The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-11-24
UNCLE SANS UNPAID DEBTS.
Thousands Of Claims Against the United
States.
81. Louis GIohc-Dcn4ncrni.

- "A"oJ a. W. VI HNOHlS III
Washington who try to make living
by dunning Uncle Sam. 1t is fac,
that the old gentleman in the fuzzy
hat and striped pantaloons, while him
self most cxacting creditor, is not
over disposed to pay his debts unless
compelled. Of this trait the business
of the unsettled French spolation
claims affords only one Of many avail
able illustrations. so it is not sur
prisins that creditors should be con-
tinually bcsciging the treasury for pay
;ncnt, considerable percentage Of
which, when it is obtained, invariably
goes into the pockets of shrcwd law
yers.
Only the other day prominent at
torney in this city was approached
with an attractive offer by man who
was interested in procuring the resti-
tuition OF certain sums due to credit
ore OF the treasury who were not
aware Of their own just claims. lie
faid that he was able to procure a
complete list of all the postofficc or
dcrs unpaid since the adoption of the
system, with the names of the send
ers. These, according to his account.
represented total of about $3.50 900,
and in most instances they had failed
Of payment simply because the payecs
could not be found. Most of them
had accumulated previously to 1885,
up to which year postnastcrs were
forbidden by law to notify paycc
that cash in their hands awaited de-
mard. Yhcy were required to keep
the matter secret.
Extraordinary, was it not? At all
events the inevitable consequence was
the accumulation of large amounts of
other peoples money in the govern
mcnt's hands. The law above quoted
was changed twolvc years ago, but
even now great many money orders
fail OF payment, and the cash they
represent goes into the all-devouring
nav of the treasury. The PROPOSE
tion made to the lawyer aforesaid was
to the effect that tho senders Of all
these orders should be notified that
they could collect the amounts minus
80 per cent. allowed to the attorney
for attending to the matter for them.
|. vas expected that three out of four
of them would jump at the offer, while
the fourth person would have the
gumption to communicate directly
With the postoifice department. Of
course the department would be
obliged to pay in full on demand.
The proposition, made on basis of
half-shares, was not accepted by the
attorney. There was no doubt that
the sendcrs of the unpaid orders were
entitled to the money under the law.
Nany Of them doubtless were dead,
but, writing about money. one is al
ways able to find an heir or other
properly authorized person to receive
the cash. No difficulty on that scoro
was anticipated. The quarter of
million, or thercabouts, was in the
treasury and awaiting claimants all
right enough. They ought to have
the cash; Of that there could be no
question. But as to the getting of
the list of names and addresses, there
was dubity. 1t was understood that
they were kept carefully secret, under
charge of men who enjoyed the cxcep-
tional confidence Of the postofice de-
partmcnt. Thus it came about that
the lawyer refused the offer.
Nobody knows just how much is
due to the scndcrs Or payecs of money
orders since the system had its begin
ming in this country. 1t may be
about $3.50, 900. as alleged, or it may
be more or less. The total sum is
surely very great. Under the old
plan-that is to say, previous to 1886
-remittanccs were never delivered
unless actually called for. Nowadays
it is quite different, the postmaster
being required to use every possible
effort to find the payee. Feiling in
this, he must communicate with the
postof6ce from which the money was
sent, asking that the sender be locked
up, Every conceivable means is ex-
haustcd for discovering the sender and |
returning to him the money. Never
thcless the total number Of orders is |
70 large that many Of them go astray, |
and the treasury fund derived from
this source is continually growing.
Frequently it happens that the re-
mitter of money that lacks rayee |
cannot be found. He has mysterious
~ disappeared, perhaps. 1t may be
A L.