National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-15
A RAID ON THE TREASURY.
Claim Agents who Think Thoy Have
Found a bonanza in Law Passed In

Claim Agents Who Think They Have
Found bonanza in Law Passed In
1886.
The recent warning sent out by the pension
Office cautioning the public against alleged
misleading circulars issued by local firm OF
pension attorneys AIcssrs SOulo d Co.-has
been criticised by certain wcll.posted people as
altogether premature.
Evidence Of this contemplated raid on tho
treasury, to the tune OF 8jO,O00,O0O or more,
came TO light through these circulars, addressed
to the widows of soldiers who were killed in
battle or died Of wounds received during the
late war. The circulars inform the recipient
that the agents have reason to believe that
there Is due her from the government on &C.
count Of her deceased husband sum OF
money, not in the nature Of q pension, amounts
ing TO between 500 and $500, and an offer Is
made to prosecute the claim before the depart
mcnis and the courts for contingent fee OF %
per cent. References to tho law or other
authority under which the money alleged to be
due has accrued is studiousy avoided In these
circulars and many anxious inquiries are
being made by perons who have. received
scheme or not. As the matter is OF consider.
able public interest the following settlement is
iufnsLcd.
a careful examination Of the United States
statutes proves conClusyely that there Is only
one law upon which the claims In question
can be based, and that is the oct Of March 10,
n,,,,t az voiuntcer nnd miitia corps In Tho scr.
vicC of inc limited giotcsD Is Stat. ~ This
moi took Inc ninco of the net OF Jan, .. l7Oj II
STINT IGsi 10 rorulnto thp my Of miiitin when
called INTO actual service and has never been
rcnCnied section roads ne follows,
1hot whom pny oiiicnr non cominisoncd Of
fccr, nrtiticer or priyato of said militn or vol.
untcnr corns who shall die In tho service of the
| United Statos or reiiirning 10 his place of
residence oftcr being mustered ont of service.
or nj nnv timo In consc0uencp of wounds re.
eeiyc1 In trryice and shall leave n widow. or
n no widow n child or childen under ID wears
Of Hgo sI,Ch widow or If no widow. sieh child
or c6Iidrcn sbnn lac entitled To receive one.
| halfthc monthly my 10 which the deceased
was enIitind nj Tho limo Of his dcnih Tor mud
duriNg tho trrn, of tiyc vears nnd in case of
| The death or intcrnorfiags of such widow be.
| fore Tho cypirnfion of i've wears tho halfway
| for tho remainder of tho timp shall 30 10 tho
child or chIldren of said dccedent. provided
| always that tho Secretary of War shnll ndOpt
| such forms of evidence. IN apnlicntions under
| This act ms the President Of the United states
| NAV prescrit ..
| Ihis srotion Il substantially identical with
| section do oftbe REVISED Statutes. the only
| material difference being that In the latter the
| words "Secrptnrv of tho Interior" are substl-
| tutcd for iSecretnry of War" This change Is
| sllppoSed to have bcen made by the cumpllers
| of Tho Revised statutes for the reason that the
| Interior nepnrtmcni. which was not organized
| until thitprn wears aitcr The massage of the
moi Of iSgG has chnrro of MI mnttcrs nertainlng
| 10 ncnsions. 10 which tho allowance OF five
years half nay is somewhat analogous
| There arc conflicting opinions as to whether