Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-12-24
Claim Agents Sensations.

More war claims. A $50, 900. 900 raid on
the Treasury under an old law" as published
in the New York Herald Of the llth ins'..
is evidently false alarm. Thousands of
pensioned widows Of soldiers residing in
New England have during the last SIX weeks
received circulars from claim agents reSid-
ing IN Washington. informing each that the
agents believe that there is due from the
government on account Of her deceased hus
band q sum Of money. not in the nature of
pension, amounting 10 between 800 and
$500. and an offer is made 10 prosecute the
clam before the departments and the courts
far a contingent fee Of p per cent. Refer
euce TO the law or other authority under
which the money alleged 10 be due has
accrued i ,tud.ous, avoided in these crcu-
lss. And the power Of attorney accom-
panNlug each circular. which the widow Is
requested to execute to authorize the agents
to act, j. 50 general and indefinite that il j,
doubtful i It woul be accepted by any de-
partment as comforting authority on the
agent to prosecute any particular claim. Il
also contains stipulation that the agent Is
% receive - per cent. Of the sum collected
for his services MANY anxious inquiries
are being made by persons who have re-
cejved this information as to whether there
Is ANYTHING in :he scheme or not. These
claim, are based on the act &c Congress Of
March 10, 1896, and has never N terms
been repealed Section ) read, as follows:
That when any officer. non-comnIs>Ioned
officer, artifcer. or private Of said militia or
volunteer corps, no shall de in the service
Of the United States. or returning 10 hl>
place OF residence after beng mustered out
Of service, or at any time in consequence q
wounds received in service. and >hsll leave
a g ldow. or If not widow, a CT ID or chill
dren under sixteen wears of age, such MD
ow or If no widow, such child or children
sha.. be entitled TO receive half the month
y pay to which the deceased was entitled al
the time Of has death. for and during the
term Of five wears"
This section IS substantially idenilca, With
section 1876 OF the Revised Statutes. The
Uvaii'S correspondent SAYS there are con
aictlng opinions as to whether the act Of
$50 is still in force. Eminent counsel are
said 10 entertain no doubt that It j.. and he
question viii no doubt have TO be deter
mined by the supreme Court. The com
pliers Of the Revised Statutes we're evident
y 1o"Ni"Neu 'Id' 'Ie Jaw "aH '"i "'e" ~
pea.ed ard that said Jaw, having been lucor-
porated in the Revised Statutes. j. par, o: the
statutes O.. the nItrd State. in force Dec.
l. 1873. a. declared By the act Of June -
1874. The HcrGlI SAYS the amount re-
CURED to pay these c!alm. wi. reach >53,-
400 coo that the contingent fees on Tins
amount at the rate Of p per cent, would
reach thu very respectable figures OF Sl3.-
$4,000 which IS enough to turn the heaas
Of all the claim agents N tie h'ted S'aie>-
" he'hrr the act Of March IL. 1876 hsN
been repealed or not does not matter Il
has been superseded. The act IN question
Is one IN the nature Of pension and not OF
bounty. The widows were granted pensions
at and PRIOR 70 the passage Of ms act n
hall the monthly pay 10 winch the deceased
soldier vas entitled at the time OF A'' deaf b
for and during the term Of fye wears. and
when one period Of FIVE years had expired