Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-04
A BAD DLUNDER
Continued from First Pace.

before the formal Endorsements of
the pensioner had been written on the back
This vitiated the legality of Mr.. Wilson's in
dorsement as far as the guarantee to the bank
Was concerned, and II involved the acceptance
OF such checks in great deal of risk, inasnuch
as the statute of limitations does not
operate against the United States government
in the case Of checks. They might be thrown
back on a bank ten or fifteen years from now.
and instead Of going into court for recovery
the government merely checked against the
bank the next time it drew money from the
treasury.
Rad BLUNDKR soMEwHRRR.
Treasurer Nebeker said: "This is very unfort-
innate. It will be misconstrued by the partisan
press, that will represent that the treasury is
unable to pay its own checks. 1 am very sorry
that 1t has occurred. There seems to have
been bad biunder somewhere I cannot
pay out cent on these checks. for
they are not drawn on me- II l should it would
be matter OF personal risk. and should have
to collect every cent from the New York sub
treasury. am perfectly willing, however. to
set apart a fund Of 100000 from my personal
accounts for the payment Of these checks, but
can do nothing until learn more about the
nature OF the difficulty"
SAMPLE CHECK.
The following is a sample Of the checks that
were presented in the cash room all day long
WAsHISGToE. D. c., Dec 4, 1891.
The Assistant Treasurer of the United States
at New York. n Y.
Pay to Christopher Columbus Warfeld, or
order, the sum OF :wenty-four dollars
l.. D. Wilson, s. L. WILSON,
Clerk. U. S. Pension Agent.
This check was handed in by TN old colored
man whose amazemen: at the refusal of CASH
Ter Gibson to pay out his S24 had no bounds.
rs de treasury done gone bus up?'' he
gasped. ~ .'
mo, sir" replied the cashier. 1.-THE treas.
Try is still solid. but it cannot pay that check.
1t is not drawn right"
The old man was dumbfounded and he
walked of muttering about things that were
not fit for publication.
WHAT WAS LEARNED AT THE BANKS.
At some of the banks it is stated that Mr..
Wilson did not inform them OF the proposed
change and the first notice they had that they
were expected to cash all pension checks
presented was the circular issued by
the pension agent and the rush Of pensioners
this morning into the bank. At some of tho
banks it is stated that the question presented
by Mr.. Wilson was whether they would be will
ing TO cash the checks in the changed form.
The answer given was that checks on the assist
ant treasurer would be accepted as had been
the case with the checks on the treasurer for
customers and others known to the bank.
At one OF the banks it was said that the
treasury authorities stated that Mr.. Wilson's
initials on the back of the checks was not suf-
hcient TO secure against liability in the event
that payment IL made to the wrong person.
There is. however, no hesitation on the part
OF officials of some Of the banks to say that
they would not consent to cash pension checks
generally, for the reason that on pay days the
banks would be SO run upon that il would be
impossible to transact business.