The National tribune., 1891-12-24
THE FRAUDS PARADISE.

hHsd to ssx-Ths Congressional aud Rureaa
Frauds--Yarious other Ways OF Getting Money
Easy.
Washington is probably more afflicted with
frauds than any other city. There are greater
opportunities for the fraud 10 get in bis work
here than anywhere else. The GovernIaent
Departments have their experiences with this
class, and with every session Of Congress the
number increases. More ingenuity is excr-
Cised By these people to illcgitimately carry on
their work than would DO required to secure
an honorable position in society and 10 obtain
q respectable competence.
Some are frauds by nature They were born
with a mental obliquity as 20 what was right,
aud they have developed into always doing that
which was wrong. Others have become frauds
by circumstances, but, in such cases, the
changed circumstances have generally resulted
from their own conduct. Fraud is not confined
to sex, for there are many women who grayi-
tate to this city for the purpose Of gaining a
livelihood By fraud. They are met in almost
every avenue Of legislation, either with claim
that has run the gantlet and been knocked
out in many Congress, or else with an appeal
to sympathy on account of family Affections
or misfortunes that are as numerous as their
ingenuity can devise.
The man Of influence is perhaps the most
numerous Of the fraud species. lie generally
bears the appearance Of prosperity, dresses we'll
and is seen about the best hotels. He is easy
and atftble in bis manners and has the faculty
OF easily getting acquainted with people. He
has good memory for faces aud names, for
that IS necessary 10 carry on his business. He
IS impressive in speaking and endeavor5 to
make IL appear that he is we'll versed IN all
matters pertaining to legislative or political
affairs. He scans the hotel registers and talks
with the clerks about the neWIy-arriVed guests
lie keeps his eye wide open until he finds a
man who has come here with business before
Congress. lie seeks a man inexperienced, Of
course, in the ways Of working things for he
knows better than 10 try to get in with one
who IS accustomed to handling legislative mat
ters. A man with claim is his particular
prey-a claim which cannot be settled in any
regular Department, hut which requires q 5pe-
eial act Of Congress.
TO this man the fraud gets introduced, and
then he begins TO speak Of the difficulties at
tending the passage Of special acts. Is can be
done, OF course, and is done every session, but
then, unless il is attended to properly the bill
after 10 is introueed dies in some committee.
Now it requires a man well acquainted with
Members and Senators to constantly watch the
measure and follow it through all the various
paths until 10 is finally acted upon. This he
says in wise and knowing way that carries
conviction TO the victim and makes him wish
that he could secure the services Of such a
man to push through his own particular bill
Incidentally. while talking, tho fraud men
tiOnS certain Senator'S and Members, calling
them familiarity by their Christian names, as il
he were upon terms Of the greatest intimacy
with them. He speaks of Fred Crisp, Tom
Reed, Bill Springer. old Bill Holman, Cabot
Lodge. John sherman, Dan Voorhees,, Cal Brice
and others with that oif-hand familiarity that
completely daze5 the honest man with the claim,
until the latter hnally asks in the most humble
manner II this gigantic fraud won't help him
to put his little bill through
When this is accomplished the fraud is in
clover. He usually makes an agreement As TO
his fee and expenses, aud then proceeds to
work. 1t depends on the temper and circum-
stances of the victim as to how advan tageOus
terms the fraud gets. He may demand a GER
tain amount cash ~ a retainer and then another
sum when the bill shall be passed or he may
agree To q per Ceutage of the amount appropri-
ated in case Of success. Ono thing is certain,
lie will get cash retainer, and if the victim
Says in the city he Will DO bled for expenses
a2Im time % time.
Wv, what does the fraud DO? It is easy
enough TO get a bill drawn up and introduced,
aud when that is accomplished it is about all
that the fraud expects to do. He gets a copy
Of the bill when It is printed, shows it to his
"Client, and CDuvinces him that he has started
the claim on its way. Then he don't bother
himself any more about this particular case,
but looks after another victim. If by any pos
sibility the bill should pass the fraud would be
rs greatly surprised as delighted TO think that
he would have another addition 20 his usually
slender purse.
The same method is pursued in regard TO
claims before the Departments, the fraud in
such a case claiming to be upon intimate terms
with either the Secretary or certain Bureau
Chiefs He will speak of his friends, Charley
Foster. John Wanamaker, Jim Blaine, Ben
| Tracey, or John Noble, as if they had been
boys together, and there was nothing each
/ could ask of the other that would not be
I granted.
| Sometimes the fraud is inside the Depart
ments as was developed not long ago in the in
| VestigatiOn OF q certain Bureau. A clerk, who
/ had the settlement Of certain class of &C.
| counts, used 10 tell those who came to him 20
have their bills settled that they were not made
/ out in form, and until they were properly pre-
sented he could not act upon them The claim
/ ant would ask how he could have the accounts
/ put in proper form, and the clerk would refer
/ him to u certain firm Of attorneys. who would,
/ of course exact q fee for their services, the
/ amount being dependent upon the size of the
| claim. This went on for some time, until the
Secretary got on 10 it, and the clerk was placed
| where he could not work that little racket any
more. This kind of n fraud, however, is for
L
is disposed Of Its but Just to say OF the large
class of Government employees that they are
/ generally honorable, upright, and hard-wOrk'
| ing men. They for the most part perform their
duties faithfully and intellgently.
/ Then there is the fraud with a scheme for
/ making money. He knows just how a large
sum can be quickly realized from n cOmpara-
| lively small Investment. he wants TO form a
| company and he seeks some man Of position
/ and influence to give il a standing in the BUSH
ness community. This fraud usually seeks the
| new Congressman from the rural districts, and
| works upon his vanity and cupidity, for unfOr-
i tunately there are sometimes Members Of Con
/ gress who very easily fattered, and who
| are not too scrupulOus as to the methods EN-
/ pIoyed for making money, so long as it is made
/ He will talk with this member gliblY and
/ plausibly OF his scheme, and show that il is
/ perfectly legitimate, and that it cannot fail oil
\ success. Sometimes he interests the victim and
/ gets his name and his money, and sometimes he
/ does not. He IS not abashed IL he fails in one
/ direction, but will turn his efforts somewhere
\ else. III be cannot work q Member OF Congress
I he will try some Government official, and he
| generally gets enough mOaey out Of someone
i 10 keep himself ahoat.
/ There Is also the inventive fraud. He has
/ discovered o machine which will greatly SIM
pIify q certain class OF work. and will be great
l saving Of labor. lie has made his model and
/ can demonstrate that it is perfectly practicable.
| He knows that there is big money in the in-
ventiOn il he eau only get it patented. lie
/ wants someone to advance him tho money for
/ that purpose, aud he will give him an interest
! in the machine after it Is patented. Or. he has