats. swindlers and thieves, and
shedding crocodile tears because they said
the poor soldier is swindled. We would
like to know how the poor soldier is swim.
died who only pays the ten dollars fee al.
lowed by law?
The charge Is simply ridiculous. The
very papers that make 1t know that 1t Is
false, but they want the applicants for psn-
sions TO become distruslful OF their attor-
neys, knowing full well tina. without the
aid OF an attorney there is not one in a
hundred who could successfully prosecute
their own claims.
The moment u claim is made up and
fled that moment the fee is due. Clients
who have paid our fee in advance have
found that their claims have been as care.
fully, and even more carefully, looked
after and attended 10 than those who have
not paid us. We have made it rule 10
give 10 such claimants, who pay the fee in
advance, the best work and best attention.
Weare still practicing before the Pension
Office, by permission OF tho Secretary Of
the Interior, and we intend doing 80 until
every claim, OF whatever nature, which
hon heen nlared in onr handa ahaIl have
been settled. We do not intend that the
bawlers OF the monopolist press shall pre-.
vent US from doing our duty by our clients.
We shall take no new cases hereafter, un-
less we receive payment OF the fee in full
in advance. Anu now, to you We send this
letter, and memoranda at tho bottom, Of
the amount due. We have been very easy
on you in the past. and we hope you will
not consider it hardship 10 come forward
promptly and pay us the balance due.
This notice is intended fori those who
know that they are indebted 10 US for all
or part OF the fee, and whose claims we are
still prosecuting. We can not and will not
20 on with your case any further until our
fee shall have been paid in full, and all
who receive this communication, who have
not yet paid US our fee Of ten dollars in full,
must do go Immediately, or We will be
compelled to postpone further action on
our part until We receive the fee due us.
Now please remit at once, and
your claim shall receive prompt attention;
but II the fee is not paid, We will proceed
no further with 1t until the fee Is paid.
n. W. FITZGERALD & Co.
Amount due US in your case S.,..